Replication of the B19 parvovirus in human bone marrow cell cultures.

The B19 parvovirus is responsible for at least three human diseases. The virus was successfully propagated in suspension cultures of human erythroid bone marrow from patients with hemolytic anemias; release of newly synthesized virus into the supernatants of infected cultures was observed. This culture system allowed study at a molecular level of events associated with the B19 life cycle. The B19 parvovirus replicated through high molecular weight intermediate forms, linked through a terminal hairpin structure. B19 replication in vitro was highly dependent on the erythropoietic content of cultures and on addition of the hormone erythropoietin.