RECOVERY FROM RETROVIRUS-INDUCED IMMUNE SUPPRESSION IN BDP J MICE - DOMINANCE OF THE REGRESSOR PHENOTYPE/

Murine acquired immune deficiency syndrome (MAIDS) is an immunosuppres sive disease of mice induced by infection with the LP-BM5 murine leuke mia virus (MuLV) retrovirus isolate. Certain inbred strains of mice ar e resistant to disease, but F-1 crosses between sensitive and resistan t strains are predominantly sensitive to MAIDS. One inbred strain, BDP , demonstrates a novel disease phenotype, recovery of immune function after a period of profound immune suppression. This trait is genetical ly dominant in crosses between BDP and either sensitive or resistant s trains. The 'regressor' phenotype reveals the existence of a mechanism for recovery from immunosuppressive retrovirus infections, which may be of import in developing therapies for AIDS patients.