Propagation of Wild-Type and Mutant SV40

Simian virus 40 (SV40) is routinely propagated in established kidney cell lines derived from the African green monkey (1 ). Generally, one of two cell lines, BSC-1 or CV1, are used for this purpose (2 ,3 ). Both of these cell lines are easy to maintain in culture and can be readily frozen and recovered from frozen storage. Wild-type SV40 grows and plaques equally well in both cell lines.