The osmium ammine-SO2 staining method for studying the in situ configuration of viral genomes in ultrathin sections of DNA virus infected cells.

The Feulgen-like osmium ammine-SO2 method developed by Cogliati and Gautier (CR Acad Sci Ser D 1973, 276, 3041-3044) stains the DNA at the ultrastructural level. Compared to several other techniques for detecting DNA, this method remains the only one revealing the configuration of the DNA molecules within the cell whatever their compactness. In the present article we summarize the results we obtained with the osmium ammine method in the study of the fate of viral genomes along the infectious cycles in several DNA virus infected cells including adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, simian virus 40 and poxvirus. The results are discussed in relation to the replicative and transcribing activities of viral DNA.