Propagation of Measles Virus in Cultures of Chick Embryo Cells.

Abstract

An egg-adapted strain of measles virus was propagated in cultures of chick embryo cells throughout 24 serial passages. Beginning with the 6th passage an abrupt decrease occurred in the time required to attain maximal concentration of virus in the fluid. The concentration of virus was comparable to that found in cultures of infected primate cells. In the 5th chick cell passage the virus began to produce cytopathic changes closely resembling those occurring in human epithelial cells infected with measles virus. The identity of the agent was confirmed in neutralization tests with measles antisera. In chick cells maintained with a medium of known composition virus production approached that in cultures nourished with serum and tissue extracts. Inoculation of rabbits with the virus propagated in chick cells was followed by development of neutralizing antibodies specific for the agent of measles.