Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Antiviral Activity of Double Stranded RNA from a Virus isolated from Aspergillus foetidus

Abstract

IN recent years virus particles with the property of inducing interferon production in animals have been isolated from Penicillium stoloniferum1,2, P. funiculosum2 and P. cyaneofulvum3. Virus particles have also been isolated from penicillin producing strains of P. chrysogenum4 and we have shown that both the particles and derived double stranded RNA are active interferon inducers in animals (unpublished results). Following the observation5 that a high level of cell wall galactosamine seemed to be associated with the presence of virus particles in P. stoloniferum, we have examined a number of fungi, reported to contain cell wall galactosamine, for possible virus content. One of those examined, Aspergillus niger (strain IMI 146891)ast;, was found to contain polyhedral virus particles; similar particles were also found in a closely related species, A. foetidus (strain IMI 41871). This is the first report of virus particles in the genus Aspergillus. We now describe the isolation and purification of the A. foetidus virus and provide evidence that the RNA isolated from the virus particles is double stranded. We have found that both virus particles and double stranded RNA are active in inducing interferon production and protecting mice against encephalomyocarditis and Semliki Forest viruses.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ellis, L. F., and Kleinschmidt, W. J., Nature, 215, 649 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Banks, G. T., Buck, K. W., Chain, E. B., Himmelweit, F., Marks, J. E., Tyler, J. M., Hollings, M., Last, F. T., and Stone, O. M., Nature, 218, 542 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Banks, G. T., Buck, K. W., Chain, E. B., Darbyshire, J. E., and Himmelweit, F., Nature, 223, 155 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Banks, G. T., Buck, K. W., Chain, E. B., Darbyshire, J. E., and Himmelweit, F., Nature, 222, 89 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Buck, K. W., Chain, E. B., and Darbyshire, J. E., Nature, 223, 1273 (1969).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Crook, E. M., and Johnston, I. R., Biochem. J., 83, 325 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Franklin, R. M., Proc. US Nat. Acad. Sci., 55, 1504 (1966).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bellamy, A. R., Shapiro, L., August, J. T., and Joklik, W. K., J. Mol. Biol., 29, 1 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Richards, E. G., Coll, J. A., and Gratzer, W. B., Analyt. Biochem., 12, 452 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Eigner, J., and Doty, P., J. Mol. Biol., 12, 549 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Planterose, D. N., Birch, P. J., Pilch, D. J. F., and Sharpe, T. J., Nature, 227, 504 (1970) (preceding communication).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

BANKS, G., BUCK, K., CHAIN, E. et al. Antiviral Activity of Double Stranded RNA from a Virus isolated from Aspergillus foetidus. Nature 227, 505–507 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/227505a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/227505a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing