Study of mouse brain phosphates after infection with Japanese B virus

A method employing a single tube for the fractionation of mouse brain tissue was used to investigate the effects of the Japanese B virus on the phosphorylated compounds of this tissue. The inorganic, total acid-soluble, lipid, protein residue and total phosphorus fractions were studied. The MLD50 of the virus was determined at 24 hour intervals of the infection. A significant increase in the virus titre was found to be present 48 hours after inoculation. The maximum virus infectivity was found to occur prior to the onset of the encephalitis in the test animal. Although a slight increase in the inorganic phosphorus occurred with the advance of the virus incubation period, no striking changes in the relative concentration from the other phosphorus fractions was evident and no correlation between the phosphorus analyses and the virus infectivity could be made. It is suggest that a more adequate method employing radioactive phosphorus as an indicator of metabolic changes occurring in these fractions would yield some significant results.