Cell-surface expression of influenza haemagglutinin from a cloned DNA copy of the RNA gene.

By replacing either the eight early or the late genes of SV40 with a cloned copy of the influenza virus haemagglutinin gene we have constructed recombinant viruses which, in infected cells, express large quantities of haemagglutinin. This glycoprotein, over 10(8) molecules of which are produced per cell, is identical in molecular weight to authentic influenza virus haemagglutinin, accumulates at the cell surface and displays haemabsorbing activity.