Enhancement of Adenovirus Growth in African Green Monkey Kidney Cell Cultures by SV40

Abstract

SV40 enhances the growth of adenovirus 12 in African green monkey kidney (AGMK) cell cultures. In the absence of SV40, adenovirus 12 produces CPE; however, after 72 hours, less than 1% of the cells contain adenovirus particles by electron microscopy, and titrations show no increase in virus. When similar cultures are infected with both SV40 and adenovirus 12, after 72 hours 75% of the cells contain adenovirus particles and there is an increase in virus by titration. A similar enhancement of the growth of adenovirus 5 in AGMK cultures by SV40 has been observed. The development of progressive adenovirus-type cytopathic changes without demonstrable adenovirus particles in cells of AGMK cultures infected with adenoviruses alone suggests the possibility of some type of incomplete virus formation which is able to go to completion in the presence of SV40.