Quantitative assay for transformation of 3T3 cells by herpes simplex virus type 2.

The interaction of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) with Swiss/3T3 cells was investigated. Virus-induced cytopathic effects developed in the absence of production of infectious virus. HSV-2 inactivated with UV light (2, 4, 6, and 8 min) also induced cell death in the absence of virus replication. Cell death was not detectable after infection by HSV-2 that had been inactivated by UV irradiation for 10, 12, and 14 min. 3T3 cells infected with UV-inactivated virus (10 and 12 min) continued to replicate past the contact-inhibited monolayer normally associated with these cells. Infection of 3T3 cells with UV-irradiated USV-2 also induced the development of transformed foci. Transformed cells with an epithelioid of fibroblastoid morphology were identified and isolated. All HSV-2-transformed cell lines contained HSV-2-specific antigens detectable by immunofluorescence techniques. The maximum frequency of HSV-2-induced transformation was 3 times 105 PFU per transformed focus, and the observed transformation could be inhibited by pretreatment of the virus with specific antiserum. No type C particles were detected within five cell culture passages after transformation by HSV-2. Type C virus particles were detected after 10 cell culture passages of the HSV-2-transformed cell lines.