Protective activity of secondary effector T cells generated in vitro against ectromelia virus infection in vivo

The anti-viral activity of secondary effector cells generated in vitro against ectromelia virus infection was investigated. Depending upon the order of administration of cells and virus, 2 X 10(6) cells significantly reduce virus titres in recipient mice. Mice injected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus are not protected by secondary effector cells against ectromelia virus infection and vice versa. The cells conferring anti-viral activity are sensitive to anti-theta and complement treatment, and must share H-2K or H-2D region genes with the recipients in order for significant reduction of virus titres to occur. The possibility of exploiting this approach in clinical medicine by using T cell-mediated mechanisms against certain viral infections is briefly discussed.