INDICATOR CELL LINE FOR DETECTING RNA VIRUSES AND METHOD THEREFOR

摘要

Cell lines and methods are disclosed for detect- ing the presence of RNA viruses in a specimen. The cell lines are stably transformed with a DNA mole- cule that includes a promoter capable of being recog- nized by the DNA dependent RNA polymerase of the cell capable of directing the transcription of a cDNA of a structurally defective RNA virus genome oper- ably coupled to the promoter. The cDNA contains a structural coding sequence encoding a selected re- porter gene product. The RNA molecules transcribed by the DNA dependent RNA polymerase are not ca- pable of causing the translation of the reporter gene in the cell except when an active related virus that provides the necessary trims-acting enzymes to cause the increased replication of the RNA containing the reporter gene which is then translated into the re- porter gene product is provided. Methods utilizing the cell lines of this invention to detect RNA viruses in a specimen by incubating the specimen with the cell line and assaying for expression of the reporter gene and a kit containing a supply of the cells and a supply of the reagents necessary for the detection of the reporter gene product are also provided.