Rescue of a biologically active Epstein-Barr virus from nonproducer cells.

We recently established an epithelial/hybrid cell line, A2L/AH, by fusion of 8-azaguanine-resistant epithelial cells, Ad-AH, with a nonproducer lymphoblastoid cell line, A2L, using lymphocytes derived from the human nasopharynx transformed with the B95-8 strain of Epstein-Barr virus. The treatment of the parental A2L lymphoid cells with iododeoxyuridine led to the expression of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen, but neither virus capsid antigen or induction of Epstein-Barr virus DNA synthesis was observed. However, the treatment of the A2L/AH hybrid cells with iododeoxyuridine led to early antigen, virus capsid antigen and virus DNA synthesis, and the formation of virus particles. The virus rescued from the A2L/AH hybrid cells transforms human cord blood lymphocytes but is not able to induce early antigen in superinfected Raji cells.