In vitro Transformation of Hamster Embryo Cells by Bovine Adenovirus Type 3 (Strain WBR-1)

Bovine adenovirus type 3 (BAV-3), strain WBR-1, quantitatively transforms hamster embryo carcass cells with a maximum efficiency of 4.7 × 104 p.f.u./focus-forming units (f.f.u.). This frequency is significantly inhibited by the presence of 1.8 mm of Ca++. The transformed cells are highly tumourigenic in hamsters and possess T- and tumour-specific transplantation antigens. BAV-3 is one of the most oncogenic of the adenoviruses and an ideal model virus for the study of transformation.