Anna Wiener

In vitro Transformation of Hamster Kidney Cells by Human Adenovirus Type 12.

Summary In vitro transformation by human adenovirus type 12 of cells derived from newborn hamster kidneys is described. Such transformation was obtained in 3 different types of kidney cell cultures: trypsinized cells, tissue fragments in plasma clots, and tissue fragments separated from the culture medium by a continuous cellophane membrane. This transformation included morphological alteration of the cells, recovery of the ability to divide, and development of an adenovirus type 12 specific complement-fixing antigen without the presence of detectable infectious virus. The transformed cells did not react with SV-40 specific fluorescein tagged antibodies. The malignant potential of these cells in vivo is under test. It is anticipated that the procedures employed in these experiments will offer new prospects for the study of human viral oncogenesis. The authors gratefully acknowledge the encouragement and suggestions of Dr. Edwin H. Lennette throughout this work.

Action of acridines on agents of the psittacosis-lymphogranuloma group.

Summary Acriflavine; 3-nitro-6, 7-dimethoxy 9 - (2-phenyl-4-diethylaminobutylamino) acridine; and 3-nitro-6, 7-dimethoxy 9 - (2-hydroxy-3-diethylaminopropylamino) acridine inhibited yolk sac infections of chick embryos with the agents of feline pneumonitis, lymphogranuloma venereum, and meningopneumonitis. The first two compounds were less active against the virus of mouse pneumonitis, but the last-named inhibited this agent in chick embryos. Proflavine, atabrine, and drugs closely related to the above-mentioned nitroacridines, except for substitution of C1 for NO2, had no significant inhibitory action. 3-nitro-9-aminoacridine was intermediate in its effect. Respiratory infections in mice caused by the agent of feline pneumonitis were retarded by the two nitroacridines, but these drugs showed slight or no effect in mice against intranasal infection with the agents of mouse pneumonitis, lymphogranuloma venereum, and meningopneumonitis.

The Price virus: an unclassified enterovirus isolated from patients with central nervous system disease.

Summary Six immunologically related viral strains have been recovered from the stools of patients with CNS disease. Neutralization tests indicate that they are not polioviruses, group A or group B Coxsackie viruses, ECHO virus types 1-28 or one of 4 ECHO candidate strains. The human origin of these agents is evidenced by the fact that 5 of the 6 patients with isolations showed 4-fold or greater rises in neutralizing antibody to these viruses. The several strains possess the characteristics of human enteroviruses, i.e., ether resistance, particle size, and production of a characteristic “enterovirus cytopathic effect” in monkey kidney cell cultures. All of the strains could be adapted to growth in HeLa cells. They are not pathogenic for suckling mice, and do not agglutinate human group O, chicken or guinea pig erythrocytes. Addendum Since this paper was submitted for publication, information from Dr. H. A. Wenner, as well as the results of tests performed in this laboratory, indicates that the Bastianni, PR-17 and Frater viruses (enterovirus candidates) are related to the Price virus.

A Chick Embryo-Derived Complement-Fixing Antigen for Western Equine Encephalomyelitis

Summary A complement-fixing antigen of the WEE virus is described. The antigen is prepared from the fluids and membranes of the infected chick embryo and has a high degree of sensitivity. Since complement-fixing antibody in human WEE virus infections is slower in appearing than the neutralizing antibody, diagnosis can usually be made by the complement fixation method whereas diagnos-tically significant rises in antibody frequently are not demonstrable by the neutralization test.