Herpes simplex virus type 1 ribonucleotide reductase null mutants induce lesions in guinea pigs.

Abstract Two herpes simplex virus type 1 ribonucleotide reductase null mutants, hrR3 and ICP6Δ, produced cutaneous lesions in guinea pigs as severe as those of wild-type strains. The lesions induced by hrR3 resulted from in vivo replication of the mutant virus, suggesting that this virus-encoded enzyme is nonessential for virus replication in guinea pigs.