Persistent cyclic herpes simplex virus infection in vitro. II. Localization of virus, degree of cell destruction, and mechanisms of virus transmission.

Hampar, Berge (National Institute of Dental Research, Bethesda, Md.). Persistent cyclic herpes simplex virus infection in vitro. II. Localization of virus, degree of cell destruction, and mechanisms of virus transmission. J. Bacteriol. 91:1959-1964. 1966. The localization of virus, degree of cell destruction, and mechanisms of virus transmission in persistent herpes simplex virus-infected cultures were studied. The major fraction of infectious virus was associated with the medium and a minor fraction was associated with the attached cells. Virus in the medium was further separable into a sedimentable (cellular) fraction and a nonsedimentable (extracellular) fraction. The sedimentable fraction was comprised of cellular debris, most of which appeared to contain viral antigen, and intact cells of which less than 10% contained infectious virus. Cell destruction during the cycle involved more than 99.9% of the maximal number of cells present. Infection could be transmitted by extracellular virus, cell-to-cell transfer, and reattachment of infectious cellular material. The results indicated that transmission by reattachment was probably mediated through the cellular debris rather than the intact cells.