Homology Between Burkitt Herpes Viral DNA and DNA in Continuous Lymphoblastoid Cells from Patients with Infectious Mononucleosis

Abstract

At least 90% of the sequences of purified, in vitro labeled, DNA from Epstein-Barr virus (prepared from HR-1, Burkitt's lymphoblastoid cells) are homologous to the DNA of the herpes virus contained in cell lines derived from patients with infectious mononucleosis. The thermal stability of the homologous and heterologous hybrid DNA molecules could not be differentiated, indicating at least 97% matching of base pairs between DNA of Epstein-Barr virus and the herpes viral DNA contained in the lymphoblasts from patients with infectious mononucleosis.