Adeno 7 virus replicated well in human diploid (LEP) cells but only to a low degree in green monkey kidney (GMK) cells at 37 degrees C; it did not replicate in either system at 29 degrees C. At 37 degrees C SV 40 virus replicated well in GMK cells but only moderately in LEP cells; at 29 degrees C it did not replicate in either system. SV 40-adeno 7 hybrid grew in both GMK cells and LEP cells at 37 degrees C. At 29 degrees C this virus replicated in GMK cells but not in LEP cells. While the formation of V-antigen generally corresponded to the infectious virus production in the respective system, considerable differences were encountered in the T-antigens production. Adeno 7 T-antigen was detected earlier and in a higher percentage of GMK cells than in the fully permissive LEP cells and its formation was only slightly influenced by the incubation temperature. SV 40 T-antigen was more efficiently formed in GMK cells than in LEP cells. At 29 degrees C SV 40 T-antigen was only found in GMK cells and was detected later than at 37 degrees C. The difference in the formation of SV 40 T-antigen in GMK cells infected with SV 40 and SV 40-adeno 7 hybrid virus was further analyzed. The results obtained suggest that an early step of the virus-cell interaction, but neither virus attachment nor penetration, was involved.