HD infection leads to loss of differential NK subset localization patterns. Time course of the absolute number of NK cells (CD3-NK1.1⁺) in the LNs (A) and liver (B), of C57BL/6 at different post-MCMV infection time points. Control (day 0) mice were mock infected by receiving 0.2 mL of RPMI IP, whereas LD-infected mice were infected with 2 × 10³ PFU MCMV in 0.2 mL of RPMI IP, or HD-infected mice were infected with 2 × 10⁴ PFU MCMV in 0.2 mL of RPMI IP. (C) Gating strategy for splenic unlicensed and licensed NK cells. Licensed: CD3-NK1.1⁺ cells expressing Ly49C/I; unlicensed: CD3-NK1.1⁺ cells that do not express Ly49C/I. Absolute number of licensed and unlicensed NK cell subsets in the LNs (D) or liver (E), of C57BL/6 mice on post-MCMV infection day (dpi) 5. Means ± standard error of the mean are shown for 3 or 4 mice per group, representative of 2 experiments. *P < .05; **P < .01; ***P < .001, ns, nonsignificant, by 1- or 2-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc test.