Infectivity assays of human rhinovirus-A and -B serotypes

Wai Ming Lee, Yin Chen, Wensheng Wang, Anne Mosser

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Infectivity is a fundamental property of viral pathogens such as human rhinoviruses (HRVs). This chapter describes two methods for measuring the infectivity of HRV-A and -B serotypes: end point dilution (TCID50) assay and plaque assay. End point dilution assay is a quantal, not quantitative, assay that determines the dilution of the sample at which 50% of the aliquots have infectious virus. It can be used for all the HRV-A and -B serotypes and related clinical isolates that grow in cell culture and induce cytopathic effect (CPE), degenerative changes in cells that are visible under a microscope. Plaque assay is a quantitative assay that determines the number of infectious units of a virus in a sample. After an infectious unit of virus infects one cell, the infected cell produces progeny viruses that then infect and kill a circle of adjacent cells. This circle of dead cells detaches from the dish and thus leaves a clear hole in a cell monolayer. Plaque assay works only for HeLa-adapted HRV-A and -B serotypes that can make visible plaques on the cell monolayer. Currently the end point dilution assay and plaque assay have not been developed for the newly discovered HRV-C.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)71-81
Number of pages11
JournalMethods in Molecular Biology
Volume1221
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015

Keywords

  • End point dilution
  • HeLa cells
  • Infectivity
  • MRC-5
  • PFU
  • Plaque assay
  • TCID

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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