[Formation and action of interferon in experimental respiratory syncytial infection]

Respiratory syncytial virus multiplying activity in the lungs of newborn and 6-day-old cotton rats, induced production of considerable amounts of interferon. Interferon production correlated with virus multiplication. Lower interferon titers were observed in the lungs of newborn cotton rats than in the lungs of 6-day-old animals. RS virus also induced production of serum interferon upon intraperitoneal inoculation, its titers being 2 times as low as after inoculation of equal doses of Newcastle disease virus. Poly I: poly C was shown to be a quite active interferon inducer in cotton rats and to inhibit RS virus reproduction in their lungs.