PROPAGATION AND TITRATION OF MURINE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IN A CONTINUOUS BONE-MARROW-DERIVED STROMAL CELL-LINE (M2-10B4)

Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) can only be propagated effectively in mo use embryo fibroblast (MEF) cells. We demonstrate that MCMV replicates significantly better in M2-10B4 cells, a continuous line of murine bo ne marrow stromal cells. M2-10B4 cells were also comparable to MEF cel ls for detection of small amounts of MCMV reactivating from latently i nfected spleen explants. M2-10B4 cells will be very useful for studies of MCMV pathogenesis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.