[Effect of the tick-borne encephalitis virus on the chromosomes and cell division in different cell cultures]

The mutagenic effect of tick-borne encephalitis virus (the Pan strain) was studied in chick embryo cells, Syrian hamster kidney cells and pig embryo kidney (SPEV) cell cultures showing different sensitivities to this virus. The dynamics of formation and types of chromosome damages were shown to be different in latent, subacute and acute forms of infection. Virus-induced chromosome aberrations appeared in the period of termination of the virus reproduction cycle. Differences in the effect of tick-borne encephalitis virus on the synthesis of nuclear DNA in chick embryo and SPEV cells were demonstrated. The experimental results suggest that a temporary increase of the mitotic activity observed in the inoculated cultures was due both to a delay of cells in one of the stages of the mitotic cycle (chick embryo and SPEV cells) and to a temporary stimulation of DNA synthesis (SPEV cells).