RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Kolesnikova, Larissa A1 Heck, Sonja A1 Matrosovich, Tatyana A1 Klenk, Hans-Dieter A1 Becker, Stephan A1 Matrosovich, MikhailYR 2013 T1 Influenza virus budding from the tips of cellular microvilli in differentiated human airway epithelial cells JF Journal of General Virology, VO 94 IS 5 SP 971 OP 976 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.049239-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB The epithelium of conducting airways represents the main target for influenza virus in mammals. However, the peculiarities of virus interactions with differentiated airway epithelial cells remain largely unknown. Here, influenza virus budding was studied in differentiated cultures of human tracheobronchial epithelial cells using transmission electron microscopy. Budding of spherical and filamentous virions was observed on the apical surfaces of cells with no association with cilia and secretory granules. Quantitative analysis of the distribution of viral buds on the cell surface indicated that the tips of the microvilli represented a prominent site of influenza virus budding in the human airway epithelium. As the microvilli of differentiated cells are involved in many fundamental cell functions, these data will prompt further studies on the biological significance of microvilli-associated budding for virus replication, transmission and pathogenicity., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.049239-0