title: HeLa cells grown continuously in protein-free medium: a novel model for the study of virus replication.
abstract: Human carcinoma of the cervix cell line HeLa, adapted to continuous growth in a protein-free chemically defined medium, was used as substrate for the replication of several human pathogenic viruses. Growth characteristics of the cells designated as HeLa-PF in protein-free 1:1 nutrient mixture of Dulbecco's modified MEM and Ham's F-12 supplemented with L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate were similar to those of the cells grown in a serum-supplemented medium. After 30 months (135 subcultures) in the protein-free medium, HeLa-PF cells were infected with poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3; adenovirus types 2 and 5 and herpes simplex virus type 1. Both adenoviruses and polioviruses developed in HeLa-PF cells titers and showed cytopathic effects comparable to those obtained in conventionally grown and maintained cells; in contrast, significantly lower herpes simplex virus type 1 titers and changed characteristics of the cytopathic effects were observed in HeLa-PF cells. The results show that HeLa-PF cells grown continuously in protein-free medium provide a unique system for the study of virus replication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Virology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, FRG.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cinatl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cinatl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rabenau
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Doerr
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division; D003470:Culture Media; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000502:physiology; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media