Host range and oncogenicity studies of the murine myeloma MOPC-315 type-C retrovirus

The biological features of an endogenous type-C RNA tumor virus released by the murine plasmacytoma MOPC-315 were determined. The virus was found to be pure ecotropic and, according to its capability to infect both NIH/3T3 and BALB/3T3 cells, it was established as an NB tropic virus. This tropism became more pronounced as a consequence of multiple passage in balb/3T3 cells. In view of the ability of myeloma viruses to efficiently infect BALB/c cells, their possible role in myeloma induction is considered.