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Antigenic Comparison of Bovine Type C Virus with Murine and Feline Leukemia Viruses¹

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

Bovine Serum 27-125 (spontaneous regression case of leukemia), which contains antibodies to a type C virus found in bovine cultures [New Bolton Center (NBC) cell lines], did not react in immunofluorescence tests with rat cells transformed by and releasing abundant quantities of murine leukemia viruses. In addition, these rat cells did not remove the immunofluorescence activity of Serum 27-125 for virus-containing NBC cells.

Negative results were also obtained when 3 rat antisera containing antibodies to most, if not all, the known antigens of the murine leukemia-sarcoma viruses, including the group-specific (gs) antigens, were tested by immunofluorescence on NBC cultures showing relatively high proportions of cells with the bovine virus immunofluorescence antigen. Two anti-feline leukemia virus sera, with strong anti-gs antigen activity, also failed to react with the NBC cultures. Repeated absorption with large numbers of disrupted NBC cells did not remove the immunofluorescence activity of one of the anti-feline leukemia virus sera for gs-3 antigen contained in a rat lymphoma.

Immunodiffusion experiments with the anti-murine leukemia virus and anti-feline leukemia virus sera also failed to reveal the gs antigens in Tween-ether-treated and concentrated preparations of cells and/or pellets of culture fluids from the virus-producing NBC cell lines. These preparations did not remove the anti-gs-precipitating activity of an anti-murine leukemia virus serum either.

Thus, the results of both immunofluorescence and immunodiffusion studies indicate that the type C virus of the NBC cell lines is an indigenous bovine virus which is antigenically unrelated to the known mammalian type C viruses. These findings suggest the possibility that leukemia in cattle and perhaps in other species may be caused by a family of type C viruses different from that of the presently known leukemia viruses.

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.

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