This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ferrer, J. F. Articles by Stock, N. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ferrer, J. F. Articles by Stock, N. D.

Serological Detection of Type C Viruses Found in Bovine Cultures¹

Section of Viral Oncology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348

The immunofluorescence antibody technique has been applied to the serological detection of type C viruses found in cell lines derived from leukemic cows [New Bolton Center (NBC) cell lines] and in short-term buffy-coat cultures of a cow (BF-044) with persistent lymphocytosis from a family with a high incidence of leukemia. When tested by the indirect or direct immunofluorescence method with serum from a cow (27-125) in which leukemia had regressed spontaneously, a proportion of the cells from these cultures showed brilliant cytoplasmic fluorescence. Sera from leukemic cows, but not from normal cows, blocked the fluorescent reaction, thus demonstrating its immunological nature. In both the NBC and BF-044 buffy coat cultures the proportion of fluorescent cells correlated closely with the proportion of type C viruscontaining cells found in previous electron microscopic studies of the cultures. These findings strongly suggested that a viral antigen is responsible for the fluorescent reaction. This view was supported further by the observation that the budding and free type C particles of the NBC cultures were coated by -globulin 27-125 (regression case) but not by -globulin from a normal cow. Cells from BF-044 buffy coat cultures removed the fluorescent activity of Serum 27-125 for NBC cells, thus indicating that the type C viruses seen in the buffy-coat and NBC cell cultures are identical or at least closely related. In a preliminary survey it was found that sera from 16 out of 17 leukemic cows reacted in immunofluorescence tests with virus-containing NBC cultures. In contrast, no reactions were detected with sera from 12 normal cows in a leukemia-free herd.

¹ This investigation was supported by USPHS Contract PH 43-65-1013 within the Special Virus Cancer Program of the National Cancer Institute, USPHS Grant 5P06-RR-00182 of the National Cancer Institute, and a Cooperative Agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture.

Received 3/31/72. Accepted 5/24/72.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Devare, J. Stephenson, P. Sarma, S. Aaronson, and S Charder Bovine lymphosarcoma: development of a radioimmunologic technique for detection of the etiologic agent Science, December 24, 1976; 194(4272): 1428 - 1430. [Abstract] [PDF]