PSEUDORABIES VIRUS INFECTIVITY FOR SWINE SKIN CHARACTERIZED IN-VITRO

The infectivity of pseudorabies virus (PrV) was demonstrated in a cell substrate derived from swine skin explant cultures designated primary porcine skin cells ((c/c)SLA PPSC). (c/c)SLA PPSC infected with either wild type or TK- PrV strain Kaplan (Ka) developed typical cytopathologic changes (CPE) as early as 4 h post inoculation (p.i.). The CPE caused by PrV on (c/c)SLA PPSC was specifically neutralized by covalescent swine sera. Synthesis of late viral proteins was demonstrated in PrV-infected (c/c)SLA PPSC by indirect fluorescent antibody staining using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for PrV gIII. PrV induced protein synthesis was further confirmed by specific immunoprecipitation of S-35-methionine labeled viral polypeptides from PrV-infected (c/c)SLA PPSC with PrV convalescent swine serum, PrV immune mouse serum or mAb to PrV gIII. Moreover, the virus progeny derived from (c/c)SLA PPSC was shown to be infectious for MDBK cells and this infection was specifically neutralized by PrV convalescent swine serum. The capacity (c/c)SLA PPSC to support a complete growth cycle of PrV and the relative ease of deriving these cells from pigs can be applied in an autologous fashion in studies of cellular immunity where the MHC needs to be matched.