Restricted growth of avirulent avian reovirus strain 2177 in macrophage derived HD11 cells

The replication of two pathotypes of avian reovirus, 1733 and 2177 in trans formed chicken lymphoid and myeloid cell lines was examined, showing that o nly the macrophage cell line, HD11, supports replication. The virulent stra in 1733 causes a lytic infection producing 100-1000 fold more virus than th e avirulent strain 2177. Cells infected with strain 2177 display delayed vi ral RNA and protein synthesis as well as a suppressed expression of the maj or capsid protein muB. These features may contribute to the lower virulence of the strain 2177 in their natural host in vivo. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.