Growth of chikungunya virus in baby hamster kidney cell (BHK-21-clone 13) suspension cultures

• Published in: Applied microbiology 1971-02, Vol.21 (2), p.338-341
• Main Authors: Davis, J L, Hodge, H M, Campbell, Jr, W E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cattle; Cell Line; Chikungunya virus - growth & development; Chikungunya virus - isolation & purification; Clone Cells - growth & development; Cricetinae; Culture Media; Culture Techniques; Immune Sera; Kidney; Mice; Trypsin; Virus Cultivation; Virus Replication
• ISSN: 0003-6919
• DOI: 10.1128/AEM.21.2.338-341.1971

This report describes the methods used to obtain high titers of chikungunya virus with suspension cultures of BHK-21-clone 13 cells. The cells were grown at 37 C to a cell concentration of 10(6) to 2 x 10(6) per ml. After maximum cell growth, the cells were inoculated with chikungunya virus at a multiplicity of 1 to 2 50% suckling mouse intracerebral lethal doses (SMICLD(50)) per cell in the spent Eagle's minimum essential medium for suspension cultures (MEMS), or the cell cultures were centrifuged at 200 x g and resuspended in either fresh MEMS or medium 199 prior to inoculation. The medium used had no effect on virus titer. The inoculated cultures were incubated at 34 C until the cell viability dropped to 30%, which usually occurred 28 to 30 hr postinoculation. After these procedures, chikungunya virus titers of log(10) 10.3 to 11.8 SMICLD(50) per ml were obtained.