The Interferons and Their Inducers: Molecular and Therapeutic Considerations

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Abstract
(First of Three Parts)THE interferon system is a mechanism of cellular defense or immunity, which man shares with most animals, including the teleost fishes. This natural defense system operates in numerous viral infections by means of the interferons, which are proteins produced by appropriately stimulated vertebrate cells. An interferon is operationally defined by its ability to confer antiviral resistance upon normally virus-susceptible animal cells, usually of the same species. This review, necessarily interpretive rather than completely comprehensive, will cover the following points: (1) certain aspects of the production of interferon, including the different kinds of compounds that stimulate its . . .