Immune virolysis: effect of antibody and complement on C-type RNA virus.

In the presence of envelope antibody and complement, the AKR strain of mouse leukemia virus was lysed, with the result that (i) the viral nucleic acid became susceptible to ribonuclease digestion and (ii) the internal group-specific antigen of the virus was released. The internal localization of the group-specific antigen is confirmed, the evidence being based on the failure of group-specific antibody to lyse virus in the presence of complement.