The coating reaction of the herpes-type virus isolated from malignant tissues with an antibody present in sera.

Herpes-type viruses recovered from established cell lines were coated by homologous rabbit antisera as visualized by electron microscopy. These chronically infected cell lines were derived from malignant human tissues. Cross reaction was detected among the herpes-type viruses iso lated from African and American patients afflicted with neoplastic disorders. This group of viruses are not related to herpes simplex virus as revealed by the coating and the serum neutralization tests. Patients with neoplastic disorders have a high incidence of the coating antibody. The coating antibody is also present in sera of normal adults and to a lesser extent in normal children.