CHEMICAL STUDIES ON HOST-VIRUS INTERACTIONS : II. THE CHEMICAL SIMULATION OF THE INTERFERENCE PHENOMENON BY 5-METHYL TRYPTOPHANE.

5-methyl tryptophane inhibited the multiplication of E. coli B without apparently affecting the rate of its oxygen utilization or R. Q. in a synthetic medium. E. coli B, under conditions of inhibition in the presence of this compound, was infected with the bacterial viruses T2 or T4. Infected organisms, in the presence of this compound, were unable to reproduce virus, assayable by the plaque method. Indeed, the number of infectious centers disappeared at a logarithmic rate in the presence of 5-methyl tryptophane, although the compound did not reduce the titers of B, T2, or T4, when the bacteria or viruses were exposed separately to the agent. In contrast to the irreversibility of the interference effects induced by viruses, the effects induced by short exposures to 5MT appear to be reversible on removal of the compound.