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The growth of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus in primary mouse embryo (ME) cells was investigated. The virus yields in ME cells were markedly lower if compared with those in HEp-2 cells, which are fully permissive for RS virus, and a remarkable production of interferon (IFN) was found in the early period of infection of the former cells. The virus yields in ME cells were enhanced when antimouse IFN serum was added to the medium. Indirect immunofluorescent staining of infected ME cells showed that the infection spread in the entire monolayer in the presence of antiserum, whereas it was markedly restricted throughout in the absence of the serum. All the major viral polypeptides were synthesized in the absence of the serum. However, their synthesis rates were greatly enhanced if the antiserum was added. These results suggest that the virus growth in ME cells is self-limiting and that this limited growth is due to autointerference by endogenously produced IFN during the course of infection. Further, this type of growth restriction of RS virus appears to be characteristic of cells of mouse origin by comparative studies that used other cells of different origin.

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Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was applied to detect cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA. Two pairs of synthetic oligonucleotide primers were used to amplify DNA from the immediate early 1 and the late antigen genes of CMV, respectively. Either primer sets could detect as few as 0.01 plaque-forming unit of CMV strain AD 169 by Southern blot hybridization. Sixteen CMV clinical isolates were examined and all were found to be positive by the both primer sets. The PCR was used to detect CMV DNA in peripheral blood from six children with elevated anti-CMV antibody titers, who showed abnormal liver-function tests. In three immunocompromised patients, all blood samples were positive for CMV DNA. In three immunocompetent young infants with primary CMV infection, CMV DNA was detected from peripheral blood of one patient during acute phase. Presence of CMV DNA in peripheral blood seemed to be related with the extent of CMV infection, and possibly diagnostic for CMV hepatitis.

SUMMARY For the early diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis IgG and IgM antibodies to herpes simplex virus in cerebrospinal fluid were measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a local production index was calculated. Using these three criteria, 31 cases of various neurological illnesses were analysed. All eight cases of herpes simplex encephalitis were diagnosed correctly in the acute phase, and there were no false positive results.