EB Virus-associated nuclear antigen production and cell proliferation in adult peripheral blood leukocytes inoculated with the QIMR-WIL strain of EB virus.

A nuclear antigen, apparently the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated nuclear antigen (EBNA), was detected by anticomplement immunofluorescence (ACIF) tests in adult peripheral blood leukocytes infected with the QIMR-WIL strain of EBV. EBNA was not detectable at 24 h but appeared in about 11% of the cells by 3 days, and by 5 days up to 64% of the cells were positive. Proliferation of EBNA-positive cells at this stage was confirmed by autoradiography. There was a good correlation between the concentration of virus and the number of EBNA-positive cells in the first 5-7 days. The subsequent course of events was found to be influenced by the initial cell concentration and the time of subculture. EBNA production was delayed in cells infected with higher dilutions of virus but subsequently appeared in a high proportion of cells. Indirect immunofluorescence failed to detect viral capsid antigen (VCA) or early antigen (EA) by 10 days. The results show that EBV infection was abortive and that the critical events of viral transformation occurred within the first few days.