[Propagation of the HTV in primary human embryonic kidney and lung cell culture]

2 strains of Hantaan virus (HTV, 76-118, Hubei-114) have been propagated successfully in cultured primary human embryonic kidney (HEK) and lung (HEL) cells. Cytopathic effect (CPE) was observed in the two kind of cells on day 5 to 7 postinoculation which showed the cell became round and clustered, then detached. The replicating peak of the Hubei-114 in two kinds of cell cultures appeared on the 11th day and another strain on the 14th or 17th day after infection. The ultrastructure changes were observed with EM and IEM, which stained by ICGT before embedding. It was discovered that the mitochondia atrophied and decreased, and inclusion bodies in the cytoplasma of HEK and KEL cells. A large amount of gold granulae were found in the inclusion bodies and the virions were seen occasionally. Contamination with other agents have been ruled out. Our data suggest that the replicating characters of HTV in these cell systems might be possible for the pathogenicity of HFRS for human.