Nonproductive infection and induction of cellular deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by bovine adenovirus type 3 in a contact-inhibited mouse cell line.

Bovine adenovirus type 3 (BAV-3), which has been reported to produce tumors in newborn hamsters, induced cellular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis in a contact-inhibited mouse kidney cell line (C3H2K). In this system, the virus did not multiply, whereas virus-specific tumor antigen (T antigen) was detected in nearly all cells. Replication of viral DNA could not be detected by DNA-DNA hybridization on membrane filters. The cellular DNA synthesis induced by BAV-3 did occur in the absence of added serum. Extent of induction of cellular DNA synthesis was closely correlated with the multiplicity of infection. Cells activated to synthesize DNA in the serum-free medium by the virus infection progressed to cell division without noticeable cell killing.