Sensitive in vivo assay for detection of murine leukemia viruses.

A test is reported for the in vivo detection of the replicative ability of murine leukemia viruses (MLV) in the BALB/c mouse strain. Growth in the spleen was assayed by the complement-fixation assay for MLV group-specific antigen after injection of newborn mice. Low doses of laboratory-derived and wild-type MLV from cell-culture and animal-grown sources were detected as early as 7 to 14 days postinoculation. The sensitivity of this in vivo test compared favorably with in vitro assays for MLV. In vivo detection of MLV replication was correlated with long-term oncogenicity.

Murine C-type RNA virus from spontaneous neoplasms: in vitro host range and oncogenic potential.

Strain BALB/c mice harbor at least two host range variants of marine leukemia virus. One variant, which is host-cell tropic, is the predominant isolate from neoplastic tissues and produced lymphoreticular neoplasms when injected into BALB/c newborn mice. A second variant, whicht is isolated throughout life, grows poorly in host embryonic cells in culture and was not associated with lymphoreticular neoplasm induction when injected into newborn BALB/c mice.

An improved method for enumeration of X-C cell assay for murine leukemia virus.

A modification for the enumeration of X-C syncytia is described wherein the projected image of the entire infected culture is observed. This method is rapid, reliable, and reproducible.

Enhancement of Friend leukemia virus infection in mice by Guaroa virus: quantitation and action of various oncogenic and nononcogenic viruses.

Previous studies have indicated that Guaroa virus (GV), an arbovirus, enhanced the replication of Friend leukemia virus (FLV) in mice. To study further the interaction of GV and FLV, different levels of FLV activity were inoculated into mice. At a level of activity capable of producing limited splenic response, coinfection with GV resulted in a marked increase in spleen-foci activity, mean spleen weight, and amount of infectious virus recoverable from plasma and spleen of dually infected mice. Various oncogenic and nononcogenic viruses were also tested for their ability to enhance FLV infection.