Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Upon Myxoma Virus Plaque Morphology

Summary

Two morphologically distinct types of MV plaques were produced on mono-layers of RK₁₃ cells under agar; the appearance of these plaques depended upon the presence or absence of sodium bicarbonate in the agar overlay medium. The numbers of plaques produced by a given suspension of myxoma virus were identical, regardless of the presence or absence of sodium bicarbonate. Moreover, the yield of virus from infected RK₁₃ cells was not altered by addition or omission of sodium bicarbonate. The specificity of the two plaque types was established by pathogenicity tests and neutralization of plaque forming units by anti-myxoma serum.