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The Nature of a Virucidal Substance in "Normal" Human Serum as Compared with the Trypanocidal and Bactericidal Substances¹

From the Department of Bacteriology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York

Abstract

In a previous communication (Culbertson and Strong, 1935) it was reported that a considerable community of characteristics was found between the trypanocidal and bactericidal properties of normal human serum. It seemed of interest to determine whether this relationship could be carried to the virucidal substance in human serum. The purpose of the present paper therefore, is to discuss in some detail the nature of the principle in human serum active against a presumed herpes virus and its possible relationship with the bactericidal and trypanocidal substances. The "W"² virus was used in this work since it gives constant, unmistakable skin lesions in rabbits. It is usually neutralized by human serums which neutralize herpes virus, an observation first made by Gay and Holden. In the present study, the relation of the virucidal substance to alexin (complement), its thermostability, absorbability, antigenicity and the nature of the serum-virus complex are considered.

Footnotes

¹ This research was supported by a grant from the W. J. Matheson Fund for the study of Encephalitis.

² "W" virus was isolated from a human case of ascending myelitis and visceral necrosis following the bite of an apparently normal Rhesus monkey. This virus has been called "W" virus by Gay and Holden and is probably identical with that isolated by Sabin and Wright from the same material which they have called "B" virus.