Characterization of a cell culture persistently infected with the DA strain of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus

Abstract

We established a persistent infection in L 929 cells with the DA strain of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. Our studies showed that only a small number of cells in the cultures contained infectious virus or viral antigen. A role for interferon in the maintenance of persistence was suggested. Viral isolates from the cultures were not temperature sensitive, nor did they contain viral capsid polypeptide mutations or defective interfering particles. T1 oligonucleotide maps showed evidence of mutation in two of three isolates.