Evidence for Intracistronic Complementation of the Product of the Influenza Virus Gene Ptra (P3 of Fowl Plague Virus)

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Abstract
The ts lesion of the fowl plague virus (FPV) mutants ts I8 and ts 236 was located in RNA segment 2 (Ptra gene, corresponding to P3). After double-infection with these mutants and ts 90 or ts 93, which also carry a ts lesion in segment 2, plaques were formed at the non-permissive temperature (40.degree. C). These plaque cannot be passaged [in chick embryo cells] at 40.degree. C and exhibit a morphology which differs from those formed by the wild-type virus. The yield of infectious particles after double-infection shows a non-linear correlation between the plaque number and dilution, indicating that at least 2 particles are needed for infection of a cell. All experimental evidence points to an intracistronic complementation within the P3 protein.