The Role of Interferon in Persistent Infection with Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus

摘要

SUMMARY: Calf kidney cell cultures persistently infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) resist challenge with related and unrelated viruses. Attachment of challenge virus to persistently infected cells is not impaired. A challenge with viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) will not overcome the resistance of persistently infected cells. The initiation of persistence is correlated with the amount of interferon produced in the cells. It is concluded that interferon plays a major role in initiation and maintenance of the carrier state of the cells.