[Cellular hypersensitivity in the infection of mice by Junin virus. I. Passive transfer]

The data presented confirm previous evidence of delayed hypersensitivity in mice following infection with Junin virus. Adaptive transfer of sensitized cells from adult mice which had received 5 Junin virus injections into preinfected newborn mice shortened their survival by 72 hours. It was clear, however, that the development of the immunological mechanism in adult mice occurred under certain conditions. This evidence was confirmed by the observations that the induction of cell-mediated immunity and the response of sensitized lymphocytes to viral antigens appeared to be related to multiple injections of the virus. On the other hand, the sensitized cells were present in adult mice by day 9 and vanished 60 days after the infection. These results revealed the difference between the lymphoid cells from adult mice in the early and the late stages of immunity. The implications of these results in the development of the fatal neurological disease induced by the Junin virus in newborn mice are discussed.