Development of Antibodies Against Viral and Tumor Antigens of Papovavirus SV40 in Monkeys

Summary

Four monkeys were injected with undiluted papovavirus SV40; two of them received the virus with complete Freund's adjuvant. All 4 monkeys developed both complement-fixing and neutralizing antibodies against the structural antigens of the papovavirus. Antibodies against the T antigen induced by the virus were detected in the sera from 3 of the animals. The T antibodies appeared later, attained lower levels and tended to fall earlier than the V antibodies. The specificity of the substance reacting with the T antigen was demonstrated by immunofluorescence tests with cells transformed by SV40 virus and by the SV40-adenovirus hybrid (SP2) and with human and monkey cells infected with the SP2 virus.