Tumour induction with DNA of oncogenic primate herpesviruses

THE viruses Herpesvirus saimiri and H. ateles are highly oncogenic agents of New World primates. The viruses are not pathogenic in the natural host species (squirrel and spider monkeys, respectively), but induce malignant neoplastic diseases of the lymphatic system in various other primates1,2 and in rabbits3. Marmoset monkeys (Saguinus sp.) are the most susceptible animals to tumour induction, as infection with these viruses invariably results in rapidly progressing malignant lymphoma or acute lymphocytic leukaemia within a few weeks4,5. H. saimiri and H. ateles are related viruses; they share common antigens6 and some homologous DNA sequences7. DNA from both viruses is infectious in permissive owl monkey kidney (OMK) cell cultures8. We report here that the isolated DNA from these two herpesviruses can also cause malignant tumours in animals.