PERSISTENCE OF LYMPHOCYTIC CHORIOMENINGITIS VIRUS IN IMMUNE ANIMALS AND ITS RELATION TO IMMUNITY

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• The Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) can persist in seemingly healthy individuals post-recovery.
• Understanding the mechanisms of viral persistence and immunity is crucial for disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the persistence of LCMV in mice after recovery.
• To explore the role of circulating antibodies and leucocytes in LCMV immunity.
• To determine the relationship between viral persistence and organ lesions.

Main Methods:

• Monitoring LCMV presence in blood, urine, and nasal secretions of infected mice.
• Assessing the presence of antivirus in sera of immune mice.
• Evaluating the role of leucocytes in immunity.
• Examining LCMV presence in urine and blood of recovered guinea pigs.

Main Results:

• LCMV persisted in blood, urine, and nasal secretions of some recovered mice, potentially due to lung, liver, and kidney lesions.
• Immunity in mice did not correlate with the presence of virus in blood or organs.
• Circulating antivirus and leucocytes were not essential factors for immunity in mice.
• Recovered guinea pigs from severe LCMV infections shed virus in urine, but not blood, while antivirus was detected in their blood.

Conclusions:

• LCMV immunity in mice is likely tissue-associated, not dependent on circulating antivirus or leucocytes.
• Viral persistence post-recovery may be influenced by organ damage.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms of LCMV persistence and immunity.