HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION OF A VERO CELL CLONE DISPLAYING EFFICIENTVIRUS-CELL BINDING

The susceptibility of Vero cells and derivative cell clones-to hepatit is C virus (HCV) infection was assayed by qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR)based methods. Cell extracts from Vero cells inoculated with HCV were tested for the presence of both positi ve and negative strands of HCV RNA; in parallel, cell-free HCV genomes were assayed in culture supernatant fluids. Quantitation of genomic H CV RNA molecules in infected cells by competitive reverse transcriptio n PCR (cRT-PCR) indicated that HCV replication was more efficient in a derivative clone (named clone 10) than in parental Vero cells or othe r clones under study. Analysis of HCV-binding to cell receptors, perfo rmed by cRT-PCR quantitation of viral particles adsorbed to the cell s urface, demonstrated a 10-fold higher virus-binding level of clone 10 than that of parental Vero cells. The results shown here indicate that the Vero clone 10 may constitute an efficient model system for analys ing early events in HCV infection as well as a source of virus for dia gnostic and biotechnological applications.