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THE RELATION OF STREPTOCOCCI TO HERPES VIRUS ENCEPHALITIS
1Laboratories of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Streptococci isolated from herpes virus samples are contaminants, not the virus itself. These bacteria cause a different type of encephalitis in rabbits than herpes virus, confirming they are not etiological agents.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Pathology
Background:
- Cultures resembling those described by Evans were obtained from herpes virus-infected brains.
- Similar microorganisms were also isolated from uninoculated ground meat and dextrose broth, suggesting contamination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the etiological role of streptococci in experimental virus encephalitis.
- To differentiate between herpes virus and contaminant streptococci in brain tissue cultures.
Main Methods:
- Microbiological cultures of ground herpes virus-infected brains, uninoculated meat particles, and dextrose broth.
- Intracerebral inoculation of rabbits with isolated streptococci and herpes virus strains.
- Comparative analysis of pathological effects and host responses.
Main Results:
- Streptococci were identified as contaminants introduced during sample preparation, not part of the herpes virus.
- Intracerebral injection of streptococci in rabbits caused purulent meningoencephalitis, distinct from virus encephalitis.
- Rabbits resistant to streptococci still reacted typically to herpes virus infection.
Conclusions:
- Streptococci are not the visible form of herpes virus.
- Contaminant streptococci do not cause herpes virus encephalitis in rabbits.
- Herpes virus and streptococci exhibit distinct etiological and pathological characteristics.
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