GROWTH OF HERPES-SIMPLEX AND CYTOMEGALO-VIRUS IN CULTURED HUMAN ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES

Abstract
In laboratory animals, macrophages play a central role in controlling certain viral infections. Because the adult human lung is more susceptible to infection with cytomegalovirus than herpes simplex virus, the replication of these 2 viruses in vitro in human alveolar macrophages was compared. The growth of herpes simplex virus in alveolar macrophages was extremely limited, peak titers being only 1.8-fold greater than adsorbed virus titers. Cytomegalovirus, replicated in normal adult alveolar macrophages to the same extent as in permissive tissue culture cells. The human alveolar macrophage may play a central role in the control of lung infection with herpes simplex virus.

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