@article{mbs:/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-69-8-1979, author = "Schijns, Virgil E. C. J. and Borman, Ton H. and Schellekens, Huub and Horzinek, Marian C.", title = "Antiviral Activity of Recombinant Rat Interferon Gamma in Immunologically Impaired and Immunosuppressed Rats", journal= "Journal of General Virology", year = "1988", volume = "69", number = "8", pages = "1979-1985", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-69-8-1979", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-69-8-1979", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1465-2099", type = "Journal Article", keywords = "interferon (rat IFN-γ)", keywords = "PRV infection", keywords = "antiviral activity", abstract = "Summary Treatment of Wag/Rij rats with recombinant rat interferon gamma (rRIF-γ) resulted in complete protection against a lethal pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection. To investigate whether the protection resulted from direct inhibition of virus replication or from a stimulation of immune mechanisms, we tested rRIF-γ activity in naturally immunocompromised and artificially immunosuppressed rats. The antiviral effect of rRIF-γ was not abolished in silica- and carrageenan-treated, phagocyte-depleted rats. Immunologically immature newborn and T cell-deficient nude rats were also protected under a regime of rRIF-γ treatment as well as whole body gamma-irradiated rats. Sera of the protected rats were devoid of PRV-neutralizing antibodies. Our results indicate that the protective activity of rRIF-γ is based on direct inhibition of virus replication; stimulation of the immune system is not required but may be responsible for protection upon challenge several weeks after infection.", }