Further characterization of the polyoma virus Y8e from a Rauscher leukaemia virus producing mouse cell line and detection of partial sequence homology between polyoma virus Y8eDNA and hamster papovavirus DNA.

A DNA virus of the papovavirus group spontaneously appeared in RLV-infected spleen and thymus cells of mice in vitro was further characterized as polyoma virus Y8e by haemagglutination test, banding in density gradients, sedimentation coefficients of DNA and molecular hybridization of its DNA. The latter technique showed nearly complete sequence homology to polyoma virus strain SE DNA, partial sequence homology to hamster papovavirus DNA and mouse host DNA and little or no sequence homology to SV 40 DNA. The relationship between rodent papovaviruses and primate papovaviruses is discussed.