Evening star., 1947-10-17
Hyde-to-J -JekyN Virus CHANCES
To Benefit Life Held Possible
By Thomas R. Henry
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By Thomas R. Henry
Star stoff Correspondent
NEW HAVEN, Conn, Oct. IT.
Minute differences in chemical
structure can change a filterable
virus from relatively benign path
illogical agent to deadly scourge.
There Is now evidence that
through reversal of this process
1T may be possible to produce viruses
oenehcial instead of harmful to
other life.
The infinitely minute organism is
IN the transition zone between the
living and nonliving worlds, and
forms of it are known to be re-
sponsible for more than 300 human,
animal and plant diseases.
A notable example is found in in
f1uenza. Presumably the difference
between the mild disease of today
and the killing epidemic of 1918,
both caused by the same organism,
was a slight difference in the virus
content of amino acids. the nitro
gen-containing substances which
are the building blocks of all living
things
Another example of the same
phenomenon may be the repeated
outbreaks of deadly poliomyelitis,
also virus disease, although ordi-
nary polio apparently is so mild that
the majority of Americans have had
the disease without knowing it.
May Produce Beneficial Forms.
Evidence for this was presented at
the Tooth anniversary of the Shef-
field Scientific School of Yale Uni
versity here tonight by Br. Wendell
M Stanley of the Rockefeller In
stitute, leader of virus research in
America, who first obtained one of
these substances in crystalline form
about 10 years ago.
Science at long last is beginning
to crack" the virus which, up to
now, has been one of the outstand-
ing mysteries, DR.. Stanley indicated.
Its basic mechanism of mutation
by dropping or adding one or more
OF the amino acids-has been deter
mined, and this offers the opportu-
nifty for the first time of controlled
evolution, by which viruses which
will be beneficial instead of harmful
to other life might be created.
1t still is impossible, DR.. Stanley
said, to regard the virus, which
ranges in size from few hundred
m1llionths of an inch to particles
with a hundred-fold greater diane
ter, as altogether a living thing.
It has the ability to grow and
multiply. but only in association
with cells of other forms of life.
Many forms can be prepared in
crystal form like grains of sugar.
They will come to life" only when
introduced into some living sub
stance
Breast Cancer in Mice Isolated.
Among the most signifcant>re-
cent advances. Dr. Stanley pointed
out in an interview, is the isola-
tion OF the breast cancer producing
agent in mice which is transmitted
by mothers milk. It is almost in
distinguishable in appearance from
the known agent of influenza and
Is almost certainly one of the
viruses.
When this Is introduced in young
mice, with the proper heredity and |
with other factors kept equal, it
will produce cancer in about 1s
months - that is when the mice
have become elderly animals.
This finding may have a very i'm
portant bearing on the genesis of
various forms of human cancer
which manifest themselves only in
middle age. A similar virus agent |
now is being sought in human milk,
thus far with no success although
its existence seems probable. The
long time necessary for it to become
active makes the search hopeless
with present techniques.
Vaccines have been prepared |
which are effective against many of |
the viruses, notably influenza, Dr.
Stanley said. 1t even has been pos
sible to prepare a vaccine against !
pofiomyelitis which experimentany |
is completely successful.
AT present, however, it is of no /
practical value because it is pos
sible to prepare only extremely mi
mute amounts-hardly enough to |
vaccinate a single human being
This is due to the fact that the vi
rus will not grow in incubating
hens eggs, the only way to secure
1t in sufficient quantities. Efforts
are under way to produce a muta-
tion which will grow in this me-
dium.
Bacteria Warfare Angles.
There is some question, DR..
Stanley pointed out, whether the
virus does not represent what is
essentially a spontaneous genera
ton of life. Where a single virus
is present, others will appear, usually
In countless billions. 1t cannot be
demonstrated, however, that these |
spring from parent organisms, as in
all other life forms. It may be
that all that is necessary is a model
for the various chemical elements
to come together in the proper
proportions.
once organized, however, the virus I
particles retain their individuality. |
Two forms can be combined by |
various chemical teehniques into
what appears to be a single sub
stance. When they are separated,
however, each is found to have re-
tanned its original properties and to
cause the same disease as before:
With meteorological warfare in
the offing, Dr. Stanley revealed that
viruses in crystalline form might be