Activation of Epstein-Barr virus by 5-bromodeoxyuridine in "virus-free" human cells (complement-fixing antigen-immunofluorescence-leukocytes).

Treatment of three human lymphoid cell lines, free of detectable Epstein-Barr virus, with 5-bromodeoxyuridine resulted in activation of virus synthesis in up to 8% of the cells. The induction of infectious virus could be demonstrated by cocultivation experiments with peripheral leukocytes. These studies demonstrated that the entire viral genome may persist in at least a portion of the lymphoid cells.