THEILERS MURINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS VIRUS SUBGROUP STRAIN-SPECIFIC INFECTION IN A MURINE MACROPHAGE-LIKE CELL-LINE

We compared infection of a murine macrophage-like cell line, J774-1, w ith two Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus subgroup strains. The GDVII strain, which is highly virulent and produces acute polioenceph alomyelitis in mice, did not actively replicate in J774-1 cells, altho ugh there was a significant inhibition in cellular protein synthesis. In contrast, the DA strain, which is less virulent and causes demyelin ation with a persistent virus infection, productively infected J774-1 cells; however, there was less virus produced than in BHK-21 cells, an d there was little if any cellular protein shutoff. These in vitro dat a may provide some explanation for the biological activities that are observed between both subgroup strains.