Propagation of human respiratory syncytial virus in cells derived from the black flying fox (Pteropus alecto).

The propagation of human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) was evaluated in the Pteropus alecto kidney (PaKi) cell line. At 20 hrs post-infection, immunoblotting of hRSV-infected PaKi cell lysates with anti-G, anti-N, anti-P and anti-M2-1 indicated expression of the respective virus proteins of the correct size. The hRSV-infected PaKi cell were also stained using anti-F, anti-G, anti-N, anti-P and anti-M2-1 and imaged using immunofluorescence microscopy, which confirmed high levels of virus infection, and the presence of numerous virus filaments and virus-induced inclusion bodies. PaKi cell monolayers also supported multiple cycle infection when hRSV was used to infect PaKi cells using a low multiplicity of infection. These data indicate that prior adaptation of hRSV was not required for its propagation in the PaKi cell line, and suggests that PaKi cell line is a suitable cell model system with which to examine virus-host interactions involving RSV infection in fruit bats.