[Prevention and therapy of viral diseases with special reference to interferon]

Human leukocyte interferon (HLI) was used for treatment of human diploid fibroblasts before and after infection with vaccinia virus, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV 1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV 2), and varicella zoster virus (VZV). Vero cells were infected with Medical Lake macaque herpes virus (MLMV), and treated with HLI in the same way. In all of these systems HLI exhibited an antiviral effect when administered before infection, and this effect could be increased by additional HLI treatment after infection. In vivo studies with HLI treatment were performed in monkeys experimentally infected with vaccinia virus, HSV 1, and MLMV. Vaccinia and herpes keratitis were prevented by local, prophylactic administration of HLI. Generalized infections with vaccinia virus and MLMV in monkeys immunosuppressed by antilymphocyte globulin, were significantly modified by either prophylactic or therapeutic systemic treatment with HLI.