Proteolytic enzymes and rotavirus SA-11 plaque formation.

ABSTRACT In addition to trypsin, eight other pro-teolytic enzyme preparations were testedfor their ability to assist simian rotavirusSA-11 plaque formation in MA-104 cells.When incorporated in the overlay (mini-mal essential medium and 0.7% lonagar #2) in the concentrations per mL in- dicated, a-chymotrypsin (10 ,ug), elastase(0.5 ,ug), subtilisin (0.5 ,ug), pronase(2.5 ,ug) and pancreatin (25 jug) were asefficient as trypsin (5 ,ug) in helping SA-11 produce 3-4 mmdiameter plaques afterfive days of incubation at 37°C. Noplaques were produced when pepsin(25 ,ug), papain (10 ,ug) or thermolysin(10 ,ug) was added to the overlay. Addi-tion of soybean trypsin inhibitor to a-chy-motrypsin-, pronase- or pancreatin-con-taining overlays completely inhibited virusplaque production. A similar effect was not seen with elastase or subtilisin. RESUMC Cette experience consistait 'a verifier sila trypsine et huit autres preparationsd'enzymes proteolytiques pouvaient aider le virus Simien SA-11