VIRULINS
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Virulins are a hypothetical substance proposed by Rosenow in 1907 that determines whether pneumococci are susceptible to phagocytosis. When extracted from virulent pneumococci, virulins can confer resistance to phagocytosis on non-virulent strains.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
VIRULINS, a term proposed in 1907 by Rosenow to denote a hypothetical substance on which the ability or inability of pneumococci to undergo phagocytosis depends. As is known, virulent pneumococci do not undergo phagocytosis. If such pneumococci are extracted with physiological saline solution, 'virulins' will pass into the liquid; pneumococci that have lost them will easily undergo phagocytosis; however, adding the liquid containing virulins to non-virulent pneumococci makes them resistant to phagocytosis. Virulins are apparently identical with the antifagins (see) of Yurevich and Chistovich and the aggressins (see) of Bayl.
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Cite this page
“VIRULINS.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/virulins/