Evidence is presented that poliovirus particles with a single lethal hit by hydroxylamine do not induce in host cells either inhibition of cellular protein synthesis or viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) replication. The RNA of these viruses is not replicated even if the cells are simultaneously infected with both active and inactivated viruses. The damaged viral RNA seems to have lost both its template function and its function in the translation of normal viral proteins.

Evidence is presented that the genome of the infecting poliovirus must be intact in order to achieve inhibition of cellular protein synthesis. Viral particles with a single lethal hit by treatment with hydroxylamine no longer participate in the inhibitory action of the virus. De novo protein synthesis is required for the inhibition to occur. The synthesis of cellular m-RNA is not necessary.