Biological differences between epstein-barr virus (EBV) strains with regard to lymphocyte transforming ability, superinfection and antigen induction

Abstract

EB virus (EBV) preparations derived from various producing lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) differed in their biological properties, as judged by the following four tests: ( 1) cord blood lymphocyte (CBL) transformation into EBV-carrying LCL; ( 2) early antigen (EA) induction in Raji cells; ( 3) inhibition of Raji cell growth; ( 4) induction of the EBV-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) in CBL. B95-8 virus transformed and induced EBNA in CBL but did not induce EA in Raji cells, nor did it inhibit their growth. P3HR-1 virus did not transform CBL, induced no EBNA or EA in CBL, but induced EA in Raji cells and inhibited their growth. EBV isolated from the QIMR-WIL, 833L, F137 and cb-8-7 LCL resembled the B95-8 virus with regard to its biological activity (CBL transformation, EA induction in and growth inhibition of Raji cells). Transformation of CBL as contrasted to EA induction in, and growth inhibition of Raji cells thus appear as mutually exclusive viral functions.