INACTIVATED MARBURG VIRUS ELICITS A NONPROTECTIVE IMMUNE-RESPONSE IN RHESUS-MONKEYS

In the present work the kinetics of some indices of immunity (tumor ne crosis factor (TNF), interferon (IFN), natural killer cells (NK), lymp hocyte proliferation activity, virus-specific antibodies, CD4/CD8 rati o) in response to Marburg virus infection in Macaca mulatta were studi ed. The different kinetics of immunological parameters for animals whi ch survived Marburg virus infection and for animals which died after i nfection are shown. A comparison of the indices of IFN, TNF and sponta neous lymphocyte proliferation activity in Macaca mulatta infected wit h Marburg virus at different stages of life shows the relationship bet ween the increase of these indices and the decrease in the animals' li fespan. Marburg virus immunosuppressive properties were corroborated b y studying lymphocyte proliferation activity in response to antigenic stimulation in vitro and the CD4/CD8 index during experimental Marburg virus infection in Macaca mulatta. We conclude that the disease outco me depends on the dynamics of certain immunologic indices such as TNF and IFN.