Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Production of infectious Epstein–Barr virus in mouse lymphocytes

Abstract

Most studies of the course of primary infection by Epstein–Barr virus (EBV, associated with Burkitt's lymphoma and naso-pharyngeal carcinoma1,2) have been made with human and other primate B lymphocytes, the chief naturally susceptible host cell type3. In vitro infection of B lymphocytes results, however, in their transformation into permanent lymphoid cell types in which the lytic cycle is virtually suppressed. Infection of B lymphocytes is sharply restricted to those cells that carry surface receptors for immunoglobin and the C3 component of complement. Infectibility may be entirely determined by the presence of EBV virus receptors, which is itself closely correlated with the presence of receptors for B cell-specific complement (C3d), but the establishment of the latent transformed state of host cells may well involve other internal characteristics of the differentiated B cell. We now report that, by means of the technique for implanting EBV receptors into the membranes of cells that lack them4, mouse lymphocytes can be infected with EBV resulting in a complete viral cycle, not in a state of latent transformation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Epstein, M. A. & Achong, B. G. in The Epstein-Ban Virus (eds Epstein, M. A. & Achong, B. G.) 321–338 (Springer, Berlin, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Klein, G. New Engl. J. Med. 293, 1353–1357 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Miller, G. in Viral Oncology (ed. Klein, G.) 713–738 (Raven, New York, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Volsky, D. J., Shapiro, I. M. & Klein, G. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 5453–5457 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Menezes, J., Leibold, W. & Klein, G. Expl Cell Res. 92, 478–484 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Miller, G. & Lipman, M. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 70, 190–194 (1973).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hoggan, M. D., Bowe, W. P., Black, P.H. & Hubner, R.J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 53, 12–19 (1965).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Moar, M. H. & Klein, G. Biochim. biophys. Acta 519, 46–64 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Klein, G., Dombos, L. & Gothoskar, B. Int. J. Cancer 10, 44–57 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ernberg, L., Masucci, G. & Klein, G. Int. J. Cancer 17, 197–203 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Reedman, B. M. & Klein, G. Int. J. Cancer 11, 499–520 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hinuma, Y. & Grace, J. T. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 124, 107–111 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Volsky, D., Klein, G., Volsky, B. et al. Production of infectious Epstein–Barr virus in mouse lymphocytes. Nature 293, 399–401 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/293399a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/293399a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing