This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Avila, F. R. Articles by Tompkins, W. A. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Avila, F. R. Articles by Tompkins, W. A. F.

Specific Macrophage Immunity to Vaccinia Virus: Macrophage-Virus Interaction

¹ Center for Zoonoses and Comparative Medicine, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, Illinois 61801

ABSTRACT

Macrophage immunity to vaccinia virus was examined by measuring replication of vaccinia virus in immune and nonimmune rabbit peritoneal macrophages. Vaccinia virus multiplied in macrophages from normal rabbits but failed to replicate in macrophages from immune rabbits. The specificity of vaccinia restriction was demonstrated by the ability of myxoma virus to replicate in nonimmune and vaccinia-immune macrophages. Vaccinia virus absorbed equally well to immune and nonimmune macrophages, but only a small fraction of immune cells supported synthesis of virus antigen. Virus eclipse and infective center neutralization studies suggested that much of the virus remained at the plasma membrane of immune macrophages, even after prolonged incubation in culture. These data support our previous suggestions that macrophages may contribute to specific immunity against vaccinia virus.