HYBRIDIZATION STUDIES WITH INFLUENZA VIRUS RNA

A method is described which allows the synthesis and isolation of minus strand RNA of influenza virus which is sufficiently free of viral plus strand RNA to permit the use of annealing as a measure of cross relationships between different myxoviruses. Minus strands of a variety of influenza virus strains, labeled or unlabeled, have been hybridized with labeled or unlabeled plus strands of different myxoviruses. The results indicate the extent of genetic relationships between a variety of strains and also give some indication that in vitro the total genome is not transcribed. © 1969.