Thesis: Tomato spotted wilt virus particle assembly. Studying the role of the structural proteins in vivo.
Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is a member of the family Bunyaviridae and infects a large range of plants, as well as thrips, insects that transmit the virus from plant to plant. The virus consists of RNA, encapsidated by the viral protein N (nucleocapsid) and this complex of N and RNA is wrapped by a lipid membrane. The lipid membrane contains two viral proteins, called Gn and Gc. To gain more of an insight into the proces that eventually results in new virus particles, in this thesis the interactions between these TSWV proteins (i.e. N, Gn and Gc) have been studied. The proteins were made visible using fluorescent labels and observed in different combinations using a microscope. This resulted not only in a series of beautiful coloured images but also led to a better understanding of the processes occurring during the formation of virus particles in an infected cell.