Isolation and preliminary characterization of temperature-sensitive mutants of Newcastle disease virus

Abstract

Temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of Newcastle disease virus were isolated [grown on chicken embryo cell cultures] and characterized genetically (complementation), biochemically (RNA synthesis) and biologically (fusion from within and hemadsorption). Fifteen of these mutants were divided into 5 complementation groups. Groups A (5 mutants) and E (1 mutant) are ts for RNA synthesis (RNA-) as well as for the other functions. Group B contains 4 RNA+ mutants of which 1 is ts for fusion, 1 for hemadsorption and 2 for neither function. Group C contains 1 RNA+ mutant which is a poor cell fuser. Group D contains 2 RNA+ mutants which are ts for fusion. In addition, 2 noncomplementing mutants (group BC) fail to complement both group B and group C mutants while exhibiting complementation with mutants in groups A, D and E.