THE ROLE OF CELLULAR-IMMUNITY IN THE INFECTION WITH HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS

In this article we have summarized work done in our laboratory during the past three years and have related it to the results from a few other laboratories. Our studies were concerned with an in vivo model of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in mice and with in vitro studies of antiviral cellular immunity done both with murine and human lymphocytes. We have also concentrated on the in vitro replication of HSV in the cells of the lymphoid system. We believe that the interactions between viruses and immunocompetent cells are important objects for study, for at least three reasons: first, cellular defense mechanisms by lymphocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells and products of these cells (such as interferon) are of critical importance in the primary resistance to HSV infections which in mice appears to be under genetic control. Secondly, infected cells of the immune system seem to be ideal carriers for viral spread in the organism. Thirdly, since viruses are able to infect immunocytes under certain (as yet ill-defined) conditions, the immune reactivity towards viruses may considerably differ from that against test antigens usually studied by immunologists. © 1979.