Effects of pure interferons on Epstein-Barr virus infection in vitro

Pure human gamma-interferon as well as alpha-interferon inhibited induction of immunoglobulin synthesis by Epstein-Barr virus but not by pokeweed mitogen in B lymphocytes from adult but not from newborn humans. The interferons inhibited the infected B lymphocytes directly, irrespective of the Epstein-Barr virus immune status of the donor, and their inhibitory effect was synergistic.