A Virus of the Reoviridae in Established Cell Lines of Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract
A reovirus-like agent was isolated from an established D. melanogaster cell line 67j25D-G. The virion was 68 nm in diameter, with a distinct outer capsid. The virus particles contained at least 5 polypeptides with MW of 30, 40, 70, 100 and 120 (all .times. 103) and 10 segments of double-stranded high MW RNA. Viruses of the same type were detected in several cell cultures of D. melanogaster obtained from different sources. The viral nucleic acid accounted for about 20% of the RNA in the cultured cells.