In vivo immune stimulation by interferon during viral infection

Treatment of Rhesus monkeys with human leukocyte interferon prevents the development of skin lesions after intradermal infection with vaccinia virus. The treatment does not prevent the development of immunity to vaccinia. Inactivated vaccinia virus, which is non-immunogenic in untreated monkeys, induced immunity under interferon treatment, indicating that interferon had an immune-stimulating effect.