Lysis of Rous sarcoma virus in the presence of anti-chicken fibroblast serum and complement]

Rous sarcoma virus produced by Chick embryo fibroblasts is inactivated by an antiserum prepared against uninfected fibroblasts in the presence, but not in the absence, of complement. This inactivation which demonstrates the presence of one or more antigens of the surface of the producer cell on the viral envelope, is due to virolysis. This is demonstrated by the release of the viral internal proteins and by the fact that the viral RNA becomes entirely degradable by RNase.