Optimizing infection with multiple retroviruses - (Jul/28/2010 )

Hi there,

I'm a newbie to cell bio field. are there any protocols available for optimizing infection of a adherent cell line with multiple retroviruses? (multiple meaning that there are viruses carrying different genes).

also, does phoenix cells produce viruses even when they are not transfected with plasmids?

thanks for any help/assitance/advice!

== cnatstop ==

cnatstop on Wed Jul 28 05:40:00 2010 said:

Hi I am working on a similar project! I do the retro viral infection using standard protocol i.e adding the virus with 8ug/ml of polybrene. I guess the key here is to optimize the number of cells required for the viral infection, which for adherent cells we seed the day before infection.

The answer to the second Q is: No the Phoenix cells do not produce viruses when they are not transfected with plasmids. They are only able to synthesize the core protein for the viral capsid. I think they might produce empty shells

Please let me know if you get more info about this.