| Abstract: | T-lymphoid cell lines (H9/CBL-4 and CEM/CBL-4) persistently infected with HIV-1 were observed simultaneously for 6.5 months. The virus activity was characterized by such parameters as the number of infected cells determined by fluorescent antibody technique, the total level of virus--specific protein synthesis determined by immune blotting method, and the capacity to infect H9 and CEM cells. A comparative analysis of the two cell lines helped define the evaluation criteria for high and low productivity cultures. It was shown that a short-term virus persistence could exist in high-productivity cultures and long-term persistence in low-productivity cultures. The cytopathic activity of virus in cultures could be judged by accumulation of virus protein p24 in cell-free supernatants, this being one of the factors defining the efficacy of infection of H9 and CEM T-lymphoid cells. |
