Influenza defective interfering viral RNA is formed by internal deletion of genomic RNA.

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Abstract
The 3''- and 5''-terminal nucleotide sequences of the defective interfering (DI) RNA present in a preparation of DI influenza virus were determined. All DI RNA possessed identical terminal sequences for at least the 1st 13 nucleotides at the 5'' end and at least the last 12 nucleotides at the 3'' end. The sequence of the DI RNA is (5'')A-G-U-A-G-A-A-A-C-A-A-G-G-...-C-C-U-G-C-U-U-U-C-G-C-U-OH(3''). The same sequences were present at the 3'' and 5'' termini of the viral polymerase genes (P1, P2 and P3) from which these DI RNA originate. DI RNA of influenza virus are apparently formed by an internal deletion of the genomic RNA.