Studies on the Persistent Infection with Measles Virus in HeLa Cells

Abstract

ABSTRACT Almost all cells in HeLa/MV culture contained measles antigen which was mainly detected on the cell surface by immunofluorescent and hemadsorption technique. Cytotoxic effect on HeLa/MV cells was demonstrated by anti‐measles sera and complement (immunolysis), indicating the existence of viral surface antigen. Anti‐measles serum absorbed with purified measles particles completely lost the ability of immunolysis. Though the cytolysis by anti‐measles sera was due to antigen‐antibody reaction on the cell surface, the mechanism of lysis seemed to be different from that of the cytolysis by anti‐HeLa cell serum. It was suggested that some unknown serum factors other than components of complement are necessary for immunolysis by anti‐measles serum.