Propagation and assay of hepatitis A virus in vitro

Ten strains of hepatitis A virus (HAV) originating from far distant geographical locations were adapted to growth in PLC/PRF/5 (human hepatoma derived and/or MRC-5 (human embryonic lung) cells. In the course of primary adaptation some of these strains exhibited a predilection for distinct cultural conditions such as type of host cell and temperature of incubation. With progressive passage, variant viruses with quite different requirements could be selected; yet, it proved impossible to isolate a virus which replicated equally well in both types of cells and at both 32 and 37 degrees C without at least one preceding passage under the new conditions. Analysis of the virus/cell relationship of well adapted HAV strains revealed that the replication cycle of HAV extends over about 24 h. Moreover, replication evidently passes from a state of active production of infectious virus to a phase during which hepatitis A antigen (HAAg) is synthesized and terminates in the state of persistent infection with markedly reduced synthetic activity. In all three phases replication of HAV is non-cytolytic and the vast majority of both infectious virus and of HAAg remains cell associated. The observations concerning the growth characteristics of HAV were used to develop two rapid in vitro assay systems for HAV infectivity (fluorescent focus assay and in situ RIA). Finally, the conditions for large scale production of infectious HAV and of HAAg in a cell factory system were analysed.