Infection of Monkey Kidney Tissue Cultures with Virus-Like Agents.

Abstract

Summary During attempts to adapt dengue virus to rhesus monkey kidney cultures, an unidentified agent which causes formation of syncytial masses and vacuolation in such cultures was encountered. Subsequently, 3 additional agents with similar cytopathogenic effects were passed and maintained in HeLa cell cultures from uninoculated monkey kidney cultures. Renal tissue and not the medium constituents is the source of the agent. Bacteriological studies with one agent were negative. The same agent passed through a Selas filter. Accordingly it is considered to be virus-like in nature. Similar experiments were not done with 3 other agents but because of certain common characteristics are believed to be of the same nature.