Type-C oncovirus isolate from human leukemic bone marrow: further in vitro and in vivo characterization.

Rabbit corneal cells transformed by a putative human type-C helper virus pseudotype of the mouse sarcoma virus produce large amounts of transforming and non-transforming viruses. The virions are antigenically related to the woolly monkey (simian) sarcoma-leukemia type-C oncovirus. Typical sarcoma virus lesions developed in newborn rats injected with virus-producing rabbit cells. Cells producing only the putative type-C helper viruses as a result of exposure to a high dilution of transforming virus stock induce lymphosarcomas after inoculation into newborn rats.