Comparison of the biological effects of anemia inducing and polycythemia inducing Friend virus complex.

The comparison of the biological effects of FVP and FVA showed that leukemogenesis appears to be delayed in FVA infected mice as compared to FVP infected animals after injection of comparable quantities of virus as measured in spleen focus forming units. In addition, no CFU-EI, characteristic for FVP induced leukemia, were found in leukemic spleen or bone marrow of FVA infected mice. Since it was possible to distinguish both viruses by their different host ranges, which are helper virus determined, it is suggested that the observed differences, especially the lack of CFU-EI in FVA infected mice, might be due to differences in the helper virus component of the FV complex.     

The influence of cold or isolation stress on resistance of mice to West Nile virus encephalitis

Summary The effect of cold or isolation stress on mortality rate and brain virus level were investigated in mice infected with West Nile virus (WNV). Exposure of mice for 5 min/day to cold water (1±0.5°C) for 8–10 days resulted in 92% mortality as compared to 47% in control mice (p<0.001). Mice housed in individual cages (isolation stress) were also more susceptible to WN viral infection, as shown by increased mortality rate reaching 85% as compared to 50% in mice housed 6 per cage (p<0.01). Cold or isolation stress increased blood brain and spleen virus levels as early as 2 days after inoculation. After 8 days of isolation or cold stress, mice inoculated with WNV had 8.9 and 9.0 log₁₀ plaque forming units in the brain, respectively, as compared to 6.9 in the control (p<0.01–0.001). Furthermore, lymphoid organs such as spleen and thymus showed severe mass loss. These data suggest that physical or non-physical stress situations enhance WNV encephalitis by accelerating virus proliferation and increase mortality in mice.     

The antiviral effect of Keishi-ni-eppi-ichi-to,a tranditional Chinese herbal medicine,on influenza A2(H2N2) virus infection in mice

The antiviral effect of Keishi-ni-eppi-ichi-to (TJS-064), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, was investigation in mice infected with influenza A₂(H₂N₂) virus. When mice exposed to 5 LD₅₀ dose of the virus were treated orally with a 70 mg/kg dose of TJS-064 1 day before and 1 day and 4 days after the infection, 100% survived over a 25-day experimental period. At the end of this period all the control mice, treated with saline alone, had died; their mean survival time in days (MSD) was 11.2 days. When mice infected with a 10 LD₅₀ dose of the virus were treated with TJS-064, the MSD was >17.4 days and there was a 50% survival rate, while the control group had a MSD of 8.7 days and 0% survival rate. No significant antiviral effect TJS-064 was observed when the agent was administered orally to mice infected with a 100 LD₅₀ or large dose of influenza virus. Pulmonary consolidation, virus titers in lung tissues and HAI titers in sera of infected mice treated with TJS-064 were all significantly lower than those of infected mice treated with saline. Interferon activities were detected in sera of mice treated with the agent at a dose of 100 mg/kg orally. Since viricidal and viristatic activities of the agent against influenza virus were not demonstrated, the antiviral effects of TJS-064 may be expressed through the host's antiviral functions including interferon production.     

The influence of cold or isolation stress on resistance of mice to West Nile virus encephalitis

The effect of cold or isolation stress on mortality rate and brain virus level were investigated in mice infected with West Nile virus (WNV). Exposure of mice for 5 min/day to cold water (1 +/- 0.5 degrees C) for 8-10 days resulted in 92% mortality as compared to 47% in control mice (p less than 0.001). Mice housed in individual cages (isolation stress) were also more susceptible to WN viral infection, as shown by increased mortality rate reaching 85% as compared to 50% in mice housed 6 per cage (p less than 0.01). Cold or isolation stress increased blood brain and spleen virus levels as early as 2 days after inoculation. After 8 days of isolation or cold stress, mice inoculated with WNV had 8.9 and 9.0 log10 plaque forming units in the brain, respectively, as compared to 6.9 in the control (p less than 0.01-0.001). Furthermore, lymphoid organs such as spleen and thymus showed severe mass loss. These data suggest that physical or non-physical stress situations enhance WNV encephalitis by accelerating virus proliferation and increase mortality in mice.     

Protective effect of Shigyaku-to,a traditional Chinese herbal medicine,on the infection of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in mice

The antiviral activity of Shigyaku-to (TJS-109), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, was investigated in mice infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). TJS-109 is a combination of the medicinal plant extracts fromZingiberis siccatum rhizoma,Aconiti tuber andGlycyrrhizae radix in a specific proportion. Mice infected with a 10 LD₅₀ dose of HSV-1 were treated with TJS-109 orally at doses of 1.25 to 20 mg/kg 2 days before, and 1 and 4 days after the infection. The treated groups had 80% (1.25 mg/kg), 40% (5 mg/kg) and 23% (20 mg/kg) mortality rates 25 days after the infection as compared with a 100% mortality rate in control mice treated with saline. When HSV-1 infected mice (recipients) received CD8⁺T cell fractions derived from spleens of mice treated with TJS-109 (donors), 70% of recipients survived, as compared with 0% survivors in the groups of mice treated with saline, B cell fractions, CD4⁺ T cell fractions or macrophage-enriched fractions prepared from the same donors. TJS-109 did not show any virucidal activities against HSV-1 or any virostatic activities on the growth of HSV-1 in Vero cells. These results suggest that TJS-109 protected mice exposed to lethal amounts of HSV-1 through the activation of CD8⁺ T cells.     

Mitogenicity of autolysates ofTrypanosoma congolense

Summary Autolysates ofTrypanosoma congolense, in subcytotoxic amounts, were found to be highly mitogenic in vitro for the spleen cells of normal mice. Significant amounts of [³H]-thymidine were also incorporated by the responding spleen cells of nu/nu (athymic) mice. In contrast, the spleen cells of cyclophosphamide-treated mice were unresponsive. The findings suggest that a potent B-cell-mitogen is generated by the autolysingT. congolense organism.Acknowledgments. This investigation was supported by the International Development Research Centre, Canada.     

Dissection of cytotoxic and helper T cell responses

Cytotoxic (CD8⁺) and helper (CD4⁺) T cells play a crucial role in resolving infections by intracellular pathogens. The development of technologies to visualize antigen-specific T cell responses in mice and men over the past decade has allowed a dissection of the formation of adaptive T cell immunity. This review gives a brief overview of the currently used detection techniques and possible future additions. Furthermore, we discuss our current understanding of the formation of antigen-specific T cell responses, with particular attention to the similarities and differences in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses, the functional heterogeneity within responder T cell pools and the regulation of CD8⁺ T cell responses by dendritic cells and CD4⁺ helper T cells. Received 16 June 2005; received after revision 2 August 2005; accepted 15 August 2005     

Kristalloide Strukturen im Zytoplasma von lymphatischen Zellen verschiedener Affen

Summary In the endoplasmic reticulum of cells of spleen and lymphnodes of different monkeys, crystalloid inclusions were often found. These inclusions show a pattern of small balls with a diameter of 250 Å, which are connected by 100 Å long bridges. It is supposed that these crystalloid inclusions are produced by the lymphatic cells as a reaction to virus infection, which remains clinically non-apparent, because the same pattern was observed in cells, which were experimentally infected with yellow fever virus, West Nile virus, and rubella virus.     

Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus-induced diabetes mellitus prevented byCorynebacterium parvum in mice

Summary Corynebacterium parvum prevented the development of encephalomyocarditis virus-induced diabetes in mice, when it was given 3–14 days before the virus infection. This treatment inhibited virus replication in the pancreas of the infected mice at an early stage of the infection.     

Comparative potency of gibberellins in inducing parthenocarpic fruit growth inMalus sylvestris mill

Zusammenfassung Die biologische Wirksamkeit der Gibberelline A₁ bis A₁₀, A₁₃ und A₁₄ wurde bei der Einsetzung von Parthenokarpie inMalus sylvestris Mill. festgestellt. Die Gibberelline A₄ und A₇ waren sehr wirksam, A₁, A₂, A₃, A₉, A₁₀, A₁₃ und A₁₄ waren von mittelmässiger Wirksamkeit, während A₅, A₆ und A₈ waren unwirksam. Die mehr wirksamen Gibberelline besitzen, vom molekularen Standpunkt betrachtet, in der Stellung 7 keine OH-Gruppe.

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On leave from Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka, Japan.     

Suppression of intrinsic B-cell function in Dengue-infected mice.

Mice infected with Dengue virus show a depressed immune response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a helper T-cell-independent antigen, when LPS was administered on day 0, 6 and 12 post infection. Mice injected with inactivated virus failed to show immunosuppression.     

Flippases: still more questions than answers

Our understanding of flippase-mediated lipid translocation and membrane vesiculation, and the involvement of P-type ATPases in these processes is just beginning to emerge. The results obtained so far demonstrate significant complexity within this field and point to major tasks for future research. Most importantly, biochemical characterization of P₄-ATPases is required in order to clarify whether these transporters indeed are capable of catalyzing transmembrane phospholipid flipping. The β-subunit of P₄-ATPases shows unexpected similarities between the β- and γ-subunits of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase. It is likely that these proteins provide a similar solution to similar problems, and might have adopted similar structures to accomplish these tasks. No P₄-ATPases have been identified in the endoplasmic reticulum and it remains an intriguing possibility that, in this compartment, P_5A-ATPases are functional homologues of P₄-ATPases. Received 19 June 2008; received after revision 31 July 2008; accepted 15 August 2008     

Control of obesity inA vy /a mice by 5α-androstan-17-one

Summary Treating VY/WfL-A ^vy /a mice with 5-androstan-17-one, a mammalian glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor, prevented the mice from becoming obese. The weight difference between treated and controlA ^vy /a mice was mainly due to a decreased accumulation of triacylglycerol. The compound did not suppress appetite, had no detectable toxicity and did not affect the lipogenesis rates in the liver and carcass. The weight-controlling effect of 5-androstan-17-one inA ^vy /a mice was reversible upon withdrawal of treatment.The authors wish to thank Mr W.R. Gibson and Drs C.G. Culbertson and P.N. Harris for performing the pathological examinations.     

Wound-induced alterations in survival of60Co irradiated mice: importance of wound timing

Summary Wounding mice shortly before or shortly after lethal⁶⁰Co irradiation enhances survival. Survival of wounded-irradiated mice may be due to enhanced hematopoietic recovery as measured by endogenous spleen colony (E-CFU-s) formation.Supported by the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Defense Nuclear Agency, under research Work Unit 00129. Views presented in this paper are those of the authors; no endorsement by the Defense Nuclear Agency has been given or should be inferred.Research was conducted according to the principles enunciated in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals' prepared by the Institute of Laboratory Research, National Research Council.     

Protective effect of lidocaine in the experimental foot-and-mouth disease pancreatitis

Experimental infection of mice with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) induces a necrotizing pancreatitis of the exocrinar portion of the organ. The lesions are characterized by vascular congestion, edema and interstitial polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltrates. When infected mice were treated with different amounts of lidocaine (a local anesthetic, chemically defined as a tertiary amide compound), reduction in intensity of the pancreatic necrosis and in the number of PMN were observed. Even though lidocaine could interfere with FMDV post-replicative cytolytic mechanisms, it appears that protection against pancreatic necrosis is by attenuation of PMN presentation in the infected tissue.     

An increase in Sendai virus-induced cell fusion of erythrocytes infected withPlasmodium chabaudi

Summary The extent of cell fusion induced by Sendai virus was examined in erythrocytes infected withPlasmodium chabaudi. An increase in cell fusion of erythrocytes with Ehrlich tumor cells and of erythrocytes with erythrocytes was observed wit the infected erythrocytes. However, agglutination by the virus was not changed between erythrocytes of normal and malarial mice. These results indicate that the increase in cell fusion occurred in the process of membrane fusion, suggesting that some membrane property ofPlasmodium-parasitized erythrocytes is changed in terms of Sendai virus-induced cell fusion.We thank Drs George L. Gerton, T. Matsuyama and M. Niwa for their comments on this work and Mr I. Kimata for preparing photographs.     

Ein Beitrag zur Morphologie des Influenzavirus: Struktur des Influenza-A2-(«Hongkong»)-Virus

Summary The morphology and internal structure of Influenza A₂ (Hongkong) virus is described. This virus has the same morphological characteristics as previously isolated Influenza A₀, A₁; and A₂ strains. Evidence is also presented that this influenza virus appears in a filamentous form in human throat washings. The reasons for the virus to be a filamentous or a spherical particle are discussed.

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Die Arbeit wurde vom Schweiz. Nationalfonds unterstÜtzt.     

Activité des N-acétyl-glucosaminyl-transférases microsomiques chez les souris BALB/c infectées par le virus de la tumeur mammaire murine (M-MTV)

Summary N-acetyl-glucosaminyl transferase in spleen cells of mice infected with M-MTV is enhanced. This increased synthesis of glycoprotein is not due to synthesis of new enzyme. Such a result suggest that the spleen is implicated in the infecting process.

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Ce travail fait partie d'une thèse de Doctorat ès-sciences préparée sous la direction de Madame le Docteur Jacqueline Mouriquand. Nous remercions le Professeur Pierre Louisot pour ses conseils fructueux dans la conduite de ce travail.     

Über die Wirkung von rac-endo-2-Bornanamin und von verwandten Verbindungen gegen Influenza A2-Virus Asia

Summary rac-endo-2-Bornanamine (1) shows good activity against infections with influenza A₂ virus (Asia) in mice. None of 41 derivatives or analogues was superior to compound1.     

Drug susceptibility of PCA in WBB6F1-W/Wv mice

Our previous study revealed that passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) can be produced in congenitally mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/W^v (abbreviated as W/W^v) mice on sensitization with undiluted or slightly diluted allogeneic and xenogeneic antisera but not on sensitization with allogeneic monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig)E and IgG1 antibodies regardless of the antibody concentration [1]. In view of these findings, the present study was conducted to characterize PCA in this strain from its drug susceptibilities using mast cell-bearing WBB6F1-+/+ (abbreviated as +/+) and B6D2F1 mice as references. PCA in W/W^v mice mediated by a low dilution (1  4) of hyperimmune serum to bovine serum albumin of the B6D2F1 mouse origin was markedly suppressed by CV-6209, an antagonist of platelet-activating factor (PAF), but not by antihistamines such as cyproheptadine and oxatomide. In contrast, PCA in +/+ and B6D2F1 mice mediated by a high dilution (1  128) of the anti-serum (virtually by IgG1 antibody) was nearly completely suppressed by antihistamines but not by CV-6209. A remarkable difference between PCA in W/W^v and reference mice was also observed in the susceptibility to monoclonal anti mouse granulocyte (Gr-1) antibody PCA in W/W^v mice was potently suppressed by the 1- to 3-day pretreatment with this antibody but that in references was not at all. Putting these present results together with the previous finding that anti-granulocyte antibody greatly reduces circulatory Gr-1⁺ leukocytes, 1 to 3 days after the treatment [2], it is highly probable that PCA in W/W^v mice mediated by some antibody isotypes other than IgE and IgG1 is produced by PAF mainly released from Gr-1⁺ cells, while IgG1 antibody-mediated PCA in mast cell-bearing reference mice is evoked by histamine derived from mast cells. PCA homologous to that in W/W^v mice could also be produced in the reference mice on sensitization with undiluted or slightly diluted antiserum, when generalized blueing due to excess IgG1 antibody was removed by the oxatomide treatment be fore the antigen challenge. Received 10 December 1997; received after revision 2 February 1998; accepted 23 February 1998