In response to viral infection,the immune systems of mice typically produce antibodies that destroy the virusby binding to proteins on its surface. Mice infected with a herpesvirus generally develop keratitis, adegenerative disease affecting part of the eye. Since proteins on the surface of cells in this part of theeye closely resemble those on the herpesvirus surface, scientists hypothesizethat these cases of keratitis are caused by antibodies to herpesvirus.