Sensitivity of Human Conjunctival Tissue Cultures to Adenovirus 8,Herpes Simplex and Vaccinia Viruses. Induction of Resistance by an Interferon Inducer 1

Abstract

Summary

Fibroblast like cells were grown from explanted fragments of human conjunctiva. The cultures could be maintained for up to six weeks and passaged several times. This tissue supported the replication of adenovirus 8, herpes simplex virus and vaccinia virus. The cytopathic changes caused by these viruses were typical. The human conjunctival tissue culture was sensitive to adenovirus 8 which yielded a titer of 10^4.5 TCID₅₀/ml. This tissue was also highly sensitive to human interferon and produced interferon after polyinosinic-poly-cytidylic acid (poly I·poly C) treatment. Poly I·poly C protected the tissue against challenge with herpes simplex and vaccinia viruses, but not against adenovirus 8 challenge.