Observations Upon the Filterability of Bacteria, Including a Filterable Organism Obtained from Cases of Influenza

Abstract

The author describes the isolation of filterable forms of bacteria by a special culture medium from cases of influenza, coryza, rheumatic fever, arthritis, and also from staphylococcal bacteriophage suspensions and from Besredka''s anti-virus preparations. The filterable diplococcus from influenza cases produced a coryza-like disease in rabbits. He postulates the existence of filterable and non-filterable states for all bacteria and describes a procedure for inducing these states. The K medium, which comprises the essential technical step in elaborating the filterable and non-filterable forms, is prepared in such a way that it contains essentially unaltered proteins derived from the small intestine of animals. The general biological importance of this thesis in disease is discussed.