Passive Interferon Protection in Mouse Influenza

Summary

Interferon prepared from influenza virus infected eggs or mouse lungs when intranasally administered protected mice against a mouse-adapted Type B influenza challenge. To be effective, the interferons had to be given before virus, and treatments delayed 24 hours after virus exposure served only to aggravate the infection. The concentration of virus used in the challenge was critical. The effect was best observed when the dosage was approximately 10 LD₅₀.