Sensitivity of Populations of Clonal Lines of HeLa Cells to Polioviruses. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Propagation of HeLa cell populations from single clones isolated by the Puck technic provides cells which are more stable in growth potential and virus sensitivity than “farm” populations from which they were selected. Populations from 6 clones have been studied; 4 were of predominant cell type by microscopic examination (clones 1, 2, 3 and 6) and 2 differed from the predominant type (clones 4 and 5). Clone 5 was the most sensitive and clone 4 the most resistant to types 1 and 2 polio viruses. Although clone 5, as a generalization, maintained its characteristic morphology and sensitivity to poliovirus for 2 years, it was not possible to correlate morphology with sensitivity to the polioviruses. Selection and propagation of this most susceptible of the 6 clonal populations isolated provided a stable tool for studies of polioviruses. Since line 5 maintained its greater sensitivity for at least 2 years, a heritable factor (or factors) is probably responsible for the greater sensitivity.