Sensitivity of Populations of Clonal Lines of HeLa Cells to Polioviruses.

Abstract

Six clonal lines of HeLa cells (and subclonal lines) were tested for their sensitivity to types 1 and 2 polioviruses by the plaque assay technique. Simultaneous testing of all 6 lines provided evidence that one line was more sensitive and one more resistant to the viruses. The more resistant line lost this resistance with cell passage, but the more sensitive line maintained its greater sensitivity for a period of at least 2 years. The sensitivity of subclonal lines was, with few exceptions, the same as the respective parental line. Propagation of the more sensitive clonal line provided a stable tool for studies of polioviruses.