Transformation of marmoset lymphocytes in vitro with Herpesvirus ateles.

Circulating lymphocytes from three species of marmoset monkeys were transformed in vitro with Herpesvirus ateles (HVA) either by co-cultivation with lethally X-irradiated HVA-producing lymphoblastoid cells or by infection with cell-free virus: 42 transformed lymphocyte cultures were obtained from 72 transformation attempts. Attempts to transform squirrel monkey lymphocytes were unsuccessful in 29 attempts. Association of HVA with each transformed culture was demonstrated by staining of antigen-positive cells in indirect fluorescent antibody (FA) tests and recovery of HVA after co-cultivation of the transformed cells with permissive monolayer cells. Cells of most transformed cultures possessed T lymphocyte properties: i.e. formation of E rosettes, reactivity with a specific anti-marmoset T lymphocyte serum and lack of surface Ig.