PhD

thesisA study of the kinetics of poliovirus attachment to host cells permitted the quantitation of attachment in terms of a rate constant. Evidence is presented which demonstrates the profound effect of inorganic ions on virus attachment to host cells. Divalent cations were found to be more active in promoting adsorption than were nomovalent cations. Immediate activataion of a non-adsorbing visu-cell system was accomplsihed by the additon of inorganic ions. No lag in adorption could be demonstrated upon activation of the system. The adosption temperature, between the limits of 37 degrees celsius and 1 degree celsius, was found to have little effect on the attachment rate of virus. Poliovirus adsorption to fritted glass filters displayed the same specific salt requriements as did attachment to host cells. The irreversibility of virus attaachment was demonstrated by experiments which failed to elute adsorbed virus by procedures known to cuase instability of inionic bonds. The irreversibility of virus attachment was shownt to be associated with a loss of virus infectivity occuring soon after adorption had taken place. The specificity of poliovirus attachemtn to host cells was emphasized by experiments showing that poliovirus is incapable of attaching to non-susceptible tissue culture cells. The effect of pH on virus adsorption to host cells was investigated, and the results from this study interpreted in terms of the participation of certain surface group on the reacting bodies. Treatment of host cells with group-specific reagents indicated that carboxyl groups on the cell surface may play a role in the attachment of virus. These findings, as outlined above, are discussed in order to present an integrated pricture of the events which constitute the interaction of poliovirus with host cells