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THE WALTER AND ELIZA HALL INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH

C/o Royal Melbourne |
Hospital Post Office,
MELBOURNE, Victoria.
~fustralia.

25rd September, 1955

Dr, J. Lederberg, = -
Department of Genetics,
University of Wisconsin,
» Wisconsin.

   

Dear Lederberg, a

I was delighted to hear from Rubbo that
there is a reasonable possibility of your coming to
Australia in 1957. . We shall be most happy to provide
you with a bench and a temporary collaborator at the
Institute if you would like to get the "feel" of influenza
virus genetics. . oe

At the present time we have a nice experiment
under way,-which TI hope will give us a clearer view of
the nature of virulence in influenza: viruses. It. is a-

- Cross’between a-strain NSE With 3 High lével virulences

(mouse intracerebral mouse intranasal and lethal effect
on the embryo) and MEL which has minimal virulence of
each type. It amounts simply to repeated analysis of —
pure clones from the first cycle fluid. I am beginning
to feel sure that there are two different orders of
activity concerned with virulence, which I an calling
somatic (concerned with entry of virus into a new cell)
and reproductive (mediated through wholly intracellular
processes).

I presume you have seen my colleague,
G.L.Ada's notes in "Nature" on the RNA of the influenza
virus. I think his work makes influenza (as a wholly
RNA-based system) of particular interest from the general
biological point of view. * eo.

“J should very mch like to have a chance

for some extended discussion with you on these matters

and I do hope you and Mrs, Lederberg can make the trip.
With kindest regards,

- Yours sincerely,

F. M. Burnet