Intracellular host cell membrane remodelling induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro

Background Information Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection induces an alteration in the endomembrane system of the mammalian cells. In this study, we used transmission electron microscopy and electron tomography to investigate the main structural alterations in the cytoplasm of Vero cells infected with a SARS-CoV-2 isolate from Sao Paulo state (Brazil). Results Different membranous structures derived from the zippered endoplasmic reticulum were observed along with virus assembly through membrane budding. Also, we demonstrated the occurrence of annulate lamellae in the cytoplasm of infected cells and the presence of virus particles in the perinuclear space. Conclusions and Significance This study contributes to a better understanding of the cell biology of SARS-CoV-2 and the mechanisms of the interaction of the virus with the host cell that promote morphological changes, recruitment of organelles and cell components, in a context of a virus-induced membrane remodelling.

Automated summary

This study used transmission electron microscopy and electron tomography to investigate the structural alterations in mammalian cells infected with SARS-CoV-2. The findings included different membranous structures derived from the endoplasmic reticulum, virus assembly through membrane budding, annulate lamellae in the cytoplasm, and virus particles in the perinuclear space. This contributes to a better understanding of the cell biology of SARS-CoV-2 and the mechanisms of virus-host cell interaction.