Variability of attenuated alphavirus strains in virion aggregate infection
Tsilinskiĭ, I.I.; Karpova, E.F.
Voprosy Virusologii 28(5): 601-607
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0507-4088 PMID: 6318452 Document Number: 209609
A natural process of infection with multiploid virions was stimulated and the genetic effects occurring in this infection were studied in experiments with homogeneous attenuated strain of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus producing the smallest plaques. The process of infection with multiploid virions was reproduced by infecting the cells with artificially obtained aggregates. Under these conditions, small- and large-plaque virus was produced which in some cases had a higher virulence than the parental strain. A possible mechanism of this phenomenon and its practical implications for the evaluation of the properties of attenuated alphavirus strains is discussed.