The Role of Antibody, Delayed Hypersensitivity, and Interferon Production in Recovery of Guinea Pigs from Primary Infection with Vaccinia Virus

In guinea pigs, methotrexate and x-radiation have been employed to block the development of delayed hypersensitivity and of antibody to vaccinia virus during experimental infection. Animals whose specific responses were blocked by x-radiation and methotrexate recovered from vaccinia virus infection as rapidly as non-treated control animals suggesting that these responses were not essential in recovery of the infected animals. A virus-inhibiting substance with the properties of interferon was present in skin of untreated and methotrexate- and x-radiation-treated animals infected with vaccinia virus.