The development of TRIC organisms in cell cultures during multiple infection.

The relationship between multiplicity of infection and the yield of organisms and of polysaccharide was studied in BHK 21 cells infected with TRIC organisms. Although an increase in the multiplicity of infection resulted in an increase in the absolute number of organisms per culture, there was a decrease in relation to the number of infecting organisms. The amount of polysaccharide produced was independent of multiplicity of infection; it was not limited by the concentration of glucose in the medium. Polysaccharide leaked from cells and was slowly broken down in the culture medium.