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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Dissecting Innate Immune Signaling in Viral Evasion of Cytokine Production
Published on: March 2, 2014
Interplay between alpha/beta and gamma interferons with B, T, and natural killer cells in the defense against herpes
Sabine Vollstedt1, Susi Arnold, Cornelia Schwerdel
1Institute of Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
The essential components of the immune system that control primary and chronic infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in mice were investigated. Infection within the first few days can be controlled by alpha/beta interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) alone without significant contribution of B, T, or NK cells. IFN-alpha/beta and IFN-gamma cooperate in the elimination of virus in the absence of these lymphocytes. In contrast, B, T, or NK cells appear to be required to control persistent infection with HSV-1. These results suggest that distinct and essential immune elements are recruited in a time-dependent fashion to control acute and persistent HSV-1 infection.
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