Induction of a latent herpes simplex virus from a rat tumour initiated by herpes simplex virus-transformed cells.

A rat tumour induced by cells transformed with the sheared DNA of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 HFEM alpha (RE2A) was injected with the intertypic virus HSV-2 HG52 ts 1. Separate plaques, isolated from cocultivation of excised tumour tissue with susceptible cells, yielded virus the DNA of which had the restriction enzyme profile either of the injected HSV-2 virus or that of the HSV-1 virus, originally used to transform the cells. No evidence of in vivo recombination was detected. In Hooded Lister rats, HSV may have the ability to remain in a latent or non-replicating state in fibroblasts.