An Explanation for Increased Interferon Production At Low Multiplicities of Infection

Abstract

Summary

Relatively low multiplicities of Semliki Forest virus induce optimal yields of interferon in chick embryo cell cultures. High multiplicities apparently inhibit interferon synthesis; however, a different mechanism is shown to be responsible. The increase yield of interferon at low multiplicities is shown to be associated with a prolongation of interferon synthesis due to multiple cycles of virus replication. The possibility of interferon induced in the first cycle of replication having a priming effect on interferon production in subsequent cycles is suggested.