Establishment of respiratory syncytial virus persistence in cell lines: Association with defective interfering particles

Mirza Romero Valdovinos, Beatríz Gómez

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch Articlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Defective interfering particles (DIP) have frequently been advanced to explain the persistence of virus in vitro. However, DIP involvement in the establishment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) persistence in cell lines has not been documented. We report establishment of RSV persistence in human epithelial larynx (HEp-2) and lung (H358) cell lines by infection with RSV enriched with DIP. Viral persistence in HEp-2 and H358 has been stably maintained for >3 years without apparent cytopathic effect or periodic crises. Persistent cultures resisted superinfection with the original virus and no cyclic variations in infectious virus and DIP yields were observed. During passages, low levels of infectious RSV and defined species of DIP were produced. Moreover, 80-90% of the cells exhibited viral antigen. Persistence in H358 cells was established with a buoyant density band containing DIP and infectious virus obtained from a H358 persistently infected culture. Thus, DIP are required for establishment of RSV persistence cultures in human epithelial cell lines; however, DIP per se are not able to establish persistence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)190-198
Number of pages9
JournalIntervirology
Volume46
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

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