Studies on Herpes Simplex Virus

[摘要] Whole allantoic fluid from herpes-infected embryonated eggs contains a substance capable of eliciting delayed skin reactions in persons infected with herpes virus. This substance can readily be separated from infective virus by centrifuging allantoic fluid at high speed. The skin-reactive material is then found mainly in the supernatant whereas washed concentrated virus particles do not elicit skin reactions. It is suggested that the skin reaction to herpes virus is due to a soluble antigen.This antigen develops in herpes-infected embryonated eggs early during incubation, and is present in demonstrable amounts at least 48 hours before significant titers of infective virus develop. The concentration of skin-reactive material increases relatively little between the 2nd and 5th days of incubation, whereas the concentration of infective virus rises over 1000 fold between the 3rd and 5th days. The skin reactive substance has broad antigenic specificity and may represent a building stone of infective virus particles.The soluble antigen is relatively heat stable, and does not deteriorate on storage at 4 C. The delayed skin reactions induced by it may be suppressed by the administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone or cortisone.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）