A Low Temperature Storage Cabinet for the Preservation of Viruses

INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE INFLUENZA VIRUSES : I. THE EFFECT OF ACTIVE VIRUS UPON THE MULTIPLICATION OF INFLUENZA VIRUSES IN THE CHICK EMBRYO

Reciprocal interference between influenza A, influenza B, and swine influenza viruses has been demonstrated in the chick embryo. Certain temporal and quantitative factors which influence the production of interference in this host-virus system have been studied. The implications of these observations in relation to the mechanism by which interference is produced are discussed.

THE RECOVERY FROM PATIENTS WITH ACUTE PNEUMONITIS OF A VIRUS CAUSING PNEUMONIA IN THE MONGOOSE

1. A virus capable of producing pulmonary consolidation in the wild mongoose (Herpestes griseus) has been isolated from throat washings obtained from four patients with a clinical syndrome termed acute pneumonitis. 2. The virus was not pathogenic for ferrets, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, monkeys, voles, hamsters, deer mice, skunks, opossums, or woodchucks. 3. The virus was filterable through Berkefeld V and N candles, was not inactivated by glycerin or by freezing and drying in vacuum, and was propagated for at least 30 serial passages on the chorio-allantoic membrane of the developing chick embryo. 4. Normal mongooses placed in contact with infected mongooses developed pulmonary consolidation. 5. The virus was neutralized by the serum of mongooses convalescent from the infection but was not neutralized by normal mongoose serum. 6. Serum of human beings convalescent from acute pneumonitis also neutralized the virus, but serum obtained from the same individuals during the acute phase of the disease failed to do so. 7. The evidence so far obtained strongly suggests that this virus is the cause of acute pneumonitis in human beings. It differs from other viruses known to cause infections of the respiratory tract in man.

NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES IN HUMAN SERUM AFTER INFLUENZA A : THE LACK OF STRAIN SPECIFICITY IN THE IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSE

The increased concentrations of neutralizing antibodies against influenza A virus in human serum which occur after influenza A do not differentiate between antigenically different strains of this virus or swine influenza virus but instead appear to possess equal reactivity against these agents. The decrease in antibody levels which occurs with time is also independent of the strain of virus used to measure it.

A COMPLEX VACCINE AGAINST INFLUENZA A VIRUS : QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ANTIBODY RESPONSE PRODUCED IN MAN

A quantitative study of the antigenicity of various vaccines containing influenza A virus has been made in human beings. A complex vaccine prepared from chick embryos inoculated with both influenza A virus and the X strain of canine distemper virus was found to be more effective than other vaccines in stimulating the production of neutralizing antibodies against the former virus. The increased antibody levels which resulted from the administration of this vaccine remained almost unaltered for at least 5 months.

EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION WITH INFLUENZA A VIRUS IN MICE : THE INCREASE IN INTRAPULMONARY VIRUS AFTER INOCULATION AND THE INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS FACTORS THEREON

Following intranasal inoculation of influenza A virus (strain PR8) there is a rapid increase of the virus in the lungs which with large doses reaches a maximum within 24 hours. With smaller doses, although the proportional increase is greater, the maximum concentration is not reached until 48 hours following inoculation. If a lethal dose is administered, the ultimate concentration of the virus in the lungs is the same, irrespective of the size of the dose. If a sublethal dose is given, the titer of the virus in the lungs does not achieve the titer reached in mice receiving a lethal dose. Within 48 hours following inoculation of a sublethal dose the lungs of a mouse may contain at least 76,000 M.L.D., yet the mouse survives. The intranasal instillation of sterile fluid (distilled water, varying concentrations of NaCl, broth, or 10 per cent normal serum) into a mouse sublethally infected produces a sharp rise in the virus content of the lung usually followed by death within 3 to 8 days. If, however, the instillate consists of 10 per cent immune serum, there is no rise in the virus titer, and no apparent harm results from the instillation. The implications of these phenomena are discussed and an hypothesis presented to explain their occurrence.

Human and Animal Viruses

This chapter provides an overview of the human and animal viruses. Viruses held to a low number of passages in animals or cell cultures represent a viral population that is similar to that found in nature, and freezing these pools guards against genetic mutations that occur during subsequent passage. Aliquots of viral stocks frozen at a designated passage level can then be used for multiple and repeatable experiments with the same viral population. Furthermore, it is important that consistency should be maintained during the production of viral vaccines; new lots of final product are prepared with frozen viral seed stocks that consistently reproduce the desired immunogenic and attenuation characteristics. To better appreciate the requirements for freezing and freeze drying of human and animal viruses, some consideration is given to understanding the structural and functional organization of this diverse group of microorganisms. The classification of viruses is based on morphological and physiochemical properties. Thus, viruses are divided into those with DNA or RNA genomes and subdivided into families based on size and structural properties. Several methods for preservation of viruses are included in the chapter.