Heterogeneity of epstein‐barr virus. IV. Induction of a specific antigen by EBV from two transformed marmoset cell lines in ramos cells

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Abstract
Infection of cells of the EBV‐genome‐negative human B‐lymphoma Ramos line with viral isolates obtained from two EBV‐transformed marmoset cell lines (B95/8; Nyevu) resulted in the induction of a nuclear antigen (RAM‐ag) apparently different from other EBV‐associated antigen complexes. This antigen is revealed by indirect immunofluorescence and shows no detectable cross‐antigenicity with EBNA or any other known EBV‐associated antigen. EBV‐isolates from P3HR‐1 cells fail to induce a similar antigen in Ramos cells although they induce EBNA. No RAM‐ag was expressed, either after infection of cells of another EBV‐genome‐negative human B‐lymphoma line BJAB with B95‐8 EBV or in a series of EBV‐harbouring cell lines. Thus the antigen appears to be cell‐line‐specific for Ramos cells. It is also induced upon infection of either B95‐8 or P3HR‐1 converted Ramos sublines with EBV from B95‐8 cells. All human sera with RAM‐ag‐reactivity revealed antibodies against VCA. However, sera from patients with acute infectious mononucleosis containing high anti‐VCA‐antibodies did not react with RAM‐ag. Seroconversion for this antigen apparently more closely coincides with the appearance of EBNA‐directed antibodies.