Defective infection of bovine herpesvirus 1 in nonpermissive murine cells

The defective growth of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) was analyzed in non-pe rmissive murine embryo fibroblast, BALB/3T3 A31-1-1 (A31) cells. BHV-1 was able to attach and penetrate into A31 cells at similar levels that were see n in semi-permissive cells. Once penetrated into A31 cells, BHV-1 was effic iently transported to nuclei, but the onset of expression of immediate earl y (IE) protein and viral DNA replication was not observed. These data sugge st that the viral replication of BHV-1 in A31 cells is arrested at the poin t prior to the expression of IE proteins.