Volume Microscopy of Nudivirus Infected Cells

Volume microscopy is an ideal method to investigate microbial infections. In this study, we used Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV) as a model to illustrate the power of this technology in deciphering morphological changes associated with viral replication. Nudiviruses are large dsDNA rod-shaped enveloped viruses infecting a wide range of hosts. The best characterized member of the family, OrNV, infects rhinoceros beetle, a devastating pest damaging coconut and oil palm trees in Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands. Although previous electron microscopy studies have described the cellular changes associated with OrNV infection, little is known regarding the mechanism of viral assembly and egress. Here we used focussed ion beam and scanning electron microscopy to characterize the cellular remodelling associated with OrNV infection.