Normal human tissues contain RNA and antigens related to infectious adenovirus type 2

Normal human tissues have been found to contain RNA which hybridises with four regions of the adenovirus type 2 genome, including one which contains the transforming gene(s) of this virus. The RNAs have also been extracted from gorilla organs, but not from those of chickens, suggesting that they are a feature of all normal higher primate tissues. Serological test suggest that these homologous RNAs are translated into proteins connected with essentially normal and virus-infected cell functions.