CINÉTICA DE INFECÇÃO DO VÍRUS VACCINIA EM CÉLULAS VERO: PERSPECTIVAS PARA UTILIZAÇÃO COMO MODELO EXPERIMENTAL NA AVALIAÇÃO DE DROGAS ANTI-ORTHOPOXVÍRUS

Vaccinia virus (VACV) is responsible for vesicular illness in cattle and humans, and infections caused by these virus have been frequently reported in the last 10 years in Brazil. The aim of this study was to monitor the replication intervals and assembly of VACV - WR (Western Reserve) in Vero cells in order to expose the main means of blocking the replicative cycle. Vero cells were infected with 0.1 m.o.i . Subsequently, they were fixed at intervals of 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 hours post-infection and processed by transmission electron microscopy. The multiplication of VACV- WR in Vero cells produced cytopathic effect (fusion of membranes and vacuoles syncytia) in approximately 90% of the cells. Analysis of electron micrographs allowed us to display in detail the CPE, the dynamics of cellular metabolic disorders and viral replicative cycle until the formation of the extracellular viral particle. Thus, this study was able to demonstrate potential therapeutic targets for inhibit replication of VACV - WR and new approaches in antiviral drugs.