Virological Techniques Research Articles

The Applications of Fluorescent Antibody Techniques in Bacteriology and Virology

The Applications of Fluorescent Antibody Techniques in Bacteriology and Virology

The Applications of Fluorescent Antibody Techniques in Bacteriology and Virology

The Applications of Fluorescent Antibody Techniques in Bacteriology and Virology

The Applications of Fluorescent Antibody Techniques in Bacteriology and Virology

The Applications of Fluorescent Antibody Techniques in Bacteriology and Virology

The Applications of Fluorescent Antibody Techniques in Bacteriology and Virology

The Applications of Fluorescent Antibody Techniques in Bacteriology and Virology

Laboratory studies of influenza virus type B infections in children.

An outbreak of influenza virus Type B infections in children residing in The Children's Home, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC, occurred in January, 1962. Virologic studies of these infections permitted the evaluation of the effectiveness of monkey kidney cell cultures for the isolation of influenza B viruses. The influence of the serum content of the maintenance medium upon the recovery of influenza B viruses could be evaluated, since all specimens were inoculated into two tubes of rhesus kidney cultures, one of which was maintained with monkey kidney medium B (2% calf serum) 1 and the other with medium 199 (serum-free). 2 Specimens for isolation of virus and sera collected during the acute and convalescent phases of illness were available from all children admitted to the infirmary, so that a comparison of serologic and virologic techniques for the laboratory diagnosis of influenza B infections was possible. Epidemiologic and clinical data relating to this

Study of mitochondria in rat liver. Quantitative electron microscopy.

The electron microscope has been used to determine the weight distribution of isolated subcellular particles from normal rat liver. The following results are reported: (1) There exist at least two well defined weight populations of subcellular particles; their respective median weights are 1.3 x 10(-14) and 11 x 10(-14) gm. The lighter fraction is considered to consist of lysosomes, the heavier of mitochondria. (2) The mitochondrial fraction shows a log-normal distribution of the particle weight. (3) By the introduction of morphologic criteria, the mitochondrial fraction is divided into two groups, one consisting of a spherical, the other of an oblong type of particle. The data found support the following concepts: (a) Mitochondria increase their weight from a certain size up by linear growth. (b) Mitochondria divide. The division is not necessarily symmetric; in all cases, however, one part of the division product is a spherical particle. It is felt that these results constitute a valuable demonstration of the general capabilities of quantitative electron microscopy and may stimulate many other useful applications of this technique in cytology, bacteriology, and virology.

Are Animal Tumor Viruses Always Virus-Like?

Three tumors initiated by well characterized viruses, but in which virus is not detectable by ordinary virological techniques, are discussed. The question of the possible state of the virus within these seemingly non-infectious tumors is considered, largely from the standpoint of findings with the rabbit papilloma virus. This agent in its natural host, the cottontail rabbit, is infective, can be seen as virus bodies with the electron microscope, and can be visualized with fluorescent antibody only in the upper keratinizing cells of individual papillomas. At the growing bases of such papillomas, where neoplasia is in active progress, no infective virus is demonstrable and viral bodies cannot be visualized by either the electron microscope or fluorescent antibody. A hypothesis is presented that rabbit papilloma virus exists in cottontail papillomas in two forms-one, the complete mature virus, composed of nucleic acid and protein, and the other, immature virus, composed of naked viral nucleic acid without its protein coating. The function of the mature papilloma virus is to initiate tumor formation,-that of the immature virus, to maintain neoplasia. In the non-infective domestic rabbit papilloma, the viral nucleic acid and protein fail to combine to form mature infective virus and, as in the cottontail papilloma, neoplasia is maintained by the activity of the viral nucleic acid alone.

Multiplication of herpes virus in a mouse mammary tumor

Experimental herpes virus infection of spontaneous mouse mammary tumors was studied with the aid of virological and morphological techniques.

Advances and results of cell culture methods

In this brief review, the development of modern quantitative methods for the cultivation of mammalien cellsin vitro is described, and present knowledge of their nutritional requirements is presented. In addition, some applications of these techniques in biochemistry, pharmacology, virology, genetics, and radiobiology are discussed.

Viral meningoencephalitis

Summary 1.Thirty-one patients with meningoencephalitiswere examined by standard virologic laboratory techniques. An etiological diagnosis was established in 26 of them. 2.Sixteen of the group were found tohave poliomyelitis due to poliovirus Type I. Fifteen of the 16 had paralytic disease. There was 1 death in this group. Five of the 16 patients had received Salk vaccine. 3.Infection caused by ECHO virus Type 9 was encountered in 7 patients. 4.Coxsackie virus Type B3 was isolatedfrom 1 patient, and mumps virus was proved to be the etiological agent in 2. 5.In 5 patients the etiology could not be proved. Summary 1.Thirty-one patients with meningoencephalitiswere examined by standard virologic laboratory techniques. An etiological diagnosis was established in 26 of them. 2.Sixteen of the group were found tohave poliomyelitis due to poliovirus Type I. Fifteen of the 16 had paralytic disease. There was 1 death in this group. Five of the 16 patients had received Salk vaccine. 3.Infection caused by ECHO virus Type 9 was encountered in 7 patients. 4.Coxsackie virus Type B3 was isolatedfrom 1 patient, and mumps virus was proved to be the etiological agent in 2. 5.In 5 patients the etiology could not be proved.

Animal viruses and embryos.

This review illustrates the thesis that the concepts and techniques of animal virology may provide effective measures for analyzing genetic and epigenetic relations in developing cells. The authors discuss first the effects of introducing nucleic acid in the form of virus on the subsequent history of a cell, paying particular attention to the modification of patterns of differentiation and growth by tumor viruses. The question, can viruses be used to study the origin of differences in cell specific properties, is approached by examining the pathologic effects of viruses on embryos. The role of viruses as causative agents in congenital malformations is considered. Viruses are not only agents for modifying the course of development and for detecting when differences arise in cells. Experiments from several disciplines are discussed which focus on the concept of recombination between vertebrate somatic cells. Can intercellular transfer of subcellular units modify patterns of synthesis in embryonic cells? Among the examples treated are the transfer of enzyme forming capacity by epigenetic recombination in bacterial and vertebrate cells; transfer of antibody forming capacity; the selective uptake and exchange of subcellular particles in the chick embryo; and the use of viruses to facilitate transfer of information between vertebrate cells. Finally the application of recent genetic findings, arising from virological and other microbiological studies, to the ontogeny of one class of specific proteins, antibodies, is explored.

The Epidemiology of Primary Atypical Pneumonia

Introduction and Review of the Literature During the past five years, with the development of newer techniques in virology, many new clinical entities have been established among those maladies commonly known as the In many instances the etiologic agents causing these disorders have been isolated and identified, while others remain to be found. In this paper we shall review the literature regarding the existing knowledge of the viral respiratory infections. Studies then will be presented concerning primary atypical pneumonia. Future publications will deal with the work now in progress with other diseases which are classified in this group. It is the purpose of the present communication to contrast the epidemic form of primary atypical pneumonia with the sporadic and subclinical types by presenting data which have been accumulated18from a study of this disease since 1951. The fact that influenza A (Asian strain) is appearing at this

SYMPOSIUM ON VIRUS DIAGNOSIS IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY

Recent advances in the techniques of growing Improvements in antigen production now viruses have greatly simplified the procedures of permit successful utilization of the complement isolation and identification of the causative fixation test as a diagnostic tool for the majority agents of virus diseases as well as the performance of viral and rickettsial diseases. With broader of various serological tests for antibodies in application of the hemagglutination-inhibition paired sera from cases. Two of the most important test and adaptation of tissue culture methods to developments in this field have been the incorserum neutralization tests, routine serologic poration of suitable antibiotics into laboratory services, previously prohibitive, are now pracmedia for the control of bacterial contaminants ticable in most laboratories. Although embryoand the widespread use of tissue culture technate eggs, suckling mice, adult mice, and other niques made possible by recent demonstrations of animals are occasionally mandatory for virus the adaptive tropism of many viruses which isolation, tissue culture methods are rapidly previously could only be grown in expensive supplanting these and placing virus isolation and laboratory animals. The resultant simplification identification procedures within the scope of the of technical procedures makes it possible for the average laboratory. smaller, less specialized laboratories such as Problems still confronting and deterring the those of most public health departments to virus diagnostic laboratory are: (a) availability perform tests never before attempted in such of personnel capable of obtaining reproducible laboratories and provides the necessity and imresults and interpreting them; (b) availability of petus for the present symposium. standardized diagnostic antigens and antisera; Morris Schaeffer opened the symposium dis(c) complicated requirements for the collection, cussing general considerations in the virus diagpreservation and transportation of certain specinosis. He brought out the fact that dramatic mens; and (d) the relatively long interval freadvances in virologic techniques have made the quently elapsing between submission of specirare and highly specialized virus laboratory more nens and receipt of a final report, which is common and readily applicable to routine diagoftentimes discouraging to the physician. nostic procedures. Local requirements, should Progressive advances in electron microscopy, determine the types of services that a state, fluorescent antibody techniques, and immunomunicipal or hospital laboratory could perform chemistry, as well as in other fields, optimistically proficiently and economically. Infrequent tests promise further simplification and more rapid may be provided by a regional or central laboradiagnostic procedures in the near future. tory which could also serve as a consultant and Laboratory diagnosis of viral infections of the reference laboratory. respiratory tract was discussed by Maurice R. Hilleman. The respiratory tract, by virtue of its 'This symposium was held at the Fifty-seventh being a hollow organ which is in continuous conGeneral Meeting of the Society of American Bactact with the atmosphere, is subject to repeated teriologists in Detroit, Michigan, on April 30, exposure to and attack by a wide variety of 1957. Participants were: Morris Schaeffer, Commicroorganisms. Important among these are the municable Disease Center, Montgomery, Alabama; es which com Maurice R. Hilleman, Department of Respiratory vrusprevsguoknown r . Diseases, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, presently unknown entities which infect the Washington, D. C.; Gilbert Dalldorf, Department respiratory system. Even though attacked by a of Health, State of New York, Albany; N. R. Grist, diversity of microorganisms, the response of the Virus Laboratory, Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow, Scothost to such invasion is singularly limited in land. variety. Basically, the host response is confined

SYMPOSIUM ON VIRUS DIAGNOSIS IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY1

Recent advances in the techniques of growing Improvements in antigen production now viruses have greatly simplified the procedures of permit successful utilization of the complement isolation and identification of the causative fixation test as a diagnostic tool for the majority agents of virus diseases as well as the performance of viral and rickettsial diseases. With broader of various serological tests for antibodies in application of the hemagglutination-inhibition paired sera from cases. Two of the most important test and adaptation of tissue culture methods to developments in this field have been the incorserum neutralization tests, routine serologic poration of suitable antibiotics into laboratory services, previously prohibitive, are now pracmedia for the control of bacterial contaminants ticable in most laboratories. Although embryoand the widespread use of tissue culture technate eggs, suckling mice, adult mice, and other niques made possible by recent demonstrations of animals are occasionally mandatory for virus the adaptive tropism of many viruses which isolation, tissue culture methods are rapidly previously could only be grown in expensive supplanting these and placing virus isolation and laboratory animals. The resultant simplification identification procedures within the scope of the of technical procedures makes it possible for the average laboratory. smaller, less specialized laboratories such as Problems still confronting and deterring the those of most public health departments to virus diagnostic laboratory are: (a) availability perform tests never before attempted in such of personnel capable of obtaining reproducible laboratories and provides the necessity and imresults and interpreting them; (b) availability of petus for the present symposium. standardized diagnostic antigens and antisera; Morris Schaeffer opened the symposium dis(c) complicated requirements for the collection, cussing general considerations in the virus diagpreservation and transportation of certain specinosis. He brought out the fact that dramatic mens; and (d) the relatively long interval freadvances in virologic techniques have made the quently elapsing between submission of specirare and highly specialized virus laboratory more nens and receipt of a final report, which is common and readily applicable to routine diagoftentimes discouraging to the physician. nostic procedures. Local requirements, should Progressive advances in electron microscopy, determine the types of services that a state, fluorescent antibody techniques, and immunomunicipal or hospital laboratory could perform chemistry, as well as in other fields, optimistically proficiently and economically. Infrequent tests promise further simplification and more rapid may be provided by a regional or central laboradiagnostic procedures in the near future. tory which could also serve as a consultant and Laboratory diagnosis of viral infections of the reference laboratory. respiratory tract was discussed by Maurice R. Hilleman. The respiratory tract, by virtue of its 'This symposium was held at the Fifty-seventh being a hollow organ which is in continuous conGeneral Meeting of the Society of American Bactact with the atmosphere, is subject to repeated teriologists in Detroit, Michigan, on April 30, exposure to and attack by a wide variety of 1957. Participants were: Morris Schaeffer, Commicroorganisms. Important among these are the municable Disease Center, Montgomery, Alabama; es which com Maurice R. Hilleman, Department of Respiratory vrusprevsguoknown r . Diseases, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, presently unknown entities which infect the Washington, D. C.; Gilbert Dalldorf, Department respiratory system. Even though attacked by a of Health, State of New York, Albany; N. R. Grist, diversity of microorganisms, the response of the Virus Laboratory, Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow, Scothost to such invasion is singularly limited in land. variety. Basically, the host response is confined