Frederick A. Murphy

Agent of Disease Contracted from Green Monkeys

An infectious agent obtained from patients who became ill after exposure to tissues of African green monkeys is viral in character. By electron microscopy, the agent appeared cylindrical, 90 to 100 nanometers in diameter, and 130 to 2600 nanometers in length. Cross-striations at 5-nanometer intervals and a core diameter of 45 nanometers were observed. The agent was completely resistant to the effects of the metabolic inhibitor 5-bromodeoxyuridine, which may mean that RNA is the genetic material. It was sensitive to ether and relatively sensitive to destruction by heat.

Gamma globulins of bovine lacteal secretions

Abstract Gamma globulin components of bovine colostrum and dry secretion were compared with their counterparts in serum by means of immunoelectrophoresis, anion exchange chromatography, and double-diffusion antigenic analysis. Although comparable components appeared immunochemically and physicochemically similar no matter where they originated, the proportional amount of each component varied greatly according to the character of the secretion. Thus, electrophoretically fast and slow 7S gamma globulin components were found to selectively accumulate in dry secretion relative to other serum proteins. Colostrum formation involved the same discrimination relative to other serum proteins and also a virtually complete discrimination against slow 7S gamma globulin in favor of a fast component. Bovine gamma-1M and gamma-1A globulins were found in lacteal secretions.

Hemagglutinin of rabies and some other bullet-shaped viruses.

Summary Hemagglutinin of rabies virus was prepared from CVS 11 strain grown in suspension culture of BHK-21 cells maintained in a medium containing 0.4% bovine albumin and no serum. Optimal conditions for demonstration of rabies hemagglutinin included low temperature, pH 6.2, and the use of goose erythrocytes. Normal human, burro, and goat sera contained high titered nonspecific HA inhibitors which were difficult to remove. Specificity of rabies HA antigen was, however, demonstrated with antirabies hyperimmune sera which were treated with a modified kaolin adsorption technique. The same methods were used with minor modifications in the preparation of hemagglutinins of VSV-Indiana, VSV-New Jersey, Cocal, and Kern Canyon viruses.

Genus Coltivirus (family Reoviridae): genomic and morphologic characterization of Old World and New World viruses

Summary.u2002We report a genomic and morphologic study of the European Eyach (EYA) virus (genus Coltivirus, family Reoviridae) and a comparative analysis with the American Colorado tick fever (CTF) virus (the type species of the genus). The previously established, but distant, antigenic relationship between these viruses was strengthened by genetic findings (presence of cognate genes, amino acid identity between 55 and 88%, similar conserved terminal motifs, suspected read-through phenomenon in segment 9 of both viruses) and by indistinguishable ultramicroscopic morphologies. Moreover, putative constitutive modifying enzyme activities were suspected to be carried out by homologous viral proteins (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, methyl/guanylyl transferase, NTPase).These findings, together with the comparative analysis to genomes of south-east Asian isolates, support the recent classification of arboviruses with 12 segments of dsRNA within two distinct genera (genus Coltivirus and genus Seadornavirus) and raise interesting questions about the evolutionary origins of coltiviruses. The previously proposed hypothesis that EYA virus was derived from an ancestral virus introduced in Europe with the migration of lagomorphs from North-America, would imply a divergence date between American and European isolates of over 50 million years ago (MYA). This analysis allows for the first time to propose an evolutionary rate for virus dsRNA genomes which was found to be in the order of 10−8 to 10−9 mutations/nt/year, a rate similar to that of dsDNA genomes.

Characterization of Nodamura virus, an arthropod transmissible picornavirus

Abstract Nodamura virus, an arthropod-transmissible virus which is resistant to ether and chloroform, was characterized by electron microscopic, physical, and additional immunological studies. Examination of thin sections of limb muscles of infected infant mice revealed extremely large numbers of virus particles (28 nm in diameter) dispersed and in crystalline array within sarcoplasm. Two kinds of viroplasmic inclusions and severe destruction of skeletal muscle cell architecture were associated with the presence of virus. Kupffer cells in the liver of these animals also contained large aggregates of virus particles. Negative contrast preparations contained virus particles 29 nm in diameter with cubic symmetry. The virus was morphologically indistinguishable from picornaviruses. The density of infectious virus was 1.34 g/ml; it was insensitive to pH 3.7, and its sensitivity to heat (50 °) was not stabilized by molar MgCl 2 . Since serum neutralization tests against 10 swine enteroviruses were negative, as were previously reported attempts at serological identification, Nodamura virus remains a picornavirus unrelated to any known virus, but with a demonstrated capacity for transmission by and multiplication in arthropods.

Colorado tick fever virus: An electron microscopic study

Abstract Colorado tick fever (CTF) virus was observed by ultrathin section and negative contrast electron microscopy. In sections of infected cultured cells and of mouse brain, virus particles (75 mμ in diameter) with electron dense cores were associated with intracytoplasmic granular matrices, arrays of intracytoplasmic filaments, and fine kinky threads. Occasionally, virus particles were enveloped by membranes of cytoplasmic organelles. Intranuclear filaments in dense arrays were frequently found in infected cells. In negative contrast preparations the virus was round, 80 mμ in diameter, with regularly spaced surface projections suggestive of cubic symmetry. Partial removal of surface components permitted the observation of an inner capsid 50 mμ in diameter. CTF virus was directly compared with reoviruses, which in several ultrastructural characteristics it resembles.

Isolation and characterization of ovine gamma globulins

Abstract Fractions of sheep serum were obtained by anion-exchange column chromatography on DEAE Sephadex, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 which contained only one of the following ovine gamma globulins: 7S gamma-2, 7S gamma-1, and gamma-1M. The gamma globulins were identified by immuno-electrophoresis, starch-gel electrophoresis, analytical ultracentrifugation, and by their content of antibody activity. By these physical criteria they were identical to their counterparts in human serum. Circumstantial evidence indicated that ovine serum also contains a protein analogous to the gamma-1A globulin of human serum.

Physical heterogeneity of bovine γ-globulins: Characterization of γM and γG globulins☆

Abstract The γG globulins of bovine serum were characterized by anion exchange chromatography, immunoelectrophoresis, zone electrophoresis, ultracentrifugation, and analysis of the products of papain digestion. Their properties were similar to those of analogous components of human serum. Fast and slow γG globulins were distinguished on the basis of differences in electrophoretic migration rates, chromatographic elution positions, and biological activities (complement fixation). Antigenic differences were detectable only in immunoelectrophoretic patterns (spur formation). Bovine γM was found to have properties quite similar to those of the analogous protein in human serum as determined by the methods of gel filtration, immunoelectrophoresis, anion exchange chromatography, ultracentrifugation, and reduction with mercaptoethanol. Bovine γA was provisionally recognized in immunoelectrophoretic analyses of serum and chromatographic fractions.

New, emerging, and reemerging infectious diseases

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the capacity of microorganisms and viruses to cause new, emerging, and reemerging diseases. This is followed by the discussion on factors leading to the spread of microorganisms and viruses causing new, emerging, and reemerging diseases. The nature of ecological factors in regard to the new, emerging, and reemerging diseases is discussed next in the chapter. Next, this chapter discusses about the nature of zoonotic factors in regard to new, emerging, and reemerging diseases. This is followed by a discussion on the nature of behavioral and societal factors in regard to the new, emerging, and reemerging diseases, and a look at the factors affecting the new, emerging, and reemerging diseases in modern agriculture. Next, this chapter discusses the interaction between microorganisms and viruses and their human and animal hosts, followed by some of the important new, emerging, and reemerging human viral pathogens. This chapter ends with a look at: some of the most important new, emerging, and reemerging bacterial, rickettsial, and mycotic pathogens; some of the most important new, emerging, and reemerging human protozoan pathogens; and some of the most important new, emerging, and reemerging animal pathogens.

Effects of Anti-Thymocyte Serum on Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM) Virus Infection in Mice

Summary Rabbit anti-mouse thymocyte serum significantly modified the course of mouse LCM virus infection. Clinical and histologic signs of infection were absent so long as therapy was regularly maintained, and the severity of the host response to the virus was reduced following discontinuation of prolonged therapy. Treatment in the early period of incubation was more protective than at later times.