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Virus-induced cell fusion enhanced by phytohaemagglutinin

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Abstract

ONCOGENIC transformation by viruses or chemicals1–5, treatment with proteolytic enzymes1,6 and infection with nononcogenic enveloped viruses7,8, produce cell surface alterations that increase cellular susceptibility to agglutination by plant lectins. More recently, lectins have been used to modify the replication and cytopathogenicity of enveloped viruses grown in normal cells9,10. It has been shown that treatment of cells with con A inhibits paramyxovirus-induced cell fusion.11 In contrast, the results reported here indicate that another plant lectin, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), can enhance the fusion of cells infected with the paramyxovirus Newcastle disease virus (NDV).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology, University College Hospital Medical School, London, WC1

    P. REEVE, G. HEWLETT & H. WATKINS

  2. Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey

    D. J. ALEXANDER

  3. Department of Experimental Pathology, Roswell Park Memorial Institute Buffalo, New York, 14203

    G. POSTE

Authors
  1. P. REEVE
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  2. G. HEWLETT
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  3. H. WATKINS
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  4. D. J. ALEXANDER
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  5. G. POSTE
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REEVE, P., HEWLETT, G., WATKINS, H. et al. Virus-induced cell fusion enhanced by phytohaemagglutinin. Nature 249, 355–356 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/249355a0

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