Characteristics of serially propagated monkey kidney cell cultures with persistent rubella infection.

Maassab, H. F. (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), and J. A. Veronelli. Characteristics of serially propagated monkey kidney cell cultures with persistent rubella infection. J. Bacteriol. 91:436-441. 1966.-A persistent infection of LLC-MK(2) cells with rubella virus has been established and maintained for over 3 years. This "carrier culture," designated as LLC-MK(2)-RAL, possesses distinct morphological and biological characteristics when compared with the original uninfected LLC-MK(2) line. The mechanism of viral persistance has not been entirely elucidated, but available data suggest a regulated infection with transmission of the virus directly from cell to cell or through cell division. Interferon was isolated from RAL (rubella-associated line) culture, which explains partly the wide spectrum of resistance to superinfecting viruses. Amantadine, although inhibiting cultures of LLC-MK(2) cells infected with rubella virus, failed to cure the "carrier culture."