Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Plaque assay and primary isolation of influenza a viruses in an established line of canine kidney cells (MDCK) in the presence of trypsin

  • Published:
Medical Microbiology and Immunology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A wide variety of influenza A viruses, comprising human, equine, porcine, and avian strains, grew productively in an established line of canine kidney cells (MDCK) under an overlay medium containing trypsin, and formed well-defined plaques regardless of their prior passage history. Plaquing efficiency was comparable to the efficiency of infection in fertile eggs via allantoic route. MDCK cells have also been successfully employed for the primary isolation of influenza A virus from throat washings of patients. Parallel titration of several clinical specimens showed that the inoculation into MDCK cells followed by incubation in the presence of trypsin was an isolation procedure as sensitive as the amniotic inoculation into fertile eggs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Canada)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Appleyard, G., Maber, H. B.: Plaque formation by influenza viruses in the presence of trypsin. J. gen. Virol.25, 351–357 (1974)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Came, P. E., Pascale, A., Shimonaski, G.: Effect of pancreatin on plaque formation by influenza viruses. Arch. ges. Virusforsch.23, 346–352 (1968)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gaush, C. R., Smith, T. F.: Replication and plaque assay of influenza virus in an established line of canine kidney cells. Appl. Microbiol.16, 588–594 (1968)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, J. O., Olsen, G. N., Castle, J. R., Moloney, A. S.: Comparison of proteolytic enzyme activity in pulmonary alveolar macrophages and blood leukocytes in smokers and non-smokers. Amer. Rev. resp. Dis.111, 579–586 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Itoh, H., Morimoto, Y., Iwase, I., Doi, Y., Sanpe, T., Nakajima, M., Okawa, S., Katoh, T., Ishikawa, M., Muramatsu, S.: Effect of trypsin on viral susceptibility of Vero cell cultures cercopithecus kidney line. Jap. J. med. Sci. Biol.23, 227–235 (1970)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kilbourne, E. D.: Plaque formation by influenza viruses, pp. 146–160. In: K. Habel and N. P. Salzman, (eds.), Fundamental techniques in virology. New York: Academic Press, Inc. 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarowitz, S. G., Compans, R. W., Choppin, P. W.: Proteolytic cleavage of the hemagglutinin polypeptide of influenza virus. Function of the uncleaved polypeptide HA. Virology52, 199–212 (1973)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skehel, J. J., Waterfield, M. D.: Studies on the primary structure of the influenza virus hemagglutinin. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)72, 93–97 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobita, K.: Permanent canine kidney (MDCK) cells for isolation and plaque assay of influenza B viruses. Med. Microbiol. Immunol. (in press)

  • Tobita, K., Kilbourne, E. D.: Genetic recombination for antigenic markers of antigenically different strains of influenza B virus. J. Virol.13, 347–352 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Institute of Public Health, Tokyo

    K. Tobita, A. Sugiura, C. Enomoto & M. Furuyama

  2. Hygienic Laboratory of Okayama Prefecture, Okayama

    K. Tobita, A. Sugiura, C. Enomoto & M. Furuyama

Authors
  1. K. Tobita
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Sugiura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Enomoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Furuyama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tobita, K., Sugiura, A., Enomoto, C. et al. Plaque assay and primary isolation of influenza a viruses in an established line of canine kidney cells (MDCK) in the presence of trypsin. Med Microbiol Immunol 162, 9–14 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02123572

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02123572

Keywords