Hemagglutination by Reoviruses Propagated in Various Cell Lines. ∗

Abstract

Summary

1. Reovirus HA antigens prepared in the human diploid cell strain, WI-38 and in the established renal cell lines, LLC-MK₂ and BS-C-1, may be satisfactorily employed in lieu of primary renal cell cultures of the Rhesus monkey. 2. Of the 3 host cell systems tested, WI-38 cells proved to be the most suitable for preparation of reovirus HA antigens. Maximum HA titers to the 3 reovirus types were obtained after 3 passages in this cell strain. 3. Higher reovirus HA titers were attained in stationary WI-38 cell cultures incubated at 37°C as compared with that obtained from cultures rotated at this temperature. The enhancement of CPE with respect to the methods of incubation varied with the virus strains employed. At an incubation temperature of 24°C only reovirus type 2 produced CPE and HA to a limited extent in WI-38 cells. 4. Reovirus types 1 and 2 HA antigens prepared in WI-38 cells showed no significant differences in titers when HA was carried out at temperatures of 4, 24 and 37°C. Antigens prepared with 3 strains of type 3 failed to agglutinate erythro-cytes at 4°C but demonstrated HA at 24 and 37°C.