Oncogenic transformation of primary hamster cells by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV‐2) and an HSV‐2 temperature‐sensitive mutant

Abstract

Six oncogenically transformed cell lines were obtained following infection of hamster embryo fibroblasts with UV‐irradiated herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV‐2) or with an HSV‐2 temperature‐sensitive mutant. All lines produced undifferentiated fibrosarcomas in newborn hamsters, four of the six lines produced metastatic tumors in the lung, and sera from tumor‐bearing hamsters contained neutralizing antibody to HSV‐2. HSV‐specific cell‐surface antigen (s) was detected by immunofluorescence tests in all six of the lines established from primary tumors. Antibody to an early, HSV‐specific, non‐structural polypeptide (VP134) reacted by immunofluorescence with antigen (s) in fixed preparation of three of the six tumor‐cell lines.