[Identification of virus-specific RNA in cells infected with the bovine leukemia virus by nucleic acid hybridization in situ].

Virus-specific RNA was detected in FLK cells producing bovine leukemia virus (BLV) by cDNA hybridization in situ. For calculation of the virus-specific RNA copy number in infected cells hybridization of 3H-cDNA BLV with the total cellular RNA in solution was used. FLK cells contain approximately 600 copies of virus-specific RNA per cell. Individual FLK cells producing BLV were identified by hybridization in situ. A successful identification of viral RNA in cells by hybridization in situ is possible if cells contain more than 100 copies of viral transcripts.