Antivirus

ANTIVIRUS, a term introduced by A. Bezredka (Paris) to denote a hypothetical substance found in liquid bacterial cultures and filtrates that acts on viruses (see) as an antagonist. According to Bezredka's hypothesis, it is contained within the living microbial cell along with the virus, similar to how, for example, enzyme and anti-enzyme are simultaneously present in white blood cells. Under certain favorable conditions (when cultures are kept for extended periods at 37°), the antivirus can separate from the microbial cell protoplasm and enter the surrounding environment in a free state. According to Bezredka, it is precisely due to this separation of antivirus and its effect on the virus that the attenuation and even complete loss of virulence in bacterial cultures occurs. Even Pasteur noted that on a nutrient medium on which a certain microbe, for example, staphylococcus, had previously been grown, upon reseeding, all microbes multiply except the one that had previously been grown on it. As is known, Pasteur based his theory of immunity—'exhaustion of the nutrient medium'—on this fact. Bezredka conducted the following basic experiment. He grew a staphylococcal culture in bouillon at 37° for 8-10 days and filtered it through a Chamberland candle. It turned out that such a filtrate was unsuitable for regrowing the same type of staphylococcus on it, although all other microbes, including other types of staphylococci, develop well on it. Sometimes, however, staphylococcus can still develop on this filtrate upon reseeding, although much weaker than initially. But if the secondary culture is again grown for 8-10 days and filtered again through a candle, then upon the next seeding, staphylococcus shows no growth at all. It is rarely necessary to perform seeding and filtration of the culture more than twice to achieve complete inhibition of growth. Furthermore, Bezredka noticed that if a staphylococcal culture filtrate is injected subcutaneously into a guinea pig simultaneously with live staphylococci, the lesions caused by the latter are significantly weaker than in control animals that did not receive the filtrate. From this, he concluded that the filtrate contains a substance that paralyzes the action of staphylococcus both in vitro and in vivo. The action of A. is specific. A. is thermostable, withstanding heating at 100° for 30 minutes, and at 120° for 20 minutes. Therefore, filtrates can be sterilized before their reuse without damaging their activity. Bezredka confirmed that bacterial filtrates prepared in the above manner have good vaccinating and therapeutic effects when used as compresses or when applied to mucous membranes. Numerous verification experiments by foreign and Russian authors confirmed Bezredka's observations. According to Bezredka, the action of antivirus in vaccinotherapy (see) is twofold: it prevents the multiplication of microbes at the site of infection and makes healthy cells not yet involved in the process insensitive to the virus. Bezredka goes so far as to attribute the action of therapeutic sera not so much to the antibodies contained in them as to the antivirus, which is present in sera along with antibodies. The latter, upon coming into contact with virus-sensitive cells, makes them resistant to infection. However, it should be noted that some recent American researchers provide experimental evidence that local immunity is caused not only by bacterial filtrates ('antiviruses') but also by many non-specific substances, such as milk, bouillon, blood serum, etc. Thus, the presence of a specific antivirus factor in bouillon filtrates is disputed. Therapeutic application. A. is used for all kinds of inflammatory and purulent processes in surgical, dermatological, and therapeutic clinics (furuncles, abscesses, carbuncles, osteomyelitis, perichondritis, phlegmons, panaritiums, axillary lymphadenitis, streptococcal anginas, inflammations of mucous and serous membranes), in ophthalmology (corneal ulcers, dacryocystitis, blepharitis, styes), in gynecology (postpartum sepsis, metritis, vaginitis). A. from staphylococcal, streptococcal, and diplococcal sources have proven particularly valuable for therapy. A. prepared from cultures of pathogenic microbes isolated from the patient himself ('autoantiviruses') should preferably be used. However, since preparing A. requires a long time (up to 3 weeks), treatment should begin with 'polyvalent' A. prepared from many strains of a given type of microorganism. Then one switches to autoantivirus. In many cases, treatment ends quickly, before switching to autoantivirus. The methods of applying A. are as follows: impregnating tampons placed in wounds, compresses made of A., intradermal injection of the filtrate in the affected area, in the form of drops, ointment, and as a means of skin immunization one day before surgery (for example, in purulent diseases of the eyelids). The results are extremely favorable. A decrease in pain is noted. There is a tendency toward scarring, microscopic examination shows marked phagocytosis. In the blood of patients, lymphocytosis and neutrophilia are observed, indicating a general reaction of the body.