Mutants of simian virus 40 differing in plaque size, oncogenicity, and heat sensitivity.

Takemoto, K. K. (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Md.), R. L. Kirschstein, and K. Habel. Mutants of simian virus 40 differing in plaque size, oncogenicity, and heat sensitivity. J. Bacteriol. 92:990-994. 1966.-Three mutants of simian virus 40 were isolated on the basis of the type of plaques produced in primary cultures of African green monkey kidney cells and designated as L (large), S (small), and M (minute) strains. Significant differences in oncogenicity for hamsters were observed, with the 50% oncogenic dose being 10(4.5) for the L, 10(5.2) for the S, and 10(5.8) for the M strains. All three strains were capable of transforming human diploid cells (W138 strain). At temperatures up to 41 C, the S and M mutants were capable of multiplying to titers almost equivalent to those obtained at 37 C. In contrast, infectious virus was not produced when cells were infected with the L mutant and were incubated at temperatures above 39 C, although complement-fixing viral and tumor antigens were formed. The temperature-sensitive phase of replication of the L strain was shown to be a late stage in viral maturation or assembly.