Herpes infections in the immunosuppressed host.

Very recent studies indicate that a primitive immune system plays an important role in resisting herpesvirus infections in the mouse. This system appears to be reflected by the NK cell assay and preliminary data suggest that this test reflects resistance in man to herpesvirus infections. We propose that ths system may be responsible for resistance to reactivated herpesvirus infections and its suppression might result in clinically apparent disease. Studies in our laboratory are currently aimed at evaluating this possibility.