Thomas G. Ward

Isolation of a cytopathogenic agent from human adenoids undergoing spontaneous degeneration in tissue culture.

Summary 1. From the present evidence it appears that an unidentified, possibly new, tissue culture cytopathogenic agent has been isolated repeatedly from human adenoids undergoing spontaneous degeneration in tissue culture. The filter ability and the inability to cultivate the agent on bacteriological media and to demonstrate organisms in stained tissue culture preparations would indicate that the agent belongs to the group of viruses or rickettsial It is tentatively proposed to designate the agent as the “adenoid degeneration agent”, abbreviated as “A.D. agent”. 2. That the agent is derived from the adenoid tissue rather than from the nutrient media is indicated by the fact that some adenoids and all human embryonic tissues cultivated in the identical media and at the same time have not undergone degeneration, although they are susceptible to infection with the agent; also, repeated attempts to isolate the agents from adenoid cultures not demonstrating degeneration have been uniformly unsuccessful. 3. Further investigation is in progress to determine the relation of the agent to the adenoids and to study their possible role in human disease; particularly upper respiratory infections.

ENZOOTIC SENDAI VIRUS INFECTIONS IN MOUSE BREEDER COLONIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

Naturally occurring enzootic infections of Sendai virus have been detected by serologic monitoring and virus isolation in mouse breeder colonies from five states in the United States of America. Six of 21 colonies tested were found to be infected with Sendai virus, and the mean incidence of infection within infected colonies was 76 percent. Forty-one of 120 attempts to isolate the virus were successful.

Dactinomycin Relative Resistance of Green Monkey Kidney Cell Cultures to its Action.

Summary The action of dactinomycin on cellular RNA synthesis and vaccinia virus multiplication in HeLa, mouse embryo (ME), African green monkey kidney (GMK) cells in culture were compared. Approximately a 10-100 fold higher concentration of dactinomycin was required in GMK cells as compared with HeLa cells and ME to equivalently suppress the cellular RNA synthesis and vaccinia virus multiplication. Also, dactinomycin was approximately 100-fold less toxic for GMK. The higher concentrations of dactinomycin required to inhibit GMK as compared with HeLa cells is probably due to a lower uptake of the antibiotic by the GMK cells.1. Cartwright, G. E., Diagnlostic Lablorahory Hematology, 3rd ed., Grune & Stratton, New York & London, 19163, p. 208. 2 . LePage, G. A., In Biochemical Preparations, Vol. 1, H. E. Carter, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Yjork, 1949, p. 8. 3. Ckkerman, P. A., Bioch. eit Biloiphys. Aota, 1963, v74, 589. 4. Umbriet, W. M., Buirris, R. H., Stauffer, J. F., Manometric Techniques, 3rd ed., Burgess Publishing Co., Minneapolis, 1957, p. 272. 5. George, P., Phillips, R. C., Rutman, R. J., Biochemistry, 1963, v2, 508. 6 . Yachnin, S., Lalioret, M., Gasdner, F., Blood, 1960, v17, 83.