Objective: To study the subcellular localization of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in macrophages and understand the replication and assembly mechanism of SFTSV in host cells.
Methods: Using two types of human macrophage cell lines THP-1 and U937, the study analyzed the intracellular colocalization of SFTSV with Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum by immunefluorescence staining and confocal microscopy.
Results: SFTSV infected macrophage cell lines THP-1 and U937. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the SFTSV nuclear protein colocalized with Golgi apparatus and closely surrounded by endoplasmic reticulum in the perinuclear region.
Conclusion: The results suggested that Golgi complex and endoplasmic reticulum are probably the sites for formation and maturation of SFTSV viral particles.