Lyt-1 super(+) T cells participate in recovery from oculo-herpes simplex virus type 1 infection

The present study was initiated in order to examine what role T cells and their subsets play in resolving ocular herpes virus infection. Adoptive transfer of HSV-1 sensitized T cells prior to corneal HSV-1 infection did not prevent virus spread to the brain but did resolve the infection following virus invasion of the CNS. Furthermore, T cells with a Lyt-1 phenotype were the dominant mediator of the antiviral protection seen in immune spleen cell reconstituted recipients.