Malcolm S. Artenstein

Recovery of rubella virus from army recruits.

Summary A virus recognized by its capacity to multiply in grivet monkey kidney cultures and to interfere in such cultures with subsequent multiplication of ECHO-11 virus, was isolated regularly from military recruits with rubella, but rarely from those hospitalized at the same time and place with scarlet fever. The newly recovered virus multiplied consistently in primary and continuous grivet kidney cultures. The virus was filterable, sensitive to heat and organic solvents, and immunologically distinct from a number of other chloroform sensitive agents. Neutralizing antibody often was present in acute phase sera of patients with rubella and regularly increased significantly during convalescence in patients yielding the virus.

Prevention of meningococcal disease by group C polysaccharide vaccine.

Abstract Group C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine was administered to 13,763 Army recruit volunteers at five basic training centers. These men represented 20 per cent of 68,072 recruits under observation. Only minor local erythema occurred; no systemic reactions to the vaccine developed in these men. Thirty-eight bacteriologically proved cases of Group C meningococcal disease developed in the nonimmunized men; only one such case occurred in a vaccinated recruit. The 87 per cent reduction in Group C disease was statistically significant. Group B meningococci caused illness in four immunized and three control recruits, indicating the group specificity of the vaccine. Group C carrier acquisitions among vaccinated persons were markedly reduced.

Aerosol stability of three acute respiratory disease viruses.

Summary Aerosols of adenovirus types 4 and 7 and parainfluenza 3 were tested for biological stability as a function of relative humidity. The levels tested were 20%, 50%, and 80%. Both adenoviruses exhibited maximum stability at 80% RH. Parainfluenza on the other hand exhibited a minimum biological decay rate at 20% RH. Studies were carried out with aerosols having mass median diameters of about 2 μ. The authors wish to cite the excellent technical assistance of Joseph W. Dominik and John F. Brewer of Fort Detrick and of Martin Schneider of Walter Reed Army Inst. of Research. The statistical analyses by Dr. N. Bohidar of Fort Detrick are also acknowledged.

Antibody responses in serum and nasal secretions of children immunized with inactivated and attenuated measles-virus vaccines.

Abstract In 24 children immunized with inactivated or attenuated measles-virus vaccines, responses of serum antibody (characterized by density-gradient ultracentrifugation and radioimmunodiffusion studies) were comparable both in peak titers and in immunoglobulin contribution. In eight of nine children immunized with attenuated measles-virus vaccine nasal antibody associated primarily with the γA and less often with γG immunoglobulins developed; nasal antibody was detected in only three of seven immunized with inactivated measles-virus vaccine, and in these both γA and γG activities were observed. Of eight children with pre-existing serum antibody, six had nasal antibody in the preimmunization specimens. The differences in ability of these vaccines to stimulate local respiratory-tract antibody may in part explain the greater clinical effectiveness of the attenuated vaccine as well as the occurrence of altered reactivity of the host who received inactivated vaccine.

Identification of the Antiviral Substances in Nasal Secretions

Summary Antiviral activity of nasal secretions was studied using 8 different viral agents and secretions collected from 10 normal adults and 7 persons with acute respiratory symptoms. Neutralizing activity of nasal secretions correlated well with the presence of serum antibody to each virus tested. Immunoelectrophoretic preparations and im-munoglobulin absorptions revealed γ1A-glo-bulin to be the predominant immunoglobulin found in normal nasal secretions although trace amounts of γ 2-globulin were occasionally found. Tn secretions from normals, antiviral activity was primarily associated with the γ1A-globulins. During acute respiratory infections a larger number of serum proteins were detected in nasal secretions and antiviral activity was predominantly of the γ2-globulin variety. The authors are indebted to Wilbur Burnette, J ohn Cope and Mrs. Sarah Brown for technical assistance. We wish to thank Drs. John L. Fahey and Elmer L. Becker who provided some of the antisera used.

Clinical and Epidemiological Features of Coxsackie Group B Virus Infections

Excerpt Since Dalldorf and Sickles (1) first described Coxsackie viruses in 1948, 30 distinct serotypes have been identified. Twenty-four are classed in group A and six in group B by characteristic...

Chemoprophylaxis of meningococcal carriers.

For over 20 years sulfadiazine was a model prophylactic agent: when used in closed populations, small amounts of sulfonamide drugs interrupted transmission of meningococci by eradicating the organi...

Chemoprophylaxis of Meningococcal Meningitis

There are primarily two situations where the question of prophylaxis against meningococcal disease is raised, first the community epidemic and second, for close contacts of patients with meningococcal meningitis or meningococcemia.