Investigations in the transforming activity of temperature-sensitive mutants of herpes simplex virus

Transformation of rat embryo fibroblast was induced by a temperature-sensitive mutant of herpes simplex virus type 2. Transformation was scored using the morphological criterion of focus formation and the cell changes that lead to the final focus are described. Virus genome persistence in the transformed cell line was demonstrated by the presence of virus-specific membrane antigens and by the specificity of antibodies elicited in rabbits by inoculation of transformed cells. The cytogenetic analysis of the transformed cells revealed changes in chromosome number and the presence of marker chromosomes.