Replication of adenovirus types 5, 7, and 12 during inhibition of host cell oxidative metabolism.

Replication of human adenovirus type 5 (non-oncogenic), type 7 (weakly oncogenic), and type 12 (highly oncogenic) was studied. Inhibition of cellular oxidative metabolism with sodium cyanide resulted in much lower yields of progeny virions in chimpanzee liver cells, an established cell line derived by biopsy from a normal chimpanzee. Inhibition of oxidative metabolism had no effect on virus replication in HEp-2 cells, an established cell line derived from epidermoid carcinoma tissue from the larynx of a human being. The NaCN, at a concentration of 10(-4) M in cell culture medium, was at a sub-lethal level for host cells during a 48 h period for virus replication under one-step growth conditions.