Infectious lymphocytes in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus carrier mice

The infectivity of blood and lymphoid organs of mice persistently infected with lymphocytic choriomeningifis virus was found to be predominantly associated with lymphocytes and both T and B cells were infectious. A hypothesis i presented in which it is assumed that lymphocytes in carrier mice are infected via their LCM virus-specific antigen receptors, thereby leading to their antigen-triggered clonal expansion followed by infection and functional inactivation