Fig. 4.

Morphogenesis of intracellular SARS-CoV-2 virions in Vero cells at 8 h post-infection. (a) Virus particles (white arrows) were observed in intracellular vesicles related to the Golgi apparatus or the endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). No virus was released at the plasma membrane (pm) at this time point. (b–d) The budding of the viruses (white arrows) toward the lumen of the ERGIC/Golgi vesicles was visualized in some cell sections. (e) At this time point, the intracellular viruses were detected in small vesicles, each containing only a few viral particles. These viral particles displayed prominent spikes, clearly visible at the surface (black arrowhead)