Viral Load Increases in SJL/J Mice Persistently Infected by Theiler's Virus after Inactivation of the β(2)m Gene

We show that inactivating the β(2)m gene increases the viral load of SJL/J mice persistently infected by Theiler's virus. Together with previous results, this shows that the characteristics of Tmevp1, a locus which controls the amount of viral RNA that persists in the central nervous system, are those of an H-2 class I gene.