title: Infectivity assays of human rhinovirus-A and -B serotypes.
abstract: Infectivity is a fundamental property of viral pathogens such as human rhinoviruses (HRVs). This chapter describes two methods for measuring the infectivity of HRV-A and -B serotypes: end point dilution (TCID50) assay and plaque assay. End point dilution assay is a quantal, not quantitative, assay that determines the dilution of the sample at which 50 % of the aliquots have infectious virus. It can be used for all the HRV-A and -B serotypes and related clinical isolates that grow in cell culture and induce cytopathic effect (CPE), degenerative changes in cells that are visible under a microscope. Plaque assay is a quantitative assay that determines the number of infectious units of a virus in a sample. After an infectious unit of virus infects one cell, the infected cell produces progeny viruses that then infect and kill a circle of adjacent cells. This circle of dead cells detaches from the dish and thus leaves a clear hole in a cell monolayer. Plaque assay works only for HeLa-adapted HRV-A and -B serotypes that can make visible plaques on the cell monolayer. Currently the end point dilution assay and plaque assay have not been developed for the newly discovered HRV-C.
authors.affiliation: Biological Mimetics Inc., 124 Byte Drive, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA, wlee5hkg@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wai-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wensheng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mosser
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D065288:Serogroup; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay / Q000379:methods*