U.V.-enhanced reactivation of capsid protein synthesis and infectious centre formation in mouse cells infected with U.V.-irradiated Minute-Virus-of-Mice

Abstract

The effect of U.V.-irradiation of mouse A9 cells on their ability to replicate unirradiated and U.V.-irradiated Minute-Virus-of-Mice was studied. The survival of two viral functions was measured in primary infected cells: the synthesis of viral structural proteins, as detected in situ using an immunoenzymatic assay, and the production of infectious centres, as detected by plaque formation onto appropriate indicator cells. Cell irradiation prior to infection enhanced virus survival over that in control cells (U.V.-enhanced reactivation phenomenon). The magnitude of this effect was similar for both viral functions, suggesting that the step(s) of the virus cycle sensitive to the reactivation process precede(s) the release of the primary burst and secondary infection.