[Oncornavirus D--an inducer of a new antigen]

Oncornavirus D inoculated into chick fibroblast cultures induced in them synthesis of a new antigen which is not incorporated into the virion structure and is absent in cells not infected with this virus. The oncornavirus D newly induced antigen is identical to that found in long-term continuous human HeLa, HEp-2 and J-96 cells. These facts give grounds to believe that the new antigen present in these cells emerged as a consequence of their infection with oncornavirus D. However it remains unknown whether this antigen plays the role of the transforming agent and whether transformation of normal human cells into malignant cells is associated with it.