Spontaneous interferon in viral infection in mice

Experimental infection of Balb/c mice with EMC virus (Co1MM strain) suppresses the process of spontaneous interferon (IFNsp) synthesis, regardless of the dose of virus used. Small doses of Co1MM virus which cause neither virus replication nor interferon induction in the animal organs, inhibit the production of spontaneous interferon as early as 1 h after infection. This inhibition is not permanent and is followed by a return to the norm and in some cases even by intensification of spontaneous interferon synthesis.