EFFECT OF MITOMYCIN C ON THE GROWTH OF SOME ANIMAL VIRUSES

Abstract
The growth of a ribo-nucleic acid (RNA) virus, meningo encephalomyelitis virus, and a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) virus, vaccinia, in mammalian cells either in the presence of, or after pretreatment with, suitable concentrations of mitomycin C was studied. The presence of biologically intact DNA is not required for normal RNA virus growth and nucleic acid synthesis. A profound inhibition of vaccinia growth is caused by mitomycin, either through pretreatment of the host cell or by its presence throughout the course of infection.