DIFFERENTIAL SENSITIVITY TO GLIOTOXIN OF VIRULENT AND ATTENUATED POLIOVIRUS STRAINS AND ITS POSSIBLE USE AS A GENETIC MARKER

Gliotoxin was shown to exert a less inhibitory effect on standard virulent type 1 and 2 poliovirus strains than on attenuated homotypie strains. This did not apply to type 3 standard strains since the virulent Saukett virus proved to be inhibited to the same degree as the attenuated Leon 12a1b, WM III and USOL D bac strains. An increase in gliotoxin-resistance after several intra-human passages of different live polio vaccine strains occurred only in a vaccinee fed the type 1 LSc2ab strain. A strong correlation between the gliotoxin marker and the rct/40 and MS characters was found in type 1 and 2 poliovirus strains isolated from patients and vaccinees. No correlation was observed between the gli marker and thermoinactivation at 50°C or sensitivity to dextran sulphate, guanidine and HBB. The covariation between the rct/40 and gli characters seems to be asymmetrical since glir mutants of the LSc2ab strain maintained their rct/40- character, while rct/40+ mutants of the same parental strain displayed increased gliotoxin-resistance. The value of the gli marker for genetic and epidemiological studies is discussed. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.