Phenotypic mixing between two primate oncoviruses.

Phenotypic mixing between the primate oncoviruses HL23V and BEV has been demonstrated to occur in doubly-infected bat lung (Tb) cells with the production of HL23V(BEV) pseudotype virus. The presence of the HL23V(BEV) pseudotype permitted the host range for replication of HL23V to be extended to murine cells previously 'resistant' to HL23V replication due to a block at the level of virus penetration. Expression of BEV genetic information was observed in doubly-infected rat cells and also in mouse and rat MSV-transformed non-producer cell lines co-cultivated with BEV-producing Tb cells. No evidence for genetic recombination between these viruses could be demonstrated.