The elimination of herpes simplex plaques by antibody and the emergence of resistant strains.

Established type 1 HSV plaques were eliminated by antibody. Antibody had to remain in contact with infected cells for several days to have a maxi;mum effect. It did not prevent the production of viral induced antigens in a cell when applied after the cell was infected but did prevent the transmission of infection to contiguous cells. Strains which were resistant to elimination by antibody formed syncytia, did not grow to significantly higher titers than nonresistant strains, and were as easily neutralized by antiserum as nonresistant strains.