[Cellular hypersensitivity in the infection of mice by Junin virus. III. Experience with Cr51 an antitheta serum].

Several aspects of the appearance and development of delayed hypersensitivity in mice infected with Junin virus are described. The results obtained showed that the development of the immunological mechanisms occurs irrespective of age. Spleen cells of donor mice inoculated with one i.p. dose of Junin virus had a poor cytotoxic activity, as demonstrated by 51Cr release and adoptive immunity procedures. Spleen cells treated with anti-theta serum and complement did not strikingly affect the development of Junin virus disease in mice. This demonstrated the capacity of T lymphocytes to influence the course of the viral infection of newborn mice adoptively transferred with immune spleen cells. No difference were detected in the virus titer in the brains of transferred and control animals, this fact suggests that immune T lymphocytes are not involved in Junín virus clearance.