The transforming prototype of epstein-barr virus (B95-8) is also a lytic virus

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Abstract
The B95‐8 isolate of the Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) has been described as a non‐lytic transforming virus. We have performed experiments in order to determine if the B95‐8 EBV is capable of super‐infecting and replicating in EBV‐genome‐positive non‐producer lymphoblastoid cells. Using concentrates of B95‐8 EBV, prepared from 6 different B95‐8 cell lines treated with l2‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA), we demonstrated that virus concentrates could transform human or cotton‐top tamarin B‐lymphocytes and also lytically replicate in Raji cells, inducing EBV antigens and infectious virus. While the virus obtained from B95‐8 super‐infected Raji cells was able to transform cord‐blood lymphocytes (CBLs) and super‐infect Raji cells, transformation was abortive, with cell cultures only growing for up to 6 weeks. Transformation titers of the B9S‐8 virus concentrates ranged from 105 to > 108 transforming units/ml; early antigen (EA) induction ranged from 1% to 50% after superinfection of Raji cells, depending on the virus stock used, as determined by immunofluorescence. Southern blot analysis was carried out on the DNA prepared from B95‐8 cells and virion DNA. The results were consistent with the published EcoRI restriction pattern for B95‐8 EBV. The issue of whether the B95‐8 cells produce virions with a dual biological phenotype or, rather, 2 biologically distinct viruses, is addressed.