Adenovirus type 12 surface antigen detected by immunofluorescence in infected KB cells

Abstract

KB cells infected with adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) synthesize a new specific surface antigen, apparently the same as that of cells from hamster tumors induced by Ad12. The antigen is detectable by 12 hr after infection, reaches a peak at the 18th hour, and then decays rapidly, disappearing by the 24th hour. The kinetics of synthesis of this antigen is not superimposable to that of T antigen. The proportion of surface antigen-positive cells is dependent on the multiplicity of infection. The antigen in infected KB cells can no longer be detected after absorption of serum with cells from a hamster tumor induced by Ad12, previously tested for surface antigen. This strongly suggests that the surface antigens induced in the two types of cell-virus interaction are identical. There is no cross reactivity with sera against polyoma or SV40-induced surface antigens, and absorption of anti-Ad12 surface antigen antiserum with SV40-transformed hamster cells does not eliminate the activity against infected KB cells and Ad12-tumor cells.