H. G. du Buy

Selective Localization of Tetracycline in Mitochondria of Living Cells

The property of tetracycline to induce fluorescence has been used to determine its localization in living cells. It was found that this antibiotic, as well as the related antibiotics oxytetracycline and chlorotetracycline, specifically combines with the mitochondria of living cells, either in tissue culture or in fresh preparations from various organs.

Relationship of Interferon Production to Virus Growth in vivo

Summary Interferon production and virus growth were followed during infections of mice. Although interferon production paralleled eneephalomyocarditis virus titers in the serum, interferon production did not parallel virus growth during the later stages of influenza infection of mouse lung nor did it parallel lactic dehydrogenase virus levels in the sera of infected mice.

Tetracycline Fluorescence in Permeability Studies of Membranes around Intracellular Parasites

Certain protozoa, bacteria, and viruses when phagocytosed by host cells become surrounded by an intracytoplasmic boundary. This membrane prevents the fluorescent antibiotic tetracycline from entering the parasites when it is added to the medium, since they show no fluorescence, whereas extracellular parasites are immediately visible. As soon as the host cell dies, the intracellular parasites also become visible. This indicates that the boundary probably is of host origin. This phenomenon provides a means for selective permeability studies of such boundaries. A similar exclusion of tetracycline from certain extracellular parasites is seen in the presence of whole serum.

Induction of Interferon and Viral Resistance i n Animals by Polynucleotides

A promising approach t o the control of virus infections i s the stimulation of the interferon mechanism by natural and synthetic materials especially RNAs l m 4 . to study the production of interferon i n the muse following administration of a synthetic double-stranded RNA, (polyinosinic-polycytidyl i c acid [poly 1-poly C]) 4 and to s tudy i ts e f fec t on certatn experimental virus infections of the mouse. The present investigation was undertaken