On the relationship between the enzymatic composition and the susceptibility of the cell to viruses.

Summary It has been shown with 23 lines of stable cells and five primary cell cultures that pronounced alkaline phosphatase activity (Ph marker) is associated with high susceptibility of cells to Coxsackie B viruses, while low activity is accompanied by resistance of the cells to Coxsackie B viruses. An exception was the primary culture of M rhesus kidney cells which was completely destroyed following Coxsackie B virus infection, although phosphatase-positive cells constituted only isolated groups in the culture. The brown fat of suckling mice, which are susceptible to Coxsackie B viruses, is composed of Ph-positive cells, while in Coxsackie B-resistant adult mice the tissue consists of Ph-negative elements. The data obtained are discussed with respect of a possible inter-relationship between presence of the enzyme activity and specific cellular sensitivity to the particular virus.