Application of the transfection technique for segregation of avian tumor viruses

The possibility of clong avian tumor virus (ATV) by the transfection technique was studied. The attempts required efficient facilitator for the uptake of exogenous cellular DNA by chick embryo cells (CEC) to increase transfection efficiency. The calcium method was more efficient than the DEAE-dextran method for the uptake of tritium-labeled DNA, and the calcium method was used in further segregation studies of ATV by transfection of cellular DNA from ATV-infected cells. The test viruses included the BAI-A strain of avian myeloblastosis virus (a mixture of subgroup A and B viruses) and the B77 strain of avian sarcoma virus (a mixture of transforming and transformation-defective viruses). Analysis of the recovered progeny viruses after transfection revealed that they were indeed segregates of the parent viruses.