Immune responses to LCM virus infection in vivo and in vitro. Mechanisms of immune-mediated disease.

Both recovery and death of mice following acute infections with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus appear to be mediated by a population of virus-specific thymus-derived (T) effector lymphocytes that possess lytic activity in vitro against virus-infected syngeneic fibroblasts. Whether recovery or death occurs is determined by the balance between two interdependent factors: (1) the extent of virus-induced modifications in the surfaces of cells comprising "target" tissues, and (2) the efficiency of the immune inductive process leading to the generation of effector T lymphocytes that recognize and destroy these modified cells.