Extracellular release of enveloped vaccinia virus from mouse nasal epithelial cells in vivo.

The release of vaccinia virus from mouse nasal epithelial cells infected in vivo was studied by electron microscopy. Intracellular naked vaccinia virus was enwrapped by Golgi membranes to form a double membrane intermediate. The outer membrane of the intermediate presumably fused with the plasma membrane, releasing extracellular enveloped virus. No signs of simple naked virus budding at the plasma membrane were observed. The majority of extracellular virus was enveloped and not naked.