Differential susceptibility to herpes simplex viruses of hamster cell lines established after exposure to chemically inactivated herpesvirus.

The replication of herpes simplex virus type I and herpes simplex virus type 2 was studied in two isolated hamster cell lines. These lines developed after being treated with herpes simplex virus type 2 inactivated with 7,~2-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. One cell line that developed, HDC-22, had a hypodiploid chromosome number and was missing a D-group chromosome. Growth studies revealed that this cell line did not support the replication of herpes simplex virus type 2 but did support the replication of herpes simplex virus type L The other cell line, HDC-I7, had a normal karyotype and proved susceptible to both herpes simplex virus type I and herpes simplex virus type 2. These hamster cell lines afford an opportunity to study specific resistance to herpes simplex virus and the differences in the replicative cycles of type ~ and type 2 herpesviruses.