Enhanced resistance in STAT6-deficient mice to infection with ectromelia virus.

Obligatory requirement for antibody in recovery from a primary poxvirus infection.

To understand the correlates of protective immunity against primary variola virus infection in humans, we have used the well-characterized mousepox model. This is an excellent surrogate small-animal model for smallpox in which the disease is caused by infection with the closely related orthopoxvirus, ectromelia virus. Similarities between the two infections include virus replication and transmi...

Identification of nitric oxide synthase 2 as an innate resistance locus against ectromelia virus infection.

To assess whether nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) fulfills the criteria of an innate resistance locus against an acute viral infection, we inoculated genetically deficient NOS2-/- mice with virulent ectromelia virus (EV), the causative agent of mousepox. NOS2-/- mice proved highly susceptible to EV yet showed no diminution in other well-characterized anti-EV immune responses, i.e. , gamma interf...

Trypanosoma cruzi Mice to Infection with and Enhanced Resistance in Stat6-Deficient Increased Susceptibility of Stat4-Deficient

Mechanisms determining innate resistance to ectromelia virus infection in C57BL mice.

The mechanism for innate resistance to ectromelia virus, which is controlled by a single gene in C57BL mice, was investigated. The cells or factors involved appear to be radioresistant and to impose an early barrier to viral penetration and spread via lymphatics or blood to the target organs, i.e., liver and spleen.

Surviving Mousepox Infection Requires the Complement System

Poxviruses subvert the host immune response by producing immunomodulatory proteins, including a complement regulatory protein. Ectromelia virus provides a mouse model for smallpox where the virus and the host's immune response have co-evolved. Using this model, our study investigated the role of the complement system during a poxvirus infection. By multiple inoculation routes, ectromelia virus ...