Horace C. Turner

Seroepidemiologic studies of coronavirus infection in adults and children.

Abstract McIntosh, K. A. Z. Kapikian, H. C Turner, J. W. Hartley, R. H. Parrott and R. M. Chanock. (Lab. of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Md. 20014) Sero-epidemiologic studies of coronavirus infection in adults and children. Amer. J. Epid., 1970, 97: 585–592-A seroepidemiologic study of infection by coronavirus strains 229E, OC38, OC43, and mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) strain A-59, is described. In adults with upper respiratory disease, two “outbreaks” of coronavirus infection occurred, one during the winter of 1965–1966 associated with complement fixing (CF) antibody responses to OC38, OC43 and MHV, and the other during the following winter associated with CF antibody responses to 229E. In hospitalized children, infection with 229E was rare; infection with OC38, OC43, and MHV occurred less often in hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract disease (3.5%) than in a control group with non-respiratory tract disease (8.2%). The limitations of the CF test using available coronavirus antigens are discussed.

Proteins of Rous sarcoma virus

Abstract The proteins of purified avian tumor viruses, including the Bryan Rous sarcoma and Rous-associated virus (RSV (RAV)), avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV), the “defective” ∗ NP-particle (H. L. Robinson, 1967) which is also known as RSV(0) (Vogt, 1967) and the nondefective Schmidt-Ruppin RSV(SR-RSV) were isolated by the phenol method. Each amino acid-labeled virus was found to contain two major and one minor radioactive proteins. These three proteins correspond to about 60–80% of the total radioactivity of amino-acid labeled RSV(RAV), RSV(0), and SR-RSV. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under two different conditions showed that each virus contained the same three proteins in similar relative amounts. The two major proteins had a high complement-fixation titer with antibody against the group-specific antigen of the avian leukosis viruses, suggesting that the group-specific antigen of the avian leukosis viruses consists of at least two proteins. The “defective” RSV(0) isolated from NP-cultures Hanafusa et al., 1963 , Hanafusa et al., 1964 ; H. L. Robinson, 1967) contained all the proteins of the group-specific antigen detectable by the described methods. From this it is concluded that the “defectiveness” of the Bryan strain of RSV is not based on a lack of the group-specific antigen in the virus particle.

Mouse leukemia virus activation by chemical carcinogens.

The induction of lymphomas in C57BL mice by methylcholanthrene, urethan, or diethylnitrosamine was accompanied by the development of murine leukemia viral antigen in most of the lymphoid tumors. The cell-free transmission of lymphomas induced by methylcholanthrene and the development of antibody to murine leukemia virus prior to the detection of overt lymphoma in these mice suggest that unmasking of a latent leukemia virus is an indigenous actuating cause of the lymphomas.

Growth of Eaton PPLO in Broth and Preparation of Complement Fixing Antigen

Summary Eaton PPLO grew in broth medium supplemented with 20% unheated horse serum and 2.5% yeast extract. Growth was slow and maximal levels were attained on the 9th to 16th day of incubation. A specific CF antigen was prepared from infected broth suspension by concentration (50 X) and treatment with 0.5% phenol. CF antigen was estimated to be 80% as sensitive for serodiagnoses of Eaton infection as immunofluorescence with chick embryo lung sections.

Lymphocytic-Choriomeningitis Virus in Hamster Tumor: Spread to Hamsters and Humans

A passage line of a spontaneous hamster fibrosarcoma is contaminated by the virus. of lymphocytic choriomeningitis. Tumors from animals receiving implants when newborn contain high titers of infectious lymphocytic-choriomeningitis virus and complement-fixing antigen, and hamsters receiving implants when weanlings develop high titers of complement-fixing antibody against lymphocytic-choriomeningitis virus. In contrast with the specific reactions of tumorous hamsters to the initiating virus in virus-induced tumors, the development of complement-fixing antibody to lymphocytic-choriomeningitis virus does not depend on the development of tumors. Infant hamsters bearing the tumor have a generalized subclinical infection and seem able to spread virus to other hamsters and to humans.

Isolation from Man of “Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus-like” Viruses (Coronaviruses) similar to 229E Virus, with Some Epidemiological Observations

Albert Z. Kapikian, Harvey D. James, Jr. Sara J. Kelly, Jane H. Dees, Horace C. Turner, Kenneth Mcintosh, Hyun Wha Kini,t Robert H. Parrott4 Monroe M. Vincent,^ and Robert M. Chanock From the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland.

Antibodies to Mouse Hepatitis Viruses in Human Sera.

Summary Human sera frequently react with mouse hepatitis viruses in CF and neutralization tests; available evidence indicates that the reacting factor is a specific antiviral antibody. Antibody responses were observed in several population groups, particularly in Marine recruits during winter. The agent responsible for the antibody is not known. We thank Mr. Worth I. Capps for devoted assistance in the performance of neutralization tests and preparation of CF antigens.

Calcium sensitivity of cell cultures derived from adenovirus-induced tumors.

Summary Cell lines derived from adeno-virus-induced tumors or adenovirus-trans-formed cell lines clumped or retracted in 7.5 mM calcium or less, a characteristic generally not shown by cells derived from other virus-induced tumors or cells transformed by other viruses. Similarly, standard primary, diploid, and heteroploid cell cultures were not sensitive to 7.5 mM calcium. In support of these observations, the use of a low calcium medium facilitated the passaging of adenovirus-trans-formed cells in tissue culture; however, the use of a completely calcium-free medium resulted in a deficiency which caused detachment of the culture. The calcium effect may be useful as a marker to substantiate other evidence that a tumor was induced by adeno-virus or that a cell line was transformed by adenovirus.

Preparation of ECHO Complement-Fixing Antigens in Monkey Kidney Tissue Culture and Their Purification by Fluorocarbon

Summary The fluorocarbon purification technic was applied to purification of complement-fixing antigens prepared in monkey kidney cultures from ECHO prototype strains. The effect of serum in tissue culture medium on the effect of fluorocarbon was studied. Adding serum to synthetic tissue culture medium improved the titers of ECHO CF antigens. Lactalbumin hydrolysate media containing serum represented the best media of several tried for the preparation of ECHO CF antigens in monkey kidney culture. The untreated antigens, when tested with guinea pig sera prepared by immunizing animals with monkey kidney grown virus, gave strong monkey kidney tissue reactions. However, fluorocarbon treatment removed the nonspecific tissue reaction and “purified” antigens gave specific reactions in CF tests with ECHO antisera prepared in guinea pigs and in monkeys.

Complement-Fixing Antigens in Hamster Tumors Induced by the Bryan Strain of Rous Sarcoma Virus

Hamster tumors transplanted subcutaneously from primary intracranial tumors which developed after inoculation of the Bryan strain of Rous sarcoma virus, contained virusspecific tumor antigens indistinguishable from those induced by the Schmidt-Ruppin strain.