Hepatitis A-virus in cell culture: I. propagation of different hepatitis A-virus isolates in a fetal rhesus monkey kidney cell line (Frhk-4).

A fetal rhesus monkey kidney cell line (Frhk-4) was infected with different hepatitis A-virus (HAV) isolates GBG, GBM, GJA. The time-dependent absorption of the HAV isolates of Fhrk-4 cells was measured. Replication of all three isolates in these cells could be demonstrated intracellularly 8--10 weeks after infection, and release of HAV into the supernatant some 10--15 weeks after infection could be shown. The specificity of the virus determination by RIA from supernatants of HAV-infected cells from passages 1, 2, and 3 in Frhk-4 cells was shown with sera that were collected from a chimpanzee infected with MS-1 both before infection as well as during convalescence. These results were subsequently compared with sera collected from human patients before the onset of hepatitis as well as during convalescence. With immunofluorescence microscopy a cytoplasmic fluorescence could be shown in HAV-infected Frhk-4 cells and finally the release of 27 nm HAV particles into the supernatant of HAV-infected Frhk-4 cells could be demonstrated by immune electron microscopy.