Phenotypic Changes in the Flavivirus Kunjin after a Single Cycle of Growth in an Aedes albopictus Cell Line

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Abstract
The properties of Kunjin virus produced during acute infections of Aedes albopictus (Aal) mosquito cells were compared with those of the virus progeny from the C6/36 clone of mosquito cells and from Vero cells. Titres of 10(8) p.f.u./ml or greater were obtained from all cells, but significant haemagglutinin activity was associated only with progeny from Vero and C6/36 cells. Kunjin virus from Aal cells adsorbed to goose erythrocytes and blocked haemagglutination by virus from Vero or C6/36 cells. High titres of virus from Aal cells were obtained only when the cells were grown in the presence of 10% or higher concentrations of foetal calf serum, and large losses were encountered when this virus was concentrated by pelleting or by precipitation with polyethylene glycol, and during rate-zonal sedimentation through sucrose gradients. Because of these losses, and because of poor incorporation of [35S]methionine in Aal cells, only analytical amounts of labelled structural proteins were recovered. Electropherograms showed that the presumptive envelope protein E of Kunjin virus from Aal cells migrated more rapidly than E of virions grown in C6/36 and Vero cells, and that the core (C) and membrane-like (M) proteins were not detectably labelled. All the observed changes in phenotype were reversed during one cycle of growth in Vero cells.

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