Robert M. McAllister

RD-114 Virus Infectivity Assay by Measurements of DNA Polymerase Activity and Virus Group Specific Antigen

Summary The infectivity of RDV, a non-transforming type-C virus, can be assayed by induction of virus-specific gs antigen and of DNA polymerase activity in infected cell cultures. RD cells are more susceptible to RDV infection than other human cell lines or strains tested. Although RDV infection of the cells can be detected 3 days after exposure of RD cells to large doses of virus, 3-4 wk are required to obtain demonstrable infection of cell cultures infected with small doses of virus. Simpler assays based upon the capacity of RDV to induce syncytia in KB or KC cells 7 to 9 days after infection expectedly yield lower infectivity titers than those obtained by RDP or gs antigen induction assays in RD cells 21-28 days after infection.