Hybridization of bovine papilloma virus type 1 and type 2 DNA to DNA from virus-induced hamster tumors and naturally occurring equine tumors.

DNAs from bovine papilloma virus(BPV)-induced hamster tumors and from equine connective tissue tumors of unknown etiology were examined for BPV DNA sequences by molecular hybridization. DNA from two distinct classes of BPV (type 1 and type 2) was labeled in vitro and used as probes. Analysis of DNA-DNA reassociation kinetics indicated that both virus types were capable of tumor induction in the hamster. DNA isolated from 6 of 7 equine tumors accelerated the reassociation of the BPV DNA probes. BPV type 1 or type 2 DNA hybridized extensively to DNA from 3 tumors, while 3 other tumors contained DNA sequences to which only a portion of the probes hybridized. Partial hybridization of probe DNAs to tumor DNA suggested the possible existence of a third BPV class.