Transcriptase activity and genome composition of defective influenza virus

Abstract

Eight genome RNA segments are present in both normal and von Magnustype influenza virus preparations and all species are transcribed by the virion-associated polymerase. Although the RNA polymerase activity and the amount of the three largest RNA segments are reduced in defective influenza virus preparations, these reductions do not appear to be great enough to account for the much greater loss of infectivity.