Antiviral activity of 1,7-disulphoanthraquinone.

The antiviral activity of 1,7-disulphoanthraquinone (DSA) against hepatitis B viruses was investigated by measuring the titer of HBV surface antigen in the treated serum obtained from the blood of patients with acute infection. The presence of HBsAg was tested by the Vitek Immuno Diagnostic Assay System (VIDAS). The concentration of DSA in the samples was equal to 0.01, 0.1 and 1%, respectively. The results presented clearly showed an extensive disintegration of the virus envelope at elevated temperatures, which resulted in a substantial decrease in the concentration of HBsAg in the serum containing DSA. The concentration of HBsAg decreased also upon UV irradiation of the serum containing DSA in a photochemical reactor for 5 to 15 min, but the effect of degradation was not complete.

Does the Ukrain preparation protect mice against lethal doses of bacteria?

Ukrain, a semi-synthetic preparation obtained from Chelidonium majus L, is used in the treatment of cancer diseases. It has been observed to exert a protective influence in mice infected by influenza viruses. Recently, the influence of the preparation on the survival of mice infected by lethal doses of E. coli and S. aureus has been estimated. This preparation was administered to Balb/c mice subcutaneously in doses of 0.04, 0.4 and 4.0 mg/kg of body weight. Ukrain was given every second day during 20 days, or a short-term before-and-after method at 48, 24 and 2 h before the infection and or 2, 24 and 48 h after the infection of mice. The mice were infected intraperitoneally with E. coli or S. aureus in doses equivalent to 2LD50. Increased survival of mice, depending on the dose of the preparation and the kind of infecting bacterium was observed. The highest survival (50%) occurred in mice infected with E. coli and receiving the amount of the preparation corresponding to 0.4 mg/kg. The lowest survival was observed in mice infected by S. aureus and receiving the preparation in the amount of 4.0 mg/kg. Higher protective effectiveness of the Ukrain preparation was observed in mice when the preparation had been administered during 20 days as compared to the short-term before-and-after regime.

Estimation of direct influence of Ukrain preparation on influenza viruses and the bacteria E. coli and S. aureus.

Ukrain is a semisynthetic drug with immunomodulatory properties derived from Chelidonium majus L. alkaloids and thiophosphoric acid. It acts selectively in a lytic way on cancer cells. Its protective properties have been shown in mice infected by influenza viruses. In this paper, the studies made on the estimation of the direct activity of Ukrain preparation on viruses and bacteria E. coli and S. aureus are described. Viruses of different haemagglutination titres were incubated with different concentrations of the preparation during period of 1, 2 and 24 h. Afterwards the samples were collected and used for the infection of the allantoic cavity obtained from 10-day-old hen embryos. A second method was based on the introduction of the Ukrain preparation into the allantoic cavity of embryos before infection with influenza viruses and after the infection of embryos. In both the described methods, the embryos were incubated within 48 hours. Then the presence of influenza viruses in allantoic fluid was estimated using a haemagglutination reaction with 30% hen blood cells. The influence of the preparation on hen embryo was also studied. In order to estimate the antibacterial activity the following procedure was used. To the preparation diluted with the growth medium from 500 micrograms/ml to 1 microgram/ml a definite amount of the bacteria S. aureus or E. coli was added, and after 24 and 48 h of incubation at 37 degrees C the results were read off. In the second method, the bacteria were added to 1, 10, 100 and 500 micrograms of the preparation in 1.0 ml of 0.85% NaCl, and after 1, 2 and 24 of incubation at room temperature the samples were collected and inoculated on solid Mueller-Hinton medium. The presence of bacterial growth or medium turbidity after 24 and 48 h of incubation was taken as a positive result. Our studies have revealed that the above mentioned preparation does not exert any negative influence on hen embryos that could make it difficult to estimate replication of influenza viruses. This preparation did not show any direct influence on the inactivation of influenza viruses and the bacteria E. coli and S. aureus.

[Selected immune response parameters in respiratory tract infections in mice--effect of combined treatment with tienamycin and coparvax]. / Wybrane parametry odpowiedzi immunologicznej w przebiegu zakazenia ukladu oddechowego u myszy--wplyw lçznego stosowania tienamycyny i preparatu coparvax.

The combined model of viral/bacterial infections has been used in the study. Tienamycin and Coparvax have been administered to infected mice. During the time of 3, 6, 9 and 14 days the hemagglutination inhibition reactions, migration inhibition of leukocytes, phagocytic activity and killing effect of the peritoneal exudate granulocytes have been made. The analysis of migration inhibition of leukocytes gave a statistically characteristic answer after using antigen of anatoxin compared to influenza antigen. In the group of animals which were treated with tienamycin and Coparvax a higher percentage of migration inhibition was observed than in the other group are substantial in the reaction of phagocytosis. Generally, a more beneficial influence of the combined treatment with tienamycin and coparvax has been observed.

[The effect of tienamycin on selected cellular immunologic parameters in mice during the course of viral-bacterial infections of the respiratory system]. / Wplyw tienamycyny na wybrane parametry odpowiedzi komórkowej u myszy w przebiegu zakazen wirusowo-bakteryjnych ukladu oddechowego.

The effect of tienamycin on selected parameters of the immunological system in mice infected with the influenza virus and Staphylococcus aureus was studied. Tienamycin was administered 24 hours, 2 hours prior the infection and 2 hours after the infection (model I), 24 hours and 48 hours after infecting the mice (model II). The authors analysed phagocytosis, bactericidal activity of peritoneal exudate cells and the LIF release induced by the staphylococcus antigen and the viral antigen by the spleen mice leukocytes. The authors found that the antibiotic given to non-infected mice inhibited phagocytosis of staphylococci by the peritoneal exudate cells. In mice that were infected a positive effect of the antibiotic on all studied parameters. Administering the antibiotic before infecting the mice produced an even better effect.

[Studies of the effects of BCG and Corynebacterium parvum vaccines in experimental infection of mice with influenza virus. Foot pad test, splenic indicator and histologic changes in the thymus gland, spleen and lymph nodes]. / Badania nad wplywem BCG i Corynebacterium parvum w doswiadczalnych zakazeniach myszy wirusami grypy. I. Test opuszki lapy, wskaznik sledzionowy oraz zmiany histologiczne w grasicy, sledzionie i wezlac chlonnych.

Evaluation of the influence of BCG and Coparvax on reticulo-endothelial system in mouse was performed. Mice were stimulated i.p. with BCG vaccine and Coparvax vaccine. Spleen index and histological changes in thymus, spleen and lymph nodes were evaluated after 14 days in mice vaccinated with BCG and after 7 days in mice vaccinated with Coparvax. Foot pad test was also performed by giving vaccine into three feet. Tuberculin was injected into mouse foot pad on the day 7th and 14th and a lysate of Coparvax vaccine on the day 7th. Spleen index and foot pad test showed higher values in mice vaccinated with Coparvax than with BCG. Histological changes of thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes showed morphological differences depending on the type of vaccine used. Both preparations were characterized by stimulating effect on reticuloendothelial system, which was much more pronounced after giving Coparvax vaccine.

The effect of Corynebacterium parvum in influenza infected mice.

This paper is the continuation of earlier studies on the effect of the killed suspension of Corynebacterium parvum in influenza virus infected mice. Our investigation showed the normalized effect of these drugs on disturbed function of cell mediated immunity during experimental influenza infection especially in phagocytic and bactericidal activity of granulocytes. The present experiments concern the explanation of these infection mechanisms. Intraperitoneal injection of Corynebacterium parvum stimulated spleen index. Foot pad test is higher than in comparatively treated BCG group. The pathomorphological analysis of the spleen, thymus and peritoneal lymph nodes points out to the multiplication of multiple lymph nodes sinus cells. Generally, C. parvum possessed protective effect in experimental influenza infection. We tested the following parameters: phagocytic and bactericidal activity of granulocytes, liberation of leukocytes migration inhibition factor (LIF).