Differences between the ribonucleic acids of transforming and nontransforming avian tumor viruses

The 60-70S RNAs of several transforming and nontransforming avian tumor viruses have different electrophoretic mobilities. The RNA of transforming viruses contains two electrophoretically separable subunit classes: a and b. The relative concentrations of these subunits vary with the virus strain. Avian leukosis viruses and nontransforming derivatives of a sarcoma virus lack subunits of class a. It is suggested that the presence of the class a subunit is related to the transforming ability for fibroblasts of the virus.

Hamster-tropic sarcomagenic and nonsarcomagenic viruses derived from hamster tumors induced by the Gross pseudotype of Moloney sarcoma virus

Hamster sarcomas induced by the Gross pseudotype of Moloney sarcoma virus yielded a virus sarcomagenic for hamsters but not mice. This virus was able to produce foci on hamster embryo cells, but not on mouse embryo cells. A hamster-tropic nonfocus-forming helper virus was also found in the viral stocks. These hamster-tropic viruses are not immunologically related to the murine viruses in the original inoculum but appear to represent indigenous C-type RNA viruses of the hamster.

Combined fluorescent-antibody and electron microscopy study of Marek's disease virus-infected cell culture

Duck embryo fibroblast (DEF) and chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cultures infected with Marek's disease virus were studied by combined fluorescent antibody and electron microscopy techniques. In both DEF and CEF cultures, cells containing immunofluorescent (IF) antigen also contained herpesvirus particles; conversely, cells lacking this antigen lacked herpesvirus particles. Two morphologically distinct IF antigens were detected in the cytoplasm. (i) A granular antigen in the perinuclear region was brightly stained with the conjugated antibody. This antigen was composed of a granular mass of osmiophilic material and did not contain virions. (ii) A diffuse antigen, present throughout the cytoplasm of infected cells, was less brightly stained. The area of the cell with the highest concentration of this antigen contained small vesicles, folded membranes, and fine electron-dense granules. Naked virions were occasionally seen in these areas. A diffuse nuclear IF antigen was occasionally seen in infected cells. This antigen was often separated from the nuclear membrane and the nucleolus by a clear margin. The intranuclear IF antigen was composed of a fine granular aggregate and naked herpesvirus particles which were randomly distributed throughout the nucleus. Viral capsids in antibody-treated cells were coated with fine filamentous material.

On the role of DNA synthesis in avian tumor virus infection

Preinfection of chick embryo fibroblasts with an avian tumor virus does not eliminate the requirement of early DNA synthesis for other avian tumor viruses superinfecting the same cells several days after the primary inoculum. The function served by the early DNA in avian tumor virus infection either fails to persist into late infection or is genetically specific for each viral type.

Marek's disease herpes virus: a cytomegalovirus

The DNA of herpes viruses associated with Marek's disease of fowl contains 56-57 moles of guanine and cytosine per 100. The composition of its DNA and lack of infectiousness of cell-free preparations suggest that the herpes virus associated with Marek's disease belongs to the herpes virus group B which contains predominantly cytomegaloviruses.

Morphogenesis of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus

Morphogenesis of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus was studied by means of electron microscopy. Virus-specific structures (factories, viroplasts) were found at early stages of infection; these structures were composed of fibrillar and cylindrical formations, aggregates of ribosomes, and viral nucleoids. The latter emerged from fibrillar and cylindrical structures. Aggregates of viral nucleoids were found in the cytoplasm and occasionally in the nuclei of virus-infected cells. Viral envelopes and mature virions were formed on the cell membranes and on the membranes of intracellular vacuoles. Anomalous forms of virions (both polygenomic and oligogenomic) were observed.