Low pH-induced cytopathic effect - a survey of seven hantavirus strains

Hantaviruses do not produce cytopathic effects (CPE) in cell culture. Howev er, a syncytial CPE can be induced in 7-day cultures of hantavirus growing in Vero E6 cells by reduction of the pH to approximately 6.2 using a HEPES based buffer. The appearance of this acid induced CPE was examined for seve n different hantavirus strains. The differences noted were striking and ref lected the taxonomic differences between hantaviruses. At 10-100 TCID50% th e size of syncytial foci was very large for Seoul type viruses and smallest for Puumala viruses. The size of syncytia for Hantaan (HTN) virus was inte rmediate between Puumala (PUU) and Seoul (SEO) type viruses. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.