ULTRAVIOLET-LIGHT-INACTIVATED CAS-BR-M MURINE LEUKEMIA-VIRUS INDUCES A PROTECTIVE CD8(-LYMPHOCYTE RESPONSE IN NEWBORN MICE() CYTOTOXIC T)

Newborn NFS/N mice are susceptible to the neurological disease induced by infection with Cas-Br-M murine leukemia virus (Gas), and do not de velop a protective cytotoxic T cell (CTL)-mediated response to Cas inf ection, Here we demonstrate that whole UV light-inactivated Cas (UV-Ca s), inoculated in newborn NFS/N mice, induced a strong, Gas-specific C TL response detectable 2 weeks postinoculation and persisting in vivo for greater than or equal to 36 weeks. The magnitude of the UV-Cas-ind uced splenic CTL response, mediated by CD8(+) T cells, inversely corre lated with the level of proviral cas env sequences detectable in the s pleen of the UV-Cas-inoculated mice, as revealed by PCR amplification of tissue DNA, The transfer of UV-Cas-primed splenocytes, with Gas-spe cific CTL activity, protected 100% of recipient newborn mice from the development of neurological disease induced by infection with live Gas , for more than 28 weeks, and reduced the level of viral replication i n the recipients.