Abstract
Summary
Administration of live SV40 virus vaccine to adult female hamsters prior to conception afforded protection of the progeny against tumorigenesis by the homologous virus given shortly following birth. The mechanism appeared to be passive transfer of maternal antibody which prevented infection. There was no apparent infection of the fetus with SV40 virus in utero and there was no detectable CF antibody in the mothers or the progeny against SV40 tumor antigen. Maternal immunization holds promise as a means for preventing tumor induction in man caused by hypothetical viral neoplastic agents.
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