Epstein-Barr (EB) virus is one of the five herpesviruses of man. Strong links between this agent and the chain of events causing two human
cancers, endemic
Burkitt's lymphoma and undifferentiated
nasopharyngeal carcinoma, have long been evident (reviewed in ref. 1). Because of this, and because of the very high incidence of
nasopharyngeal carcinoma in certain large populations, it was suggested in 1976 that a
vaccine should be developed against EB virus to prevent
infection and thereby reduce tumour incidence amongst those at risk. The virus-determined membrane
antigen (MA) was proposed as immunogen because it was known to elicit naturally occurring virus-
neutralizing antibodies in man and because analogous
antigens had been shown to act as effective experimental
vaccines for preventing the herpesvirus-induced
lymphomas of
Marek's disease in chickens. Progress has been achieved in defining, quantifying and preparing MA molecules, and in enhancing their immunogenicity; a sensitive assay for
antibodies to MA has been elaborated. Here we report that isolated cell membranes expressing MA, or purified MA
glycoprotein of relative molecular mass (Mr) 340,000 (gp340), have been used to vaccinate cottontop tamarins (Saguinus oedipus oedipus), and that animals receiving either preparation were protected against the effects of a 100% tumour-inducing challenge dose of EB virus.