Multiplicity-dependent host range restriction of human adenovirus in human embryonal carcinoma cells

Abstract

The ability of human adenovirus type 5 to replicate and produce infectious virus was examined in two different cell lines, HeLa cells and Tera I, a human embryonal carcinoma cell line. High titers of infectious adenovirus were produced (10 9 PFU/ml) by growth in HeLa cell cultures independent of the input multiplicity of infection (by 96 hr postinfection). On the other hand, 3–4 logs less infectious virus were synthesized in Tera I cells when low (0.01–0.1 PFU/cell) input multiplicities of infection were used. At input multiplicities of 1, 10, or 100 PFU/cell, 1−1 1 2 logs less infectious virus was produced by Tera I cells than HeLa cell cultures at late times (96–144 hr) postinfection. These results demonstrate an adenovirus input multiplicity-dependent, host range restriction in human embryonal carcinoma cells. These observations may provide a means of examining the differences between cells with distinct developmental potentials.