Viruses cause disease by a wide variety of mechanisms. These include the impairment of differentiated host cell functions and the killing of infected cells. The latter is referred to as cytopathic effect and is exemplified by Polio virus infection where paralysis results from the loss of neurons killed by the virus. Host immune response as a factor contributing to disease is evident in the skin rashes in measles and rubella. Virus-immune complexes occur in many infections and may be associated with glomerulonephritis and arthropathy. We describe two mechanisms by which viruses activate the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The first is mediated by antiviral antibody and hence is controlled by the immune system. The second mechanism depends on a direct interaction of viral antigen with the plasma membrane of the phagocyte. It is suggested that the direct activation of ROI generation by paramyxo- and influenza viruses may be related to their well-known toxic effects in vivo.

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Antimony (Sb) is an understudied pollutant with potentially toxic effects at particularly low concentrations. The fate of Sb in the environment is complicated because of its many chemical forms at varying oxidation states. Here, we validated an extraction method and an analytical technique to quantify inorganic and methylated Sb in bulk soil and soil solution. We identified and quantified trimethylantimony (TMSb) in shooting range soils for the first time, up to a concentration of 1.35 mg kg −1 . Then, we evaluated the release of Sb species from soil to soil solution as well as the influence of manure addition upon flooding in an incubation experiment with fresh soils from shooting ranges. This incubation experiment showed an immediate and exhaustive Sb release into the soil solution (within 6 h), reaching over 3000 µg L −1 for one site, followed by a sharp decline and again a slow increase at the end of the incubation in Sb concentrations in the soil solution for two of the three sites. TMSb was also formed in the soil solution after 4 to 10 days. High dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and the dissolution of Fe-and Mn-(oxy-)hydroxides were the main drivers of Sb release, while the addition of organic matter (OM) drove TMSb formation.