Characterization of a New Case of XMLV (Bxv1) Contamination in the Human Cell Line Hep2 (Clone 2B) Using High-Throughput DNA- and RNA-Seq

We have sequenced DNA and RNA from the Hep2 (clone 2B) cell line (Sigma-Aldrich catalog number: 85011412-1VL) using short read Illumina sequencing. We show that this cell line is indistinguishable from the HeLa cell line (as mentioned on the Sigma-Aldrich website) by mapping integrations of the human papillomavirus 18. We also show that the cell line is contaminated by the Bxv1 xenotropic murine leukemia virus. This contamination has to be taken into account when using the cell line in future experiments.]]>