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Biomedical subjects

W A Carter

Publications and source records attributed to W A Carter.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1974

Viral infection and host defense.

Double-stranded RNA, made as an intermediary substance in the replication of most, if not all, viruses, may play a much more important role in the pathogenesis and the recovery from virus infections than has hitherto been suspected. Apparently, dsRNA is used by both the challenge virus and the host cell in an attempt to gain "molecular control." Double-stranded RNA exerts a set of effects, which may be well balanced, not only at the level of the individual cell but also at the complex assemblage of these cells termed the organism (Fig. 1). In the cell, interferon synthesis is triggered, although interferon mRNA translation may not occur if dsRNA shuts off protein synthesis too quickly. In the whole organism, the disease severity will depend on how certain toxic reactions evoked by infection (such as cell necrosis and fever) are counterbalanced by an increase in the host defense mechanisms (for example, immune responsiveness and interferon production). Many aspects of the response, relating to either progress of, or recovery from, the disease, can be explained on the basis of a dsRNA. In addition to drawing attention to the biodynamic role of dsRNA, our hypothesis suggests specific experimental vectors designed to enhance our information on the molecular basis of the morbid process which occurs with viral infection. Finally, we suggest that, although the dsRNA molecule may be viewed as a rather simple unit structure, the opportunity for further diversity in the biological activity of a given dsRNA molecule always exists. Namely, each deviation from a perfectly double-helical arrangement introduces the possibility for emphasizing one biological reactivity at the expense of another. This latter structure-activity property may partially account for the extreme apparent diversity, commonly encountered, in the presentations of virologic illness. Appendix note added in proof. Subsequent to submission of this text, we have found that the potent mitogen effect of dsRNA for lymphocytes (murine and human) is also exquisitively sensitive to the fidelity in base pairing of the input polymer pair (59). For example, infrequent "loops" (one nucleotide per 20 base pairs) in an otherwise perfectly helical rI(n) (.) rC(n) molecule [for example, rI(n) (.) r(C(19,)U)(n)] strongly changes its mitogenic properties. This observation, which supports our thesis that a "fine structure" term can be developed for other reactions triggered by dsRNA's in biological systems, emphasizes that diverse biological effects may be encountered with an ostensibly uniform family of dsRNA's.

Animals↗
PubMed1974

Inhibition by streptovaricins of Rauscher leukemia virus splenomegaly.

Streptovaricins (Sv), ansa macrolide antibiotics, inhibited Rauscher leukemia virus (RLV) splenomegaly by 25-50%. All streptovaricins tested were effective when administered orally either by diet ad lib or by intubation from infection to time of killing. When delivered by intubation, Sv was measurable in plasma for up to 6 h. SvC, at 300 mg/kg/day, reduced mean spleen weight of infected mice from 478 plus or minus 51 (SE) mg to 300 plus or minus 55 (SE) mg. Rifampicin, at 250 mg/kg/day, had no similar activity. Decrease in caloric intake and in body-weight gain also resulted in an inhibition of RLV splenomegaly; although Sv-treated mice gained weight, the increase was usually slightly less than controls. However, mice treated with a Sv diet for a week prior to infection, after an initial period of weight loss, gained at a rate equivalent to control group, and when killed had a marked reduction in splenomegaly. The selectivity of streptovaricins and specificity for viral events was suggested by several observations: (1) Splenomegaly and mortality, induced by L1210 or a non-infective transplantable tumor of RLV origin, was not inhibited. (2) No inhibition of normal hematopoietic spleen colonies was observed. (3) Host immune responses, including cellular and humoral immunity and interferon production and action, were not inhibited. Thus, although the effect of slightly decreased weight and intake could not be unequivocally established, the findings were most compatible with a selective inhibition of RLV splenomegaly by Sv.

Animals↗
PubMed1974

Antivirion effects of streptovaricin complex against Friend virus.

The in vitro antivirion activities of five different streptovaricin complex lots against the polycythemic strain of the Friend virus were evaluated. The assay system was based on the inhibition of the Friend virus-induced spleen foci. The virus inactivation process was shown to be susceptible to variation in temperature, pH, and time. The antivirion activity and the acute toxicity for mice, as well as the optical properties of these streptovaricin complexes, do not co-vary; this suggests that their biological activities are not associated with a single molecular structure. In addition, the antivirion activity of the five preparations of streptovaricin complex differs about 30-fold, indicating that this activity does not reside in a major component of the complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1974

Differential production of interferon and refractoriness inducing principle in L cells.

The extracellular, acid-soluble cell products (EASCP) from Newcastle disease virus-infected L(929) cells contain both interferon, defined as antiviral activity, and refractoriness inducing principle, defined as an activity that inhibits interferon production. L cells pretreated with EASCP and then infected with Newcastle disease virus give rise to EASCP with decreased amounts of interferon but an increased ratio of refractoriness inducing principle activity to interferon activity in a dose related manner. The antiviral activity of an EASCP preparation is not dependent upon its refractoriness inducing principle level, but is entirely dependent on its interferon content. Our results provide additional evidence that interferon and refractoriness inducing principle are different biological entities and not polymorphic functions of the interferon molecule.

Journal Article↗