Fig 2. NK cell and T cell work together to modulate virus dissemination.

A. Depletion of NK cells or T cells from C57BL/6 mice enables MCMV-IE3-142 dissemination from the nasal mucosa to the salivary gland. C57BL/6 mice were depleted of NK cells or CD4⁺ T cells and CD8⁺ T cells before i.n. infection with MCMV-IE3-142. Shown are the viral titers in the nasal mucosa, lungs and salivary gland 14 days after infection. Each symbol represents an individual animal. The solid line shows the mean value, and error bars represent the SEM. Dashed lines show the detection limit (50 PFU/g). Data are combined from at least two independent experiments. B. Early viral dissemination is affected by NK cell responses. C57BL/6 mice with or without depletion of either NK cells or CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells were i.n. inoculated with MCMV-IE3-142. Shown are viral DNA copies in the salivary gland at 4 dpi. Data are displayed as in A and are combined from two independent experiments. C. MCMV does not require infection of hematopoietic cells to reach the salivary glands after i.n. infection of BALB/c mice. Shown are virus titers in the nasal mucosa, lungs and salivary glands of BALB/c mice at 14 days after i.n. inoculation of MCMV-IE3-142. Data are displayed as in A and are combined from two independent experiments.