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A highly oncogenic monkey adenovirus SA7(C8) facilitates the reproduction of human adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) in monkey cells. Upon mixed infection of monkey cells with both viruses, these viruses recombine producing defective adeno-adeno hybrids Ad2C8 serologically identical to Ad2 and capable of assisting Ad2 to reproduce in monkey cells. Ad2C8 and Ad2 form an intercomplementary pair inseparable in monkey cells. Unlike oncogenic SA7(C8), Ad2C8 is a nononcogenic virus for hamsters but is able to induce tumor antigens of this virus (T and TSTA). Molecular genetic analysis of 68 clones of adeno-adeno hybrids revealed that the left part of their genome consists of Ad2 DNA, and the right part contains no less than 40% of the viral SA7(C8) genome where E2A, E3, and E4 genes are located. Apparently, the products of these genes contribute to the composition of adenoviral tumor antigens, while the E4 gene is involved in complementation of monkey and human adenoviruses and makes a contribution to host range determination of these viruses.

The method for biological testing of growth factors (GF) produced by transformed cells is described. The method is suitable for studying the ability of donor cells to release GF that stimulate colony formation of test-cells. Donor cells and test-cells are placed into different semisolid agar layers and separated by intermediate agar layer. The method provides a much more efficient testing of GF biological activity than the use of conditioned cultural fluids of transformed cells. It permits the assessment of GF dialyzation and the role of donor cell proliferation in the production of GF.