A vesicular stomatitis virus (cytomegalovirus) pseudotype and its use in neutralization tests

Infection with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) of human diploid cells preinfected with the AD-169 strain of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) resulted in the formation of a VSV (CMV) pseudotype. Its formation was favored by increasing the bicarbonate content in doubly-infected cultures. The pseudotype was capable of infecting not only human but also rabbit cells. Pseudotype particles formed after infection with the tl 17 mutant of VSV, which carries a thermolabile lesion in its neutralization antigen, were more stable at 45 degrees than the original tl 17 virus. The pseudotype was used in the neutralization test with human sera. All sera positive for CMV antibody in the complement-fixation (CF) test were also reactive in the neutralization test. In addition, numerous sera negative for CMV antibody in the CF test neutralized the pseudotype.