Increased yields of Japanese encephalitis virus in heat shocked cell cultures

Monolayers of porcine stable kidney (PS) and baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cell lines were exposed to 43 degrees C and 41 degrees C, respectively, for 4 hrs and infected with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) Nakayama strain at low and high multiplicity of infection. Virus yields were increased by 0.2-2.5 log PFU/ml in heat shocked cultures compared to control cultures at 37 degrees C. This phenomenon was detected in the late phase of replication after 16 hrs post infection. The progeny virus obtained from heat shocked cultures was more thermostable.