Properties of the viruses selected during persistent infection of L cells with VSV

Two virus clones, VSV-mp and VSV-sp, were isolated from L cells persistently infected with VSV (New Jersey serotype). Both clones were more temperature sensitive than the parent virus, VSV-o, and grew more slowly, gave smaller plaques, less c.p.e. and lower virus yields in L cells. Unlike the parent virus, both persistent viruses induced interferon production in L cells. Stable carrier cultures could be obtained from L cells infected with VSV-sp at low multiplicities without pretreatment with interferon. This may be related to the fact that VSV-sp is more sensitive to interferon than either VSV-mp or VSV-o.