Stable bone-marrow-derived cell line producing transforming avian acute leukemia virus OK 10

A stable bone-marrow-derived cell line, OK-BM, producing transforming avian acute leukemia virus OK 10, was established. The cell line has been maintained in culture for over 4 years and 405 passages. The cells grow rapidly in suspension, have a low serum requirement, display a uniform morphology and perpetually release transforming OK 10 virus. No transforming helper virus was detected by interference assay. The cells have a chromosome complement of the chicken. Characterization of the cells indicates that they are of myeloid origin and have properties characteristic of proliferating transformed macrophages.