Defective interfering particles with covalently linked [±]RNA induce interferon

Abstract

Defective interfering (DI) particles of vesicular stomatitis virus which contain covalently linked complementary [+] message and [-]anti-message RNA as a single-stranded ribonucleoprotein complex within the particle are extremely efficient inducers of interferon. A single particle can induce a quantum yield of interferon. A single molecule of double-stranded RNA presumed to form, at least in part, on entry into the cell possibly induces interferon synthesis. Conventional [-]RNA DI particles with the same polypeptide compositions as [.+-.]RNA DI particles fail to induce interferon.