Influence of interferon on the synthesis of virus particles in oncornavirus carrier cell lines. III. Survey of effects on A-, B- and C-type oncornaviruses.

The effect of interferon on the synthesis and release of A-, B- and C-type viruses by oncornavirus carrier lines was studied. Murine cell lines were selected which carry either of these viruses and are sensitive to the antiviral effect of interferon, as measured by inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus. Release of C-type virus was found to be highly sensitive. Release of B-type virus, on the contrary, was only marginally inhibited. Synthesis of intracisternal A-type particles was finally not inhibited by interferon pretreatment. These differences between infectious C-type and non-infectious A- and B-type viruses may reflect fundamental differences in the synthesis of these viruses.