Marmoset lymphoblastoid cells transformed by NPC-KT-derived Epstein-Barr virus which possesses transforming and superinfecting characteristics.

New world monkey (cotton-top marmoset; CTM) lymphocytes were transformed by two different strains of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) derived from human nasopharyngeal epithelial/hybrid cells (NPC-KT and A2L/AH). M-KT cells were a CTM lymphoblastoid cell line which was transformed by EBV derived from NPC-KT cells (NPC-KT EBV). M-BA2L cells were a CTM lymphoblastoid cell line which was transformed by EBV derived from A2L/AH cells (A2L/AH EBV). EBV obtained from M-KT cells, like parental NPC-KT EBV, could transform human cord blood lymphocytes (HCBLs) and superinfect Raji cells. EBV obtained from M-BA2L cells, like parental A2L/AH EBV, could transform HCBLs but could not superinfect Raji cells. We have compared the EBV-DNA associated with M-KT cells to NPC-KT EBV-DNA. The results obtained using a DNA restriction enzyme (Hind III) showed that virus DNA prepared from NPC-KT cells is different from EBV-DNA prepared from CTM lymphocytes transformed by EBV derived from infectious mononucleosis (B95-8), but that virus DNA prepared from M-KT cells is identical with parental NPC-KT EBV. These results indicate the possibility that a single NPC-KT EBV is associated with two biological activities.