ABSTRACT
This chapter covers two major aspects regarding defective interfering particles of rhabdovirus. First, it discusses factors of the host cell and virus which affect the genesis of defective-interfering (DI) particles. Second the chapter describes genetic sequence in a variety of DI particles that are analyzed by oligonucleotide fingerprinting techniques. The nucleic acid sequence analyses of DI particle RNAs induced in various cell types will suggest whether or not the DI particle genomes are evolved by random events during the virus replication. The technique of oligonucleotide fingerprinting has added a new dimension in determining the RNA sequences of DI particles. This technique allows us to define the RNA sequences in DI particle RNAs generation in the same or different cell lines using the same clone of virus stock. Replication of the vesicular stomatitis virus genome starts after the virus-specific protein synthesis is accomplished.
