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A Non-invasive Way to Isolate and Phenotype Cells from the Conjunctiva
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A Non-invasive Way to Isolate and Phenotype Cells from the Conjunctiva

Published on: July 5, 2017

A carrier state of mumps virus in human conjunctiva cells. I. General characteristics

D L WALKER, H C HINZE

    The Journal of Experimental Medicine
    |November 1, 1962
    PubMed

    Insights

    Mumps virus established a persistent carrier state in human conjunctiva cells. This non-cytopathic virus retained its identity but lost its cell-damaging ability, conferring resistance to superinfection.

    Area of Science:

    • Virology
    • Cell Biology
    • Immunology

    Background:

    • Mumps virus is a significant human pathogen.
    • Understanding persistent viral infections is crucial for developing effective treatments.
    • The interaction between viruses and host cells can lead to complex cellular states.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the establishment and characteristics of a persistent mumps virus carrier state in human conjunctiva cells.
    • To determine the biological and immunological properties of mumps virus in a long-term carrier culture.
    • To assess the impact of the carrier state on cellular susceptibility to other viral infections.

    Main Methods:

    • Culturing human conjunctiva cells with mumps virus for over 100 subcultures (3 years).
    • Monitoring viral presence in culture medium and cells.
    • Assessing viral cytopathogenicity using susceptible cell lines.
    • Identifying viral antigen within cells using fluorescein-labeled antiserum.
    • Testing carrier cell resistance to superinfection with various viruses.

    Main Results:

    • A stable mumps virus carrier state was established in human conjunctiva cells, maintained for 3 years without antiserum.
    • The carrier state virus lost its cytopathogenicity but remained identifiable by neutralization.
    • 80-95% of carrier cells contained mumps virus antigen, localized in discrete cytoplasmic masses.
    • Carrier cultures exhibited resistance to a cytopathogenic mumps virus strain but not to other paramyxoviruses.

    Conclusions:

    • Mumps virus can establish a long-term, non-cytopathic carrier state in human conjunctiva cells.
    • This carrier state alters viral properties and confers cross-protection against homologous virus superinfection.
    • The distinct intracellular antigen localization suggests unique viral-host interactions in carrier cells.
    Keywords:
    CONJUNCTIVAMUMPS VIRUS

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