Phenotypic mixing between murine oncoviruses and murine cytomegalovirus.

In vitro interactions between murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) and murine leukaemia viruses (MuLV), two groups of enveloped viruses capable of causing persistent or latent infections in vivo, were examined for evidence of phenotypic mixing. The growth of MCMV in murine cells productively infected with ecotropic MuLV was shown to result regularly in the production of phenotypically mixed particles having the envelope antigens of MuLV and the genome of MCMV [MCMV(MuLV) pseudotypes]. The identity of such pseudotype particles was confirmed by the use of specific anti-MuLV serum and by the demonstration of restriction due to viral interference of penetration of these particles on MuLV-infected murine cells. This restriction was independent of N- or B-tropism. The production of reverse pseudotypes could not be examined because of the lytic effects of MCMV on the requisite assay cells.