Abortive infection of Ehrlich tumor cells by influenza virus: virus-specific RNA, protein synthesis, and transport.

Early in infection of Ehrlich tumor cells (ETC) by the WSN strain of influenza virus, all eight genes were transcribed and both complete and incomplete transcripts were synthesized in a manner similar to that in a permissive system, chick embryo cells. However, later the transcription of genes 1, 4, 6 and 7 was not amplified and the synthesis of late proteins HA and M was restricted. The transport of M protein to the plasma membrane was specifically inhibited. These data suggest that the abortive replication of influenza virus in ETC could be due to defects in synthesis as well as in intracellular transport of the M protein.