[Strategy of persistence (facts, hypotheses)].

The universal phenomenon of virus persistence is considered to be a regular phenomenon primarily meeting the interests of the host. Examinations of 1112 patients with various diseases of the nervous system revealed a certain dependence of macroglobulin measles antibody upon the character of the disease and the intensity of demyelinization process. These data do not suggest the etiological role of the persisting measles virus in the genesis of multiple sclerosis and a large group of other nervous system diseases (SSPE). Similar results were obtained in analogous examinations of patients for macroglobulin mumps antibody. The results indicate the role of persisting viruses in the formation of solid specific immunity as well as their importance for nonspecific protection against other immunologically similar diseases. Virus persistence is considered to be a certain antiviral strategy of the body based on accumulation in the life course of a considerable number of persisting viruses on which both specific and nonspecific antiviral protection is founded. Congenital or acquired defects of immunity cause the development of the persisting infection and appearance of some chronic diseases of the nervous system.