Transformation of Bovine Cells in vitro by Polyoma Virus, and the Properties of the Transformed Cells

Abstract

Polyoma virus was capable of transforming cell cultures of bovine embryonic lung. The transformation was characterized by an abnormal morphology and growth pattern; there were rapidly growing cells having stellate or triangular shape and lying at random, criss-crossing one another. The transformed cells did not contain infectious polyoma virus. A "tumor" antigen was demonstrated in the cells by complement fixation tests using serum from hamsters bearing polyoma-induced tumors. The viral susceptibility of the polyoma-transformed cells was tested and compared with that of SV40 [Simian virus 40]-transformed and normal bovine cells. The polyoma-transformed cells were capable of propagating foot-and-mouth disease virus to fairly high titers whereas in the other cells low titers were obtained. The SV40-transformed cells showed a decreased susceptibility to bovine enterovirus and pseudorabies virus in comparison with the polyoma-transformed and normal cells.