Two sublines of a lymphoblastoid cell line associated with Marek's disease virus.

From MDCC-MSB1, the original Marek's disease virus-associated lymphoblastoid cell line, two sublines named MDCC-MSB1-33C and MDCC-MSB1-41C were differentiated. The MDCC-MSB1-33C cell line grew well at 33 degrees, but grew poorly and finally stopped growing at 41 degrees. On the other hand, the MDCC-MSB1-41C cell line grew actively at 41 degrees, but at 33 degrees, continuous cultivation was difficult to achieve. MDCC-MSB1-33C grew suspended in the liquid medium, as did the original producer MDCC-MSB1 cell line, while MDCC-MSB1-41C grew attached to the substrate. Moreover, in soft agar, MDCC-MSB1-33C formed loose colonies, but MDCC-MSB1-41C formed packed colonies. Neither Marek's disease viral antigens nor herpes-type particles could be detected in either subline, although a Marek's disease tumor-associated surface antigen was found on the surface of both.