A. Cricenti et al., Atomic force microscopy observation of human lymphoid cells chronically infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, J VAC SCI A, 17(4), 1999, pp. 1141-1144
The interaction between lymphocyte cell and human immunodeficiency virus (H
IV) has been studied at membrane level by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in
the repulsive regime of contact mode. Morphological characteristics of noni
nfected lymphoid cells and HIV infected cells were easily imaged from fixed
and dried cell preparations. After HIV exposure we observed a decrease in
surface protrusions (lost of microvilli) and the creation of many dips. Som
e particles, presumably of viral origin (120-130 nm size), were also observ
ed in proximity of the cell surface. Similar changes have been observed by
AFM on cells exposed to intense electromagnetic field thus indicating that
such cells undergo modifications of their morphology upon suffering from an
external agent. (C) 1999 American. Vacuum Society. [S0734-2101(99)17804-7]
.