Effects of acyl chain composition on production of mycoplasmavirus MV-L2 by Acholeplasma laidlawii.

Membrane-enveloped viruses obtain their lipid envelopes from the host cells. Studies with animal viruses and different cell lines have shown that the composition of the virus envelope affects infectivity. In this study, Acholeplasma laidlawii strain JA1 and the membrane-enveloped virus MV-L2 were used. In this system, it is possible to vary the "stiffness" of the host cytoplasmic membrane within a very wide range by adding different fatty acids to the growth medium. Viruses with different envelopes were produced from these hosts. Eleven hosts and 11 viruses with different fatty acyl chain composition were tested in all combinations. The acyl chain composition and presence of cholesterol had a marked influence on the plaque-forming ability of L2. Virus adsorption rates were also dependent on acyl chain composition, but no apparent correlation with plaque-forming ability could be seen. L2 adsorbed equally well to a virus-resistant strain (A EF22).