Abstract
Serological evidence for the presence of a host-cell component of vesicular stomatitis virus particles was provided by Cartwright & Pearce (1968). They showed by complement fixation reactions that purified virus particles prepared from virus grown in BHK 21 cells reacted with antiserum to BHK cell but not with antiserum to pig kidney cells. Conversely, virus grown in pig kidney cells fixed complement with antiserum to pig kidney cells but not with antiserum to BHK 21 cells. The amount of complement fixed with the cell antisera was as great as that fixed with antiserum to virus.
It could be argued that the presence of host cell constituents in the purified virus preparations, possibly adhering to the surface of the particles, would account for these reactions. However, two observations suggest that the reactions are not due to the adventitious presence of cellular constituents.