Human malignant melanoma cell line (HMV-II) for isolation of influenza C and parainfluenza viruses.

HMV-II, a human malignant melanoma cell line, was compared with other cell lines (MDCK, Vero, and LLC-MK2) and primary cultures of monkey kidney (PMK) cells for the isolation and quantification of influenza and parainfluenza viruses. HMV-II cells were superior to MDCK and LLC-MK2 cells in quantification of the influenza C virus and were used successfully in the isolation of the virus from clinical specimens. The HMV-II cell line was also more sensitive for isolating parainfluenza viruses from clinical specimens than were Vero and PMK cells; there was, however, no significant difference in the quantification of the viruses among these cultures. As far as influenza A and B viruses were concerned, the HMV-II cell line was significantly less sensitive than MDCK cells, and no virus was isolated from clinical specimens with HMV-II cells. Thus, HMV-II cells are useful for the isolation of influenza C and parainfluenza viruses as an alternative to embryonated hen's eggs and PMK cells.