[Differential incorporation of genomic segments into the influenza A virus reassortants in mixed infection].

The gene composition of the viral population obtained via mixed infection of embryonated chick eggs with influenza viruses at a high multiplicity of infection was analyzed. In mixed infection caused by influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) and A/Duck/Czechoslovakia/56 (H4N6) viruses, the population showed a preponderance of the reassortants whose content of genomic segments originating from either of the parent virus deviated strongly from the random pattern: the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of A/WSN/33 (H1N1) virus and the NP gene of A/Duck/Czechoslovakia/56 (H4N6) virus were prevalent in the gene composition of the reassortants. The mixed infection produced by influenza A/Udorn/72 (H3N2) virus and the reassortant R8 containing the HA gene of A/Duck/Ho Chi Minh/014/78 (H5N3) virus, the population of reassortants contained mainly the HA gene of A/Udorn/72 (H3N2) virus and the NP gene of the reassortant R8. The findings are discussed due to the problem of specific recognition of gene segments when incorporated into the viral particles.