Transformation and chromosome changes induced by Epstein-Barr virus in normal human leukocyte cultures.

Three separate attempts to establish long-term leukocyte cultures from the peripheral blood of a healthy adult who had no evidence of previous infection with Epstein-Barr virus were consistently unsuccessful. On the other hand, in vitro infection of buffy-coat cells of this donor with Epstein-Barr virus resulted in blastoid transformation of the lymphocytes and long-term growth potential. The transformation was accompanied by major chromosome changes. The significance of these findings in relation to lymphoproliferative diseases in man remains to be determined.