Activation of herpes specific antigens and infectious virus in a hamster cell line transformed by HSV-2

An established cell line transformed by herpes simplex virus type 2 and derived from hamster tumors contained herpesvirus specific intracellular and surface antigens in some 2-5% of cells but did not produce infectious virus. Arginine deprivation resulted in induction of virus specific intracellular and surface antigens in 70-75% and about 40% of cells respectively, while no infectious virus was induced. After treatment of the cultures with IUDR, 70-75% of the cells showed virus specific intracellular fluorescence and 45-50% exhibited cell membrane fluorescence, and infectious virus could be detected. Induction by IUDR could be inhibited by simultaneous treatment of cultures with cytosine arabinoside.