Characterization of a virus variant produced by L cells persistently infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus

• Published in: Journal of general virology 1994-12, Vol.75 (12), p.3431-3439
• Main Authors: Stocker, Christine, Peralta, Liliana Martinez, Kratzberg, Thomas, Lohmann, Frauke, Bruns, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Complement Fixation Tests; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; L Cells (Cell Line) - virology; Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis - virology; lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus; Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus - isolation & purification; Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus - pathogenicity; Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus - physiology; Mice; Protein Kinases - metabolism; RNA, Viral - biosynthesis; RNA, Viral - genetics; Transcription, Genetic; Ultraviolet Rays; Virus Replication - radiation effects
• ISSN: 0022-1317; 1465-2099
• DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-75-12-3431

Heinrich-Pette-Institut für Experimentelle Virologie und Immunologie an der Universität Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, D-20251 Hamburg, Germany Continuous cultivation of murine L cells infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus strain Armstrong leads to production of L(Arm) cells, which produce a predominantly cell-associated attenuated variant, the L(Arm) virus. The relatively few infectious particles that are released have lost the ability to form plaques on L cells and to cause illness in mice even if inoculated intracerebrally. Based on equal protein M r s, antigenicity and protein kinase activity, essentially identical results were obtained for the purified Armstrong and L(Arm) viruses. There was also no difference in production and release of particles with the potential to cause homologous interference. Such particles consisted of two types, one of which was highly susceptible to u.v.-irradiation, the other was highly resistant. In the case of the L(Arm) virus interfering particles, it appears that the u.v.-irradiation-susceptible forms represented infectious virus. Purified L(Arm) virus particles contained considerable quantities of subgenomic forms of (small) S- and (large) L-RNA and their complementary counterparts, which all appeared to be replicated autonomously in an unenriched manner. Present address: Institute of Experimental Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Zürich, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland. Present address: Catedra de Microbiologia, Parasitologia e Immunologia, Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1121 Buenos Aires, Argentina. Present address: Dianova GmbH, 20011 Hamburg, Germany. Received 26 May 1994; accepted 5 July 1994.