Interactions between an influenza A-2 virus and rhesus monkey kidney cells

Summary

The attachment of the MK(monkey kidney)-16 mutant of A-2 Singapore virus to rhesus monkey kidney cells proceeded rapidly. At 30 minutes about 50% and at 60 minutes about 80% of the virus was attached to the cells. The penetration of the virus was slow. At 30 minutes only 10% and at 120 minutes only 20% of the attached virus was not neutralized by specific antibody.

Rhesus monkey kidney cells were found to be less susceptible to infection with this virus than chick embryos. The results obtained indicate, that this was not due to the inhomogeneity of the virus population, but due to the incompetence of a great majority of rhesus monkey kidney cells to produce infectious virus progeny. Although apparently all cells could be infected and produce viral subunits, only 1 out of 1000 infected cells was able to induce plaque formation in the homologous system and 1 out of 25–90 was able to initiate infection in chick embryos. The present evidence also indicates that a single infectious particle was sufficient to initiate productive infection in the competent rhesus monkey kidney cell.