JC virus, a human polyomavirus associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: additional biological characteristics and antigenic relationships

Abstract

JC virus, a human polyomavirus, failed to grow or produce cytopathic effects in cells other than primary human fetal glial (PHFG) cells. Cells tested included other primary human cells and glial cells from other animals. Only a rare cell in inoculated insusceptible human cell cultures produced T [tumor associated] or virion antigen. In PHFG cell cultures JC virus produced subtle cytopathic effects, and the majority of progeny remained cell associated. Only a few cells in the heterogenous PHFG cell cultures contained T antigen at 24 H postinoculation, and virion antigen was not detected until 48 h postinoculation. The infectivity of JC virus was resistant to inactivation by ether and by heating at 50.degree. C for 1 h. A 3-way minor antigenic relationship was demonstrated among the virion antigens of JC virus, BK virus and SV-40 by neutralization and/or hemagglutination inhibition tests. Serological evidence is presented for the existence of JC virus as a distinct entity before the use of SV-40 contaminated poliovirus vaccines and for the nonexistence of an animal reservoir for JC virus infection.