Suppression of Viral Pneumonia in Mice by a Microbial Product (APM)

Abstract

A material (APM), produced by a culture of Achromobacter sp., was found to possess a unique combination of biol. characteristics. APM was not inhibitory to representative spp. of bacteria or fungi in vitro. Prepns. capable of suppressing the development of pulmonary lesions in mice previously infected with influenza A virus were found to be devoid of virucidal activity in vitro and failed to affect the production if infectious virus in lung tissue or allantoic fluid. The mouse was a far better host than the embryonated egg for the demonstration or detection of inhibitory effects of APM on influenza A virus. Hemagglutination in vitro by influenza A or B virus was not affected by the presence of APM. The most interesting characteristic of APM was its capacity to suppress the development of non-transmissible pneumonia in mice induced by intranasal inoculation of Newcastle disease virus.