Infectivity of the DNA from four isolates of JC virus

Abstract

The infectivity of JC virus DNA was demonstrated in its most permissive cell culture, primary human fetal glial cells. The amount of infectivity observed in these heterogeneous cultures varied considerably between batches of cells. Contrary to results obtained with the papovaviruses SV-40 and BK virus, the Ca technique was more efficient at promoting JC virus DNA infectivity than the DEAE-dextran method: maximum infectivity titers of 4 .times. 104 and 6 .times. 103 fluorescent cell units/.mu.g of DNA, respectively. These values represent an approximate recovery of infectivity from virus of between 0.02-0.14%. Comparisons of infectivity of DNA obtained from 4 isolates of JC virus and which differed in their degrees of heterogeneity did not reveal significant differences. The JC virus DNA was not infectious in primary human fetal lung and kidney cells.