[Characteristics of Namalwa cells--a substrate for production of human interferon]. / Kharakteristika kletok Namalwa--substrata dlia polucheniia chelovecheskogo interferona.

The properties of lymphoid Namalwa cell line propagated at the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences Research Institute of Viral Preparations for interferon production are described. The scanning and transmissive electron microscopy studies of the cells showed their morphological stability and the absence of microbial contamination. The 46-48-chromosome cells comprised 85% of the population, hypodiploid cells (44-45 chromosomes), 9%, tetraploid and hypertetraploid cells, 3%. Spontaneous aberrations were detected in 3% of the chromosome. Inoculation of the cells into unsuppressed laboratory animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, adult or suckling mice) or chick embryos did not cause the development of any pathological process. Namalwa cells were shown to produce interferon after multiple (up to 4 times) induction with Newcastle disease virus.

Monoclonal antibodies to monkey pox virus: preparation and application.

Two fusion experiments with NSO myeloma cells yielded 30 hybrid cell lines which continuously and actively secreted monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) to monkey pox virus. Eight lines appeared to produce antibodies to specific antigenic determinants. The isotype and serologic reactivity of MoAb to monkey pox virus was characterized and the karyotype of several hybridomas determined. An enzyme labelled conjugate has been prepared from MoAb selectively reacting with monkey pox virus. This conjugate allowed the identification of monkey pox virus in the materials from patients. It also helped to determine that an orthopoxvirus isolated from wild squirrel in the Republic of Zaire was monkey pox virus.