Persistent reovirus infection of CHO cells resulting in virus resistance.

We obtained a persistently infected line of Chinese hamster ovary cells by selection for resistance to reovirus infection. The cells were persistently infected by a population of viruses that were (i) cytopathic for parental chinese hamster ovary cells and (ii) similar to wild-type reovirus in molecular characteristics. The growth rate, plating efficiency, and morphology of the cells were altered. A large majority of the cells in the population were infected. There was no detectable interferon present in the medium. The cells were relatively resistant to a wide range of viruses.