[ts-Mutations in the genomes of cold-adapted variants of influenza A/Hong Kong/1/68(H3N2) and A/Victoria/35/72(H3N2) viruses].

The phenotype and localization of ts mutations in genomes of the influenza A/Victoria/30-ir (A/Vic/30-ir) and A/Hong Kong/17-ir (A/HK/17-ir) cold-adapted (ca) viruses were studied. Using the recombination analysis in chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) we determined that influenza A/HK/17-ir ca virus carries ts mutations in three "internal" genes, i.e., PB1, NP and M, and influenza A/Vic/30-ir ca virus carries ones in four genes, i.e., PA, NP, M and NS. We have revealed ts mutations for NA gene in none of these viruses. Prior to the analysis of ts mutations in HA gene of influenza A/HK/17-ir and A/Vic/30-ir ca viruses, three cloning steps were performed in chick embryos (CE) by the method of limiting dilutions at 34 degrees C followed by selection of some strains with the most prominent ts phenotype. The cloned strains with such phenotypes were shown to repeat stable results within the recombination analysis in CE, i.e., none from the cloned strains of A/HK/17-ir ca virus recombined in CE at 40 degrees C with the 46 ts mutant, while recombination of this mutant with the cloned A/Vic/30-ir ca strains led to formation of the ts progeny. Thereafter our data result in conclusion that ts mutations in the PA gene must lead to some insignificant contribution for the expression of general ts phenotype among the ca strains as far as this sign is clearly displayed by both viruses, although only one of them, i.e., A/HK/17-ir carries ts mutation in the HA gene.