DNA double-strand break repair functions defend against parvovirus infection

We measured parvovirus replication and sensitivity to X-ray damage in nine CHO cell lines representing a variety of DNA repair deficiencies. We found that parvovirus replication efficiency increases with radiosensitivity. Parvovirus replication is disrupted at an early stage of infection in DNA repair-proficient cells, before conversion of the single- stranded viral DNA genome into the double-stranded replicative form. Thus, status of the DNA repair machinery inversely correlates with parvovirus replication and is proportional to the host's ability to repair X-ray- induced damage.