Genetic studies of cell fusion induced by herpes simplex virus type 1

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980 · J. Virol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5059817

Read, G S; Person, S; Keller, P M

Eight cell fusion-causing syn mutants were isolated from the KOS strain of herpes simplex virus type 1. Unlike the wild-type virus, the mutants produced plaques containing multinucleated cells, or syncytia. Fusion kinetics curves were established with a Coulter Counter assay for the mutants and wild-type virus in single infections of human embryonic lung (HEL) cells, for the mutants and wild-type virus in mixed infections (dominance test), and for pairs of mutants in mixed infection and proceeded with an exponential decrease in the number of small single cells. At some later time that was characteristic of the mutant, there was a significant reduction in the rate of fusion for all but possibly one of the mutants. Although the wild-type virus did not produce syncytial plaques, it did induce a small amount of fusion that stopped abruptly about 2 h after it started. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that both mutants and wild type induce an active fusion inducer and that the activity of this inducer is subsequently inhibited. The extent of fusion is apparently determined by the length of the interval during which the fusion inducer is active. That fusion is actively inhibited in wild-type infections is indicated by the observation that syn mutant-infected cells fused more readily with uninfected cells than with wild type-infected cells.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-S-02-3419
• OSTI ID: 5059817
• Journal Information: J. Virol.; (United States), Vol. 35:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
HERPES SIMPLEX
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CELL MEMBRANES
EMBRYONIC CELLS
GENETICS
INFECTIVITY
MUTANTS
PHENOTYPE
RESPIRATORY TRACT CELLS
TIME DEPENDENCE
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGY
CELL CONSTITUENTS
DISEASES
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
MEMBRANES
SKIN DISEASES
550700* - Microbiology
550300 - Cytology