Temperature-sensitive events during the replication of the attenuated S-1 clone of dengue type 2 virus.

Temperature-sensitive events occurring during the replication of the attenuated S-1 clone of dengue type 2 virus were examined. The S-1 clone was more thermolabile than the parent virus at the nonpermissive temperature of 38.5 degrees C. Adsorption experiments in fetal rhesus monkey lung cells revealed an inefficient adsorption of S-1 at 38.5 degrees C compared with the parent virus, suggesting an alteration in a thermolabile virion protein important in adsorption. The production of S-1 viral RNA and antigen occurred at the nonpermissive temperature, which indicated that early events in the replication cycle of S-1 were not affected. Release of infectious virus at 38.5 degrees C was not impaired; however, lower amounts of infectious virus in infected cells at the nonpermissive temperature indicated that maturation of the S-1 clone was suppressed.