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R Walder

Publications and source records attributed to R Walder.

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[Family planning].

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Family Characteristics

Multi-factorial specification of virus-host interactions: studies with strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus in mice.

Mice of different ages were infected i.p. or i.c. by 23 different strains of VEE virus. The course of the virus host interaction was specified in terms of the efficiency of infection, the outcome of infection as lethality or protection and the survival time. These separately quantifiable features all showed several host-maturation events that combine to provide a multifactorial specification of virus-strains and host-responses. This base-line for correlations with the responses of principal hosts (equidae and man) may be expanded to test correlations with the antigenic or in vitro characteristics of virus-strains.

Aging

Kinetics of heat inactivation of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus.

Thermal inactivation of Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus (VEEV) was studied at temperatures from 26 degrees to 55 degrees C. Inactivation of infectivity took place by two thermodynamically different reactions, one of which predominated at temperatures below 44 degrees C and the other at higher temperatures. The presence of 1 or 2 M NaCl stabilized the VEE virus at low temperatures but enhanced the inactivation at high temperatures. This latter effect at temperatures higher than 50 degrees C, is associated with the occurrence of two-component survival curves. The different effects of hypertonic NaCl concentrations at the two ranges of temperature, are related to different mechanisms of inactivation operating at each range (protein denaturation and nucleic acid-RNA breakdown). Different kinetics of thermal inactivation at 55 degrees C were observed between virus strains with different virulence. However, no significant correlations was found between the virulence of the eleven VEE virus strains studied and their thermostability at 37 degres and 55 degrees C.

Cell Line

Studies of arboviruses in Southwestern Venezuela: I. Isolations of Venezuelan and Eastern Equine Encephalitis viruses from sentinel hamsters in the Catatumbo region.

The purpose of this report is to describe isolations of Venezuelan (VEE) and Eastern (EEE) Equine Encephalitis virus made in the lowland moist tropical forest of the Catatumbo region on the southwestern part of the State of Zulia, Venezuela. We have isolated four strains of EEEV from sentinel hamsters exposed at Caño Mocho and Madre Vieja sites in 1973 and 1974, and three strains of EEEV in Hacienda (Hda.) Las Nubes in 1975. Both viruses were recovered during silent interepidemic periods and we believe these viruses are maintained in this region in sylvatic conditions. The recovered virus strains were detected within 24 to 48 hours, both in SMB and Vero Cell monolayer cultures and the sentinel hamsters yielded virus infectivities up to 10(4) PFU ml. Our VEEV isolate (IVIC PAn 23645-47), recovered during the silent interepizodemic period had an elution profile on the hydroxylapatite column corresponding to that of a I-D (VEEV-3880) or a I-E (VEEV-63A216) 'enzootic' subtype. However, considering other in vitro criteria (KHI; HA pH 5.8-6.0; small plaque size in Vero monolayers with suitable overlay media), this later and other previous isolates had some very distinct properties of the 'epizootic' strains. Thus, the evidence suggests that in Venezuela the VEEV cycle in nature is maintained either by the so called 'enzootic' and/or 'epizootic' virus types, or the virus population of the isolates have particular in vitro properties which do not correlate to the virulence markers in vivo. We consider this important question must be further clarified, and in addition, the isolation of three strains of EEEV are reported; this is the first report of the presence of this virus in Venezuela. Although the EEEV isolates may be of the South American type, they must be considered as potentially dangerous in the case of outbreaks.

Animals

Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus (VEEV):strain differentiation and specification of virulence markers.

Fourteen strains of VEEV of diverse origin and antigenicity were classified into five virulence categories according to their efficiency of infection and nature of response in mice. Mice of ages up to 30 days represented distinct levels of responsiveness and were suitable for the differentiation of VEEV strains of highest to lowest virulence. Stepwise changes with age of the susceptibility or responsiveness of mice appeared to determined the type of response as predominantly lethal (D), dual or intermediate (DP) or protective (P).

Age Factors