Some Energy Relations in a Host-virus System

It was found that DNP (2,4-dinitrophenol) will inhibit completely the propagation of influenza virus in chorioallantoic membrane. This reagent did not permanently alter those metabolic processes required for the synthesis of virus and at the concentrations employed demonstrated no virucidal effects. In minced preparations of chorioallantoic membrane DNP was shown to have a pronounced stimulatory effect upon ATPase (adenosinetriphosphatase). When DNP was used with intact tissues, an excellent correlation was found between the inhibition of viral propagation and the stimulation of respiration and release of phosphate. Concentrations of DNP which permitted a twofold increase in the endogenous respiration of intact membranes allowed little or no viral synthesis. It is concluded that the energy required for viral synthesis derives from the oxidative phosphorylative activity of the host tissue.