Abstract
Summary
Newborn rats are highly susceptible to viral induction of lymphoma, and become naturally resistant after 2 wk of age. Protection during this period can be conferred by transfer of maternal immunity which occurs pre- and postnatally, by transplacental and milk passage.
Vaccination of mothers was effectively achieved with formalin-inactivated Gross lymphoma virus (GLV), resulting in passive immunization of the progeny. Only 5% of the offspring of vaccinated mothers had lymphoma when injected with a lethal dose of virus, as compared to 90% of the offspring of nonvaccinated mothers. Complete neutralization of GLV in vitro with serum of vaccinated mothers was demonstrated by subsequent bioassays.
Vaccination of females with an inactivated oncogenic virus represents a model which may also be applicable to the prevention of oncogenesis in other animal systems.
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