Varicella Zoster Virus: Interferon Production and Comparative Interferon Sensitivity in Human Cell Cultures

Abstract

Interferon has been demonstrated to be present in vesicles of persons infected with chickenpox and herpes zoster viruses (Wheelock, 1967; Armstrong et al. 1970). Using human foreskin fibroblast monolayers, our studies demonstrate that varicella zoster infection results in interferon production and that interferon or polyinosinic acid:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) pre-treatment protects these cell cultures from varicella zoster virus infection.