GENOTYPIC AND PHENOTYPIC CHANGES OF BHK-21-CELLS GROWN IN SUSPENSION-CULTURES

The propagation of foot-and-mouth disease virus on BHK-21 suspension c ells, although economically convenient, may yield a scarcely immunizin g antigen. Helpful insights were obtained by investigating a few genot ypic and phenotypic features of the cell cultures. The appearance of p olyploid populations, higher cell concentrations at the end of culturi ng, the progressive reduction of spreading on surfaces and an abnormal expression of the alpha5beta1 integrin were found to be correlated wi th the number of passages in suspension culture. The observed modifica tions in the normal course of the cell-cycle and in the expression of some surface proteins point at a possible mechanism of virus damages a rising from defective cellular functions.