Inhibitory effect of herpes simplex virus type 1 on type 2 virus replication.

Simultaneous infection with herpes simplex type I and type 2 viruses of chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF), which are only permissive for type 2 virus, or rabbit embryo fibroblasts (REF), which are permissive for both virus types, resulted in a marked reduction of type 2 virus production. This effect was dependent on the m.o.i. of type I, being expressed at a high rather than a low m.o.i. The rate of interference decreased with the prolongation of the interval between infection with type 2 and type I viruses. No evidence suggestive of interferon involvement was obtained. Partial inactivation of type 2 virus by ultraviolet irradiation enhanced the inhibitory effect of type I virus. On the other hand, u.v. irradiation of type I virus resulted in a progressive loss of inhibitory activity. The results of the present experiments suggest that a type I genome function is responsible for the interfering effect, and that an early step in the growth of type 2 virus is sensitive to the particular type I virus product involved.