  We present fully sampled high angular resolution two-dimensional kinematics
in the H alpha spectral line, optical and near-infrared imaging, as well as 21
cm atomic hydrogen data of the spiral galaxy NGC 278. This is a small
non-barred galaxy, which has a bright star forming inner region of about 2 kpc
in diameter, reminiscent of nuclear rings seen mainly in barred galaxies. The H
alpha kinematics show a disturbed velocity field, which may be partly the
result of spiral density wave streaming motions. The 21 cm data trace the
atomic hydrogen well outside the optical disk. The HI is not abundant but
clearly shows disturbed morphology and kinematics. We postulate that the
current structure of NGC 278 is a result of a recent interaction with a small
gas-rich galaxy, which is now dispersed into the outer disk of NGC 278.
Non-axisymmetries set up in the disk by this minor merger may well be the cause
of the intense star formation in the inner region, which can be interpreted as
a rare example of a nuclear ring in a non-barred galaxy. Rather than being
induced by a bar, this nuclear ring would then be the direct result of an
interaction event in the recent history of the galaxy.
