Ultrathin-section morphological identification of H5N1 virus adsorbed on chicken red blood cells

To identify the H5N1 virus isolated in embryonated hens' eggs by electron microscopic morphological observation. The virus was inactivated respectively by methanal or glutaraldehyde at different concentrations. The virus concentrated by ultra-centrifuged was detected by electron microscopy with negative staining and the chicken red blood cells-adsorbed virus was used for ultrathin-section observation. Results revealed that treated with 1‰ methanal, the H5N1 virus in multiple shape morphology were observed by negative staining, and the ultrathin-section observation showed that most of the virus on the cell surface was in elliptic shaped, enveloped particles of many spikes projected from viral surface with a diameter of 80-120nm. It suggests that the chicken red blood cells can substitute for other cell lines used in ultrathin-section morphological identification of H5N1 virus, and the technique is convenient and safe for laboratory operation.To identify H5N1 virus isolated from embryonated hens’ eggs by electron microscopic morphological observation. The virus was inactivated by methanal or glutaraldehyde at variant final concentrations. After concentration, the virus was visualized by electron microscopy with negative staining method; and the chicken red blood cells-adsorbed virus was used for ultrathin- section observation. Treated with 1‰ methanal, the virus in multiple shape morphology were observed by negative staining, ultrathin- section visualization showed that most of the virus on the red blood cell surface was in egg-shaped, enveloped, with a diameter of 80-120nm, and many spikes projected from viral surface. It suggested that the chicken red blood cells could substitute other cell lines used in ultrathin-section morphological identification of H5N1 virus, and the technique is easy for operation and safe.