Properties of rabies strain ("Pasteur Potsdam") adapted to primary dog kidney cells

The Pasteur strain of fixed rabies virus (Pasteur Institute Paris, passage 2061 in rabbit brain) was adapted by alternate passages to primary dog kidney cells. The adapted rabies virus designated as "Pasteur Potsdam" developed no CPE and yielded four harvests with a titre of 5.5-7.0 (log MICLD50/ml). The strain could be grown in BHK 21/S13, CER and N2a neuroblastoma cells. In the cultures of BHK 21/S13 cells the virus titered 6.0-8.5 (log MICLD50/ml). In SDS PAGE its G protein migrated faster than that of the ERA strain. The inactivated antigen induced interferon in mice. The strain was identified by anti-rabies immunoglobulin. The harvested material showed an antigenic value of 0.4 IU/ml. The virus was not pathogenic after s.c. and i.p. inoculations to mice, rats, Syrian hamsters, and rabbits and after i.m. inoculation to Syrian hamsters and rats.