To characterize the immunogenicity of influenza vaccine in patients with malignant disease, 21 patients with lymphoreticular neoplasms and 21 patients with solid tumors were immunized with inactivated influenza A/New Jersey/76 whole virus vaccine. The patients were randomized with respect to time of vaccine administration in relation to administration of chemotherapy. Fourfold or greater antibody titer increases occurred in 94% of controls and 71% of cancer patients (P less than 0.05), and the magnitude of antibody response was also significantly lower in cancer patients (P less than 0.01). There was no correlation of antibody responsiveness with sex, age, tumor type, absolute lymphocyte count, disease status, or type of chemotherapeutic agent used. Fifty percent of patients immunized at the time of chemotherapy administration showed seroconversion, which is significantly less than the 93% response rate observed in patients immunized between chemotherapy courses. It is thus recommended that individuals with malignant disease should receive influenza immunization between chemotherapy courses.
SUMMARYThe morphology and development of simian haemorrhagic fever virus was studied in tissue cultures infected with low multiplicities of virus. Early cytoplasmic lesions which were observed 24 hr after infection consisted of increased concentrations of polysomes and small vesicles IOO nm. in diameter filled with densely staining fibrillar material. As the lesions progressed, thickened membranous structures developed at the periphery of the vesicles. The membranes appeared to lengthen and thicken by a process of end-to-end and side-to-side fusion. Serial sections demonstrated that the fused, thickened structures were lamellae. Their role in the morphogenesis of simian haemorrhagic fever virus is not presently known.Spherical virus particles measuring 4o to 45 nm. in diameter appeared in cells by 72 hr after infection. Infected cells contained vacuoles which enclosed accumulations of enveloped spherical particles. Some particles appeared to be budding into vacuoles.
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