Protective effect of immunization with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid complexed with methylated bovine serum albumin against Friend leukemia virus in mice.

Mice hyperimmunized with polyinosinic . polycytidylic acid complexed with methylated bovine serum albumin were protected against challenge with Friend leukemia virus. The virus was inoculated at the time when anti bodies reacting to the polynucleotide structure had reached an appreciable level. A sparing effect of approximately 1.5 logs in infectivity was afforded the immunized mice. Our results indicate that the polynucleotide complexes may provide a promising means of immunizing against the oncornaviruses.