March 19, 1975

Dr. Peter Vogt
Department of Microbiology
USC School of Medicine
Loa Angeles, California 90033

Dear Peter,

"hanks for sending me your masterful "data sheet".
for both "retraviruees" and "oncornatriruses"; it seema to me the latter
can be avoided by the simpler and widely-used "RNA tumor viruses."
mlght favor "ribodeo~yvlru~es" over "retraviruses" wore it not for the
Implication tbt the viruses contain both functional RNA and DNA. "Retra"
Is not only not hanrtonious; it implies that the viruses are operating
wJfrdly and backwards.  In this case, it is the virologlets who were back-
wards. llAmbiviruses" has unfortunate sexual caaaotationa and is ridiculous
auyway.
thesis Into the fdy name, and, instead, honor Roue with the name Rous-
vlruaes (or Lousvirusearl).  When I first encounterad Howard's use of this
word, I felt that it created unneceseary confusion with RSV.  But why not
abandon RSV (we generally have, to avoid atamantic problems with B77, etc.)
in favor of avian sarcoma virus (ASV)? (Of course, this would also mean
subetitut~ng ALV for RAV in your proposal.)  Laon also like this solution
and Will doubtless write to you about it himself.

I share your dietaste

I

Why not abandon the idea of Incorporating BHAdiQected DM syn-

I have a few suggestions about the data sheat.
should be noted that horaologiee have not been detected between B and C
type, between RNA tumor virures and lckntiviruses, and between C types ef
certain animals (&go, FeLV and RD/CCC viruses). 2.1.1.12, should etat~
that "4s tRNA and 55 RNA" occur free and bound to 70s RNA.
"W& low tm" ie somewhat m?Uguoua and perhaps could be restated (e.g.,
a heterogeneous group which dissociates from subunits of 70s RNA at rda-
tively low temperatures, etc.).  Perhaps the pr&-mer should be identified
as a species of tryp tRNA, since its acceptance of methionine is parr-
doxWl.
probably be more explicitly stated.  You might consider noting that 18
and 28s RNA and cellular DNA can also be found in virus particles.

In 2.1.1.10, perhaps it

The phrase

The cellular origin of RNA's diecussed in this section should

In 2.1.2.5,, it might be fairer to note that "several snsymes, probhbly
cellular In origin, have been reported to be associated with virus par-
ticles (e.g., endonuclease, etc ....)".
the speculation about RNAse B In 2.1.2-6.  Peahaps sensitivity to X-ray
should be noted in 2.2.  2.3.3.2., should reflect changes suggested for
2.1.1.12.  At some point, perhaps in 2,4., the issue of intracytoplasmic
A particles as precursors to B particles should be presented.
larger vaew you have provided, the nead to put MMTV In a separate ganw

I'm not sure the evidence warraats

In the

seenus somewhat frail; certainly the taxonomic ariteria for the type
b genus should be provided on page 14,  It seam to me that mutantq
both conditionals and Uel.tions, ahould be aJntioned idere, per-
haps in sectictn 4.  Tho elassificat~on of the REV'S is not totally
comfortable, but I don't have any suggastions that wouldn't be un-
necsssarily fragmknting.
about the poseiblity of subspecies of MMTP.  What is the origin of
tha letter D for Maron-Pfirrsr virus?

It might be wise to includs a statement

I found the letter frm Lewoff very entertaining.

Bast regards,

Harold E, 'Ikanws, MOD.
Aeeociate Professor
Department of Microbiolan