Persistence of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus at very low levels in immune mice.
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), strain WE, is a non-cytopathic RNA virus that is highly adapted to its natural host, the mouse. Acute infection of adult mice leads to generalized virus spread, followed by cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated virus clearance below the detection levels of conventional assays within 2-3 weeks. Indirect evidence had suggested that virus or viral antigen might persist in the immune mouse. Here we demonstrate LCMV-WE persistence at low levels after infection with 10(2) or 10(6) plaque-forming units, shown as viral genome, viral antigen, and replicative virus using sensitive in vitro and in vivo assays. The finding that LCMV-WE persists in the face of apparently intact immune responses resembles the situation in some viral (hepatitis B and C, HIV) and bacterial (tuberculosis, leprosy) infections in humans; the results are relevant to the understanding not only of other murine and human persistent viral infections but also of protective immunological memory by "infection immunity."
Ciurea
A
A
Institute for Experimental Immunology, Department of Pathology, University Hospital, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland. aciurea@pathol.unizh.ch
Klenerman
P
P
Hunziker
L
L
Horvath
E
E
Odermatt
B
B
Ochsenbein
A F
AF
Hengartner
H
H
Zinkernagel
R M
RM
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral