Analysis of human tumors and human malignant cell lines for BK virus-specific DNA sequences

Abstract

Most humans in the United States have been infected with BK virus (BKV), a human papovavirus. Because BKV has oncogenic properties, we have investigated whether it may be a cause of human cancer. Basic principles of tumor virology imply that BKV-induced tumors should contain BKV DNA sequences. Therefore, we assayed (by molecular hybridization) DNA The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U. S. C. §1734 solely to indicate this fact. express T antigen, and are tumorigenic in hamsters (12,14,15). BKV is related to but distinct from simian virus 40 (SV40) and JC virus, another human papovavirus (18). BKV and SV40 T antigens crossreact strongly (9,12,14,15,19,20) (the SV40 T antigen is believed to be a protein encoded by the SV40 early region and to play a role in SV40-induced cell transformation).Because BKV is widespread in the human population and has oncogenic properties, it is important to determine whether it is a cause of human cancer. To test this, we assayed for BKV DNA sequences in DNA from 166 human tumors and 7 malignant cell lines, using in vitro 32P-labeled BKV DNA (1 to 2 X 108 cpm/,gg) as probe in saturation molecular hybridization reactions. On the basis of studies of transformation and tumorigenesis in animals with papovaviruses and other DNA tumor viruses, tumors induced by BKV would be expected to contain BKV DNA (probably integrated). In this report we describe the preparation and characterization of BKV

Analysis of human tonsil and cancer DNAs and RNAs for DNA sequences of group C (serotypes 1, 2, 5, and 6) human adenoviruses

“…Our HindIII-G fragment probe hybridizes only 5-10% with DNAs of human Ad serotypes outside of group C (2), so these data are not applicable to non-group C Ads. In other studies similar to those reported here, we were unable to detect sequences of group A (24), group B (25), or group E (26) Ads or of human BK virus (27) in human cancer DNAs. Therefore, we have found no evidence as yet that Ads or papovaviruses are involved in human cancer.…”

Simian Virus 40 Causes Persistent Infection of Muntjac Cells in the Absence of Virus Transformation

“…Moreover, DNA hybridization studies in combination with restriction endonuclease digestion do not readily detect less than an average of 0.5 genome equivalents/cell. This would explain the negative results of screening with this technique to date (Israel et al, 1978;Wold et al, 1978). Tissue or tumour dissociation by mechanical or detergent means followed by PEG-mediated cell fusion with permissive cells, might induce an appropriate amplification of the number of infected cells (to at least 1 in I000) such that flow fluorimetric screening of large numbers of cells for immunofluorescence by virus antigens might yield positive results.…”

Molecular Cloning of Infectious DNA from Human Papovavirus BK in Escherichia coli

“…The presence of BK virus DNA has been reported in DNA isolated from several human tumours (Fiori & di Mayorca, 1976). However, further studies (Wold et al, 1978) have failed to confirm these observations. DNA extracted from purified BK virus is heterogeneous in size and includes unit length infectious molecules as well as defective molecules.…”