Selective stimulation and differentiation of early antigens in lymphoblastoid cell lines producing Epstein-Barr-like viruses.

Comparisons of early antigens (EA) of EBV-related lymphotropic herpes virus of Old World primates have proved difficult to accomplish because antigen levels are low in infected cells and the ratio of virus capsid antigen to EA is generally high. To overcome these difficulties, we have developed a procedure which combines antigen stimulation with inhibition of late virus functions and results in the selective stimulation of EA. Using this procedure, we have examined the EA of EBV, herpesvirus papio, h. pongo, and h. pan. The results show that the EA of these viruses are composed of both R (restricted) and D (diffuse) components and that the EA, while related, are distinguishable.