Biotin In Elementary Bodies Of Vaccinia

Studies of the constituents of elementary bodies of vaccinia have shown that preparations purified by a standard technic exhibit uniformity in their chemical constitution and in their biological activity.1,2 The virus appears exceedingly complex and therefore the view that respiratory catalysts, which are known to play an important role in bacterial metabolism, may function in the organization of elementary bodies of vaccinia is not untenable. With this in mind, we have examined elementary bodies for growth-factors.By means of a technic similar to that described by McDaniel, Woolley, and Peterson,3 vaccine-virus has been shown to contain relatively large quantities of a substance capable of stimulating the growth of Clostridium butylicum in a synthetic medium. Moreover, partial hydrolysis of the virus by normal alkali or 4 normal sulfuric acid gives rise to increased quantities of this substance in active form, which, on the basis of studies similar to those made by Snell, Eakins, and Williams,4 and other...