The production of interferon by animal viruses.

T he p roduc tion of in terfe ron b y an im al viruses is a response to th e v iral nucleic acid. A t high m u ltip lic ity of infection th e nucleic acid of th e infecting v irus is an adequa te stim ulus, w hile a t lower m ultip lic ities, v ira l nucleic acid synthesis is necessary for subsequent in te r­ feron fo rm ation . I t is n o t know n w hy v iral nucleic acids are such effective in terferon inducers, no r is i t know n how th e ir presence w ith in th e cell leads to th e fo rm ation of in te r­ feron. I t is m ost likely th a t th e presence of the v iral nucleic acids w ith in the cytop lasm leads to a change in th e nucleus, resu lting in th e tran sc rip tio n and tran sla tio n of th e app rop ria te gene for in terferon .