Effect of interferon on transcription and translation of vesicular stomatitis virus in human and simian cell cultures.

The effect of interferons on vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) primary transcription, amplified RNA synthesis [i.e. the sum of primary transcription RNA replication (leading to [ - ] RNA) and secondary transcription (leading to [ + ] RNA) and virus protein synthesis were studied. In a human cell line, both human and simian interferons inhibited the initiation of primary transcription and amplified RNA synthesis. In contrast, in a simian cell line tested similarly, the initiation of these activities was not affected, though they decreased as the infection progressed. Nevertheless, virus protein synthesis was completely inhibited. These results demonstrate that the action of interferon on virus transcription and/or translation may depend more on the host cell than on the particular interferon used.