This technique has been used to detect papillomavirus DNA in genital lesions and HIV in newborns. The most useful test for viral detection is the serological reaction between the antigens of the virus and an antibody of known viral specificity. As an example, if a virus obtained from an infected patient reacts with a herpes-specific body, the virus is now known. Resistance Interferons play a major role in viral resistance in the human immune response. Interferons are rapidly produced by virus infected cells and diffuse to non-viral infected cells .
Interferons stimulate the non-viral infected cells to produce enzymes with antiviral activity.
Interferons do not protect the host cell that was originally infected, however. Additionally, the immune system can detect virus-infected cells and destroy them before progeny virions can be formed and released. The skin lesions of chicken pox are localized areas where virus-infected cells have been lysed. Viral infection also stimulates that body to produce antibodies that react with viral surface antigens and prevent attachment to potential host cells. People who recover from a viral disease are often naturally immunized to the virus that caused the disease.