title: The transforming prototype of Epstein-Barr virus (B95-8) is also a lytic virus.
abstract: The B95-8 isolate of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been described as a non-lytic transforming virus. We have performed experiments in order to determine if the B95-8 EBV is capable of super-infecting and replicating in EBV-genome-positive non-producer lymphoblastoid cells. Using concentrates of B95-8 EBV, prepared from 6 different B95-8 cell lines treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), we demonstrated that virus concentrates could transform human or cotton-top tamarin B-lymphocytes and also lytically replicate in Raji cells, inducing EBV antigens and infectious virus. While the virus obtained from B95-8 super-infected Raji cells was able to transform cord-blood lymphocytes (CBLs) and super-infect Raji cells, transformation was abortive, with cell cultures only growing for up to 6 weeks. Transformation titers of the B95-8 virus concentrates ranged from 10(5) to greater than 10(8) transforming units/ml; early antigen (EA) induction ranged from 1% to 50% after superinfection of Raji cells, depending on the virus stock used, as determined by immunofluorescence. Southern blot analysis was carried out on the DNA prepared from B95-8 cells and virion DNA. The results were consistent with the published EcoRI restriction pattern for B95-8 EBV. The issue of whether the B95-8 cells produce virions with a dual biological phenotype or, rather, 2 biologically distinct viruses, is addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus 43210.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Glaser
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Tarr
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Dangel
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005814:Genes, Viral; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015163:Superinfection; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral