The immune response to infection with vaccinia virus in mice. I. Infection and the production of antibody neutralizing cell-associated and cell-free virus.

The onset, duration and magnitude of antibody responses to a poxvirus infection were examined. Mice were inoculated intravenously with the WR strain of vaccinia virus and developed pocks on their tails. The number of pocks was related to the size of the inoculum. Virus was detectable in the spleen and infected mice were subsequently immune to intravenous and intra-nasal challenge. Sera of infected animals neutralized both cell-free and cell-associated virus. Antibody against cell-free virus appeared first; maximum titres were reached sooner but were lower than those of antibody neutralizing cell-associated virus. Titres remained high for at least 100 days after infection.