PHYSICAL INTERACTION OF A MURINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS WITH INFLUENZA VIRUS IN VITRO

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Influenza virus (PR8) and Rauscher leukemia virus (RLV) are distinct pathogens with different replication and disease mechanisms.
• Interactions between different viruses can lead to novel biological phenomena and products.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the nature of the interaction between PR8 influenza virus and Rauscher leukemia virus.
• To characterize any new entities formed from the mixture of these two viruses.

Main Methods:

• Incubation of PR8 influenza virus and RLV.
• Density-gradient centrifugation using potassium citrate gradients.
• Adsorption and elution studies using chicken erythrocytes.

Main Results:

• Incubated mixtures retained properties of both parent viruses.
• Density-gradient centrifugation identified a new interviral product with intermediate density.
• Chicken erythrocytes adsorbed both influenza and RLV components from the interviral product, but not RLV alone.
• The adsorbed interviral product was eluted from erythrocytes upon warming to 37°C.

Conclusions:

• A novel interviral product is formed from the co-incubation of PR8 influenza virus and RLV.
• This interviral product exhibits unique adsorption and elution characteristics with chicken erythrocytes, distinct from RLV alone.
• The findings suggest a specific interaction and potential complex formation between the two viruses.