Influenza antigenic determinants are expressed from haemagglutinin genes cloned in Escherichia coli

A gene sequence for the fowl plague virus (FPV) haemagglutinin molecule has been inserted into a bacterial plasmid such that its transcription is under the control of a promoter derived from the tryptophan operon. Such plasmids direct the synthesis of a protein that reacts specifically with antisera to FPV haemagglutinin. Evidence is also presented that in some cases DNA inserted at the HindIII site of pBR322 is expressed.