Production of Interferon in Primary Chick Embryonic Cells Infected with Rickettsia Mooseri

Abstract

Rickettsia mooseri was found to stimulate the production of a viral inhibitory factor in primary chick embryonic cells. This factor possesses the major properties of interferon. Avian leukosis-free chick cells and chick cells carrying RAV-1 are equally potent producers of rickettsial interferon, suggesting that the interferon production is not mediated by viral factors persisting in the cells. The molecular weight of rickettsial and viral interferon was approximately 35,000.