VARIANTS ABLE TO CAUSE GROWTH-HORMONE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME ARE PRESENTWITHIN THE DISEASE-NIL WE STRAIN OF LYMPHOCYTIC CHORIOMENINGITIS VIRUS

Persistent infection of C3H/St mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) strain Armstrong leads to disordered growth and hypoglyce mia. Both host and viral determinants contribute to this growth hormon e (GH) deficiency syndrome (GHDS). Development of the GHDS correlates with the virus's ability to replicate in the GH-producing cells and ca use reduced levels of GH synthesis. LCMV strain WE infects few GH-prod ucing cells and does not cause GHDS in C3H/St mice, We show here that clonal variants isolated from the GHDS-nil WE population are able to r eplicate at high levels in GH-producing cells and cause GHDS in C3H/St mice, These variants are stably maintained, but phenotypically silent , within the GHDS-nil WE population.