Production of Interferon during Rat Virus Infection ∗

Abstract

Summary

Data is presented and reviewed which demonstrates that rat virus is highly sensitive to the antiviral action of interferon in rat cells. However, it is also shown that the virus does not stimulate detectable interferon in primary rat embryo cultures or in hamsters. One of the three strains of rat virus tested induced circulating interferon and lung interferon in rats. It was noted that the interferon-stimulating strain was a wild isolate passed only once in the laboratory. These findings indicate that in rat virus infection of rats and hamsters the interferon system may not play the decisive role during recovery although it may contribute to the host defense.