Distinction of influenza viruses of different host cell origin

Summary Influenza A viruses grown in different animal or human cells retain their antigenic make-up as tested by the usual immunological assays. With the aid of aSambucus nigra (L.) extract containing its lectins the viruses can be distinguished after one single passage in a different cell type by a change in their hemagglutinating properties. Binding of such lectins to influenza viruses may be a means for a more subtle classification, relating to the host cell origin of the virus.     

Distinction of influenza viruses of different host cell origin

Influenza A viruses grown in different animal or human cells retain their antigenic make-up as tested by the usual immunological assays. With the aid of a Sambucus nigra (L.) extract containing its lectins the viruses can be distinguished after one single passage in a different cell type by a change in their hemagglutinating properties. Binding of such lectins to influenza viruses may be a means for a more subtle classification, relating to the host cell origin of the virus.     

Avian oogenesis and yolk deposition

Zusammenfassung Es wird die Auffassung vertreten, dass bei Vögeln die grosse Masse des Eidotters extrazellulär ist. Dieser wird durch selektive Absorption von Blutplasma abgelagert, welches zwischen den Follikelzellen in die Follikelhöhlung eindringt. Wasser, Natrium and andere gelöste Stoffe werden wieder ins Blut abgegeben, und der kaliumreiche Eidotter bleibt zurück. Das Cytoplasma der Eizelle geht funktionell im Eidotter auf und spielt bei der Ablagerung des Dotters nur eine passive Rolle.     

Preliminary observations of a bacteriophage infecting Xenorhabdus luminescens (Enterobacteriaceae)

A bacteriophage infective to Xenorhabdus luminescens, a bacterial symbiont of heterorhabditid nematodes, was recovered from insects that supported poor nematode development. Plaque tests showed the phage particles to be infective only to primary and not secondary colonies of X. luminescens. The phage was not infective to X. nematophilus primaries or secondaries. The bacteriophage particles ranged 80-90 nm in length, with the head ranging from 40 to 50 nm in diameter. Restriction analysis was performed on isolated bacteriophage DNA. This first report of a bacteriophage from Xenorhabdus species has practical implications since it could be detrimental to cultures of Heterorhabditis nematodes that are being produced throughout the world for the biological control of insects.     

Superinfection of tumors with viruses

Zusammenfassung Neoplastische Gewebskulturen, infiziert mit einem Mäuseleukämievirus, wurden entweder mit «Newcastle Disease Virus» oder mit «Vesiculare Stomatitis Virus» superinfiziert; die Zellen zeigten beschleunigte oder verlängerte Wachstumsraten, wenn sie in den ursprünglichen Mäusestamm injiziert wurden.     

Intrarenally induced infection in rats: Kidney infecting dose and sex dependence

Zusammenfassung LebendeE. coli-Bakterien wurden bei Ratten direkt in die Niere injiziert. Für die Infektion war eine bestimmte Mindest-Keimmenge erforderlich. Bei Injektion höherer Dosen (Chronizität) überstanden die männlichen Tiere die Infektion offenbar schneller und leichter als die weiblichen.     

Chronobiology of sleep in humans

Periodic circadian (24-h) cycles play an important role in daily hormonal and behavioural rhythms. Usually our sleep/wake cycle, temperature and melatonin rhythms are internally synchronized with a stable phase relationship. When there is a desynchrony between the sleep/wake cycle and circadian rhythm, sleep disorders such as advanced and delayed sleep phase syndrome can arise as well as transient chronobiologic disturbances, for example from jet lag and shift work. Appropriately timed bright light is effective in re-timing the circadian rhythm and sleep pattern to a more desired time, ameliorating these disturbances. Other less potent retiming effects may also be obtained from the judicious use of melatonin and exercise.     

Platelets and viruses: an ambivalent relationship

Thrombocytopenia is a frequent complication of viral infections providing evidence that interaction of platelets with viruses is an important pathophysiological phenomenon. Multiple mechanisms are involved depending on the nature of the viruses involved. These include immunological platelet destruction, inappropriate platelet activation and consumption, and impaired megakaryopoiesis. Viruses bind platelets through specific receptors and identified ligands, which lead to mutual alterations of both the platelet host and the viral aggressor. We have shown that HIV-1 viruses are internalized specifically in platelets and megakaryocytes, where they can be either sheltered, unaltered (with potential transfer of the viruses into target organs), or come in contact with platelet secretory products leading to virus destruction and facilitated platelet clearance. In this issue, we have reviewed the various pathways that platelets use in order to interact with viruses, HIV and others. This review also shows that more work is still needed to precisely identify platelet roles in viral infections, and to answer the challenge of viral safety in platelet transfusion.     

Dengue-like viruses isolated by an improved method

Zusammenfassung Aus Seren von Dengue-Fieberkranken (Epidemie 1963) wurden zwei «Dengue-like» Viren isoliert. Die Isolierung der Stämme gelang in Bristol-HeLa-Zellen, die mit dem LKB 6300 A Ultrafilter dargestellt wurden. Die Identifizierung der Viren erfolgte mit der Reaktion der Komplementbindung.