[Evaluation of the efficiency of the adsorption-elution technic for poliovirus 1 on fiber glass filters: application in the virological analysis of 100 ml to 1000 1 of water]. / Evaluation de l'efficacité de la technique d'adsorption-élution du poliovirus 1 sur filtres en fibres de verre: application à l'analyse virologique de 100 ml à 1000 l d'eau.

The efficiency of the adsorption-elution technique using fiber glass filters to concentrate viruses from water was evaluated to detect poliovirus type 1 in drinking, river, and sewage water. At pH 3.5 and with 5 X 10(-4) M aluminium chloride more than 99% were adsorbed at a 0.25-micron filter. Beef extract (3%), pH 9, eluted 85-95% of the adsorbed viruses and organic flocculation at pH 3.5 permitted to reconcentrate the viruses in 1/20 of the elution volume with a 50-72% efficiency. The overall efficiency of the technique for 100 ml to 1000 l of the different types of water using 10(2) to 10(6) PFU was 38 to 58%.

Small-scale trial of live-attenuated influenza vaccine (A/Hong Kong/68).

Seventy-one men who were given live-attenuated A/Hong Kong/68 (H3N2) influenza vaccine during November 1973, and 34 men given placebo were examined for changes in antibody level. Overall, 12 of the 71 men (17%) given the vaccine showed a fourfold rise in haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody titre after 14 days. No such rises were seen in the 34 men given placebo. However, 10 of the men showing a fourfold rise were from 19 who had no detectable HI antibody to this virus before vaccination, representing a conversion rate of 53%. The other two had a HI titre of 1/10 before vaccination. The absence of antibody response, at 14 days, in those with an HI titre of 1/20 or greater may indicated that this represents a protective level against infection. However, the vaccine virus was probably overattenuated and may have constituted a weaker challenge than might occur with a wild strain. No influenza virus was isolated from either group in the week after vaccination and no evidence of transmission to the placebo group was seen. Mild symptoms, chills, muscle pain, and stiffness were more frequently seen in the 12 persons showing a fourfold rise in antibody than in the rest of the volunteers.

Association of a ribonuclease with the purified influenza virus.

Purified influenza virus contains ribonuclease activity. The enzyme does not hydrolyze viral RNA but both 28 S and 18 S host cell RNA are degraded forming large (about 16 S) and small (about 5 S) fragments with the release of the acid-soluble material. It has an optimum temperature of 37 degrees C, requires no divalent ions, and is inhibited by 0.1 M EDTA and 1% SDS. Treatment with 4 M urea increases enzymatic activity considerably (42%) but is not a prerequisite for eliciting ribonuclease activity suggesting that the enzyme is probably located near the surface of the virus particle. Results show that the observed enzyme activity is virus-associated as no host cell protein is detectable in the purified virus.

Immunization of man and animals against influenza by oral and intranasal routes.

Live human and equine influenza virus strains modified by serial passage on allantois-on-shell system (AOS) in the presence of normal horse serum were administered orally or intranasally to volunteers or horses. Mostly mild clinical short-lasting reactions, replication in nasal mucosae, transmission to placebo recipients and significant local or circulating antibody rises were observed following administration to volunteers of strains modified by five or less serial passages on AOS in the presence of normal horse serum (NHS). Milder clinical reactions, no replication, no viral transmission and lower immunogenicity were observed when up to ten serial passages on AOS+ NHS were carried out. Similar results were observed in horses and colts. Heavy shedding of A/Eq-2 strain following the challenge was observed in placebo recipients. Colts immunized intranasally were completely protected while 33% of those immunized orally shedded small quantities of A/Eq-1 and A/Eq-2 viruses. However, a sharp rise of local antibodies against both strains was measured two days after the challenge in the three groups.

[Rubella virus. II. Replication in Vero calls and effects of actinomycin Dand cycloheximide]. / Le virus de la rubéole. II. Réplication dans les cellules Vero et effects de I'actinomycine D et du cycloheximide.

Budding at the plasmic membrane is the primary mode of production of rubella virus in Vero cells. Intense cytopathic effect is observed even if only 10% of the cells are infected. Actinomycin D has little effect on the multiplication of rubella virus but cycloheximide inhibits its growth. This inhibitiion is probably due to the reduction of cellular protein synthesis and not to a direct action of the inhibitorson the virus multiplication. Viral proteins in infected cells have not been demonstrated. The presence of a viral substance inhibiting normal cellular synthesis is discussed.

[Rubella virus. III. Purification of infected or non-infected Vero cell membranes]. / Le virus de la rubéole. III. Purification des membranes de cellules Vero infectées ou non-infectés

Separation of Vero cell membrane in a discontinuous sucrose gradient reveals five fractions. After infection a sixth fraction appears. It contains virioins but mostly modified membranes with subunits 5-6 nm in diameter, probably the hemagglutinin. None of the enzymes used was associated with this fraction. No modification of the other fractions was observed after infection.

[Rubella virus. I. Morphology and structural proteins]. / Le virus de la rubéole. I. Morphologie et protéines structurales

Degradation of purified rubella virus by heat treatment (37, 45, or 56 degrees C) revealed the following structures. The viral envelope, a modified cellular membrane, bears spherical subunits, 5-6 nm in diameter, hexamers, or pentamers. Two glycoproteins, VP-2 (50 000 daltons) and VP-3 (63 000 daltons), are associated with the envelope. The nucleocapsid if formed by the condensation of the viral ribonucleic acid on acentral structure 10 nm in diameter. Only one protein, VP-1 (35 000 daltons) is present in the nucleocapsid. Similarity between rubella virus and Togaviruses is discussed.

Lesions of the central nervous system induced in nonhuman primates by live influenza viruses.

Intracerebral and intraspinal inoculations of non-neuropathic and neuropathic strains of influenza virus into rhesus, patas and cercopithecus monkeys resulted in an acute focal ependymitis, choroiditis and meningitis followed by focal ependymal denuding without parenchymal involvement. Aqueductal stenosis and moderate hydrocephalus developed in two animals as sequelae of ependymal cell loss.