Persistence of human adenovirus 5 in human cord blood lymphoblastoid cell lines transformed by Epstein-Barr virus.

Lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from human cord blood leukocytes were persistently infected with human adenovirus 5. These cell lines expressed the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen, but no other Epstein-Barr virus-related antigen. They continually produced infectious adenovirus 5 particles, but this production could be inhibited by the presence of specific neutralizing antibody to adenovirus 5. This suggests that the persistent infection might be due to the continual reinfection of susceptible cells by complete virus.