Three lymphoblastoid cell lines were established from splenic lymphocytes of a lymphomatous baboon (Papio hamadryas) by co-cultivation of the lymphocytes with X-irradiated cells of marmoset or baboon lymphoblastoid cell cultures; the baboon splenic lymphocytes failed to grow when cultured alone. A herpesvirus, associated with each cell line, was identified by immunofluorescence, molecular hybridization and electron microscopy. Antigenic comparison with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) showed that the baboon herpesvirus and EBV shared cross-reacting viral capsid antigens (VCA): 20 of 20 (100%) anti-VCA (EBV)-positive human sera and 55 of 62 (89%) baboon sera reacted with the baboon lymphoblastoid cells and baboon sera stained EBV VCA in P3HR-1 and EB-3 cells. No nuclear antigen, as assayed by anti-complement immunofluorescence tests, was detected in baboon lymphoblastoid cells when human or baboon anti-VCA positive sera were used. Baboon anti-VCA-positive sera also failed to stain EBV nuclear antigens (EBNA) in Raji or P3HR-1 cells. Preliminary molecular hybridization studies showed only approximately 40% homology between viral DNA of baboon cell lines and DNA of EBV derived from P3HR-1 cells.

Olestra is the mixture of the hexa-, hepta-, and octa-esters of sucrose with long-chain fatty acids from any edible oil. Its physical properties are comparable to those of triglycerides, but it is not digested by lipolytic enzymes or absorbed and therefore is noncaloric. Technically, it can replace fat in a wide variety of foods and can be used to make cooked, baked, and fried foods lower in fat and calories. A Food Additive Petition is under review by the FDA, which is comprised of results of extensive testing in animals and humans. The major areas of investigation are metabolism and absorption, chronic toxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, safety for gastrointestinal tract, nutrition, and the potential for olestra to affect absorption of drugs. This testing involved studies in five different species of animals and over 30 clinical investigations. The results of this research support the safety of olestra for use in foods.

The major glycoprotein (gp70) of simian sarcoma virus is present in “soluble” form in the medium of virus-producing suspension cultures. It could be isolated from the supernatant of such cultures in substantial amounts by an immuno-adsorbent technique. Some of its gel-electrophoretic and serological properties are described.

Nine temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of nonattenuated Edmonston strain measles virus were isolated from wild-type virus which was grown in the presence of 5-fluorouracil. Adsorption, temperature shift, and complementation experiments indicated that all these mutants were restricted at an intracellular stage of infection. However, all the mutants were more rapidly inactivated at 41 C than was wild-type virus, suggesting that the ts product of each mutant either influences or is a structural component of the virus. Three complementation groups were found to be respresented among the mutants. Group A contained one mutant and it did not induce synthesis of detectable amounts of viral antigen at the nonpermissive temperature (39 C). Group B consisted of six mutants which did not induce viral antigen synthesis at 39 C and one mutant which did. Group C was represented by one mutant and it induced viral antigen synthesis at 39 C. The two mutants which induced synthesis of viral antigen also induced synthesis of relatively small amounts of virus-specific RNA at 39 C. These mutants, while producing cytoplasmic and nuclear accumulations of viral antigen at 39 C, were restricted in production of syncytia and hemadsorption. All the mutants were less neurovirulent than wild-type virus, as indicated by their inability to produce acute disease in newborn hamsters.