Biological properties and carbohydrate composition of human parainfluenza virus type 1 in two host systems

Human parainfluenza virus type 1 (HA2 virus) grown either in embryonated hens' eggs or in M. rhesus monkey kidney cells showed differences in size, biological properties and carbohydrate composition. Egg-grown virus showed a larger size (233 nm versus 167 nm), a higher neuraminidase activity (specific activity and initial and maximum velocity) and a higher haemolytic activity than monkey kidney cell-grown virus. The haemagglutinin titre was identical for the HA2 strain grown in both host systems when tested with human O Rh+, guinea-pig and hen red blood cells, but reduced by more than 100-fold when tested with grivet monkey red blood cells. In addition, the carbohydrate content (mainly neutral sugars) was higher in egg-grown virus (9.2%) than in virus grown in MK cells (5.7%), and the amino to neutral sugar ratio was lower (1.2 versus 2.1). The sugars were identified as fucose, mannose, galactose, glucose, glucosamine and galactosamine. The prominent neutral monosaccharide was glucose in egg-grown virus and fucose in MK cell-grown virus. HA2 virus infection of MK cells increased fucose and glucose, and decreased mannose and galactose levels.