Combined protective effects on interferon and interferon induction on herpes simplex and ectromelia virus infections in mice.

Mouse interferon or the induction of mouse interferon with polyriboinosinic acid-polyribocytidylic acid significantly protected mice against herpes simplex and ectromelia viral infections. When polyriboinosinic acid-polyribocytidylic acid was administered 24 h before herpes simplex or ectromelia viral infection and mouse interferon was administered shortly before and 24 h after infection, a combined protective effect against either herpes simplex or ectromelia viral infection in mice was evident. There was a significant decrease in the mortality rate with the combined treatment as compared either with the rate in group treated with interferon or polyriboinosinic acid-polyribocytidylic acid.