DEFECTIVE VIRIONS OF HUMAN CYTOMEGALO-VIRUS

Passage of human cytomegalovirus at high multiplicity of infection generated defective virus particles which banded in CsCI at a lower buoyant density than standard virus. The DNA from defective virions banded at a lower buoyant density in CsCl than standard DNA and sedimented in sucrose gradients similar to standard DNA. Contour length measurements of DNA from defective virions revealed various classes of DNAs ranging in molecular weight from 40 to 120 x 106; this was in contrast to standard DNA with a molecular weight of 150 x 106. © 1979.