Suppression of Interferon and Antibody and Multiplication of Newcastle Disease Virus in Gytomegalovirus Infected Mice. ∗

Summary

MCMV inhibition of interferon response in mice was found to be specific for virus-induced interferon; endo toxin evoked a normal interferon response. NDV multiplied in the spleens of MCMV-infected mice during the first 72 hours after intravenous inoculation, a period when interferon response was suppressed. In these animals, in addition to the inhibition of interferon response, there was significant impairment of clearance and a suppression of NDV neutralizing antibody production. The relative role each plays in the multiplication of NDV in MCMV-infected mice remains undefined. Extensive MCMV replication in the spleen and significant pathologic alteration of it indicate that that organ is central to these effects. Despite these alterations of host response, NDV infection spontaneously terminated at 96 hours. At a stage during MCMV infection when interferon synthesis was suppressed, NDV multiplication was partially inhibited by administering exogenous interferon.