Genomic modifications in cell line cultures chronically infected with a myxovirus.

Abstract

SummaryThree sublines of human carcinoma KB cell line have been chronically infected with parainfluenzae virus type 3 for a period varying from one to six years. Cyto-genetic analysis of the parent cell line and the infected sublines has shown that the modal number, which was 79 for the non-infected KB cells, decreased progressively to 78 in one subline, the most recently infected, to 76 in the second, and to 71 in the third, the longest infected. The variation was noticeable mainly in the C group (Denver's group 6-12) chromosomes. Moreover, one of the two marker chromosomes found in the KB cells was absent in the third subline and some of its cells were endoreduplicated. A hypothesis of genomic selection is discussed.