Figure 7. Within-host competition prevents viral shedding into the saliva.

Shedding of C4A (open circles) and C4C (filled triangles) was assessed during co-infection (a total of 1×10⁴ pfu of virus given i.p.) in A. TC1 mice, B. BALB/c mice, C. B6 mice and D. CMV1^r mice. Note, both viruses were present in the saliva of Ly49H⁻ (TC1 and BALB/c) mice, whereas C4A was excluded from the saliva of Ly49H⁺ (B6 and CMV1^r) mice. The effect of m157 on viral shedding was also assessed. B6 mice were infected with 1×10⁴ pfu of C4C, K181 or K181^Δm157 or co-infected a total of 1×10⁴ pfu of either C4C and K181^Δm157 or C4C and K181. Shedding of virus into the saliva was assessed by qPCR E. Viral DNA in the saliva of mice infected with C4C (filled triangles), K181 (filled squares) or K181^Δm157 (filled circles). All three strains of MCMV were shed into the saliva during single strain infection. F. Viral DNA in the saliva of mice co-infected with C4C (open triangles) and K181^Δm157 (open circles). G. Viral DNA in the saliva of mice co-infected with C4C (open triangles) and K181 (open squares). Note both C4C and K181^Δm157 were shed into the saliva of B6 during co-infection, however K181 was excluded from the saliva when co-infected with C4C. Data are mean ± SEM for 5 animals per group. Dotted line indicates limit of detection.