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PRODUCTION OF ANTIBIOTICS
448
Annotations
attending the meeting were Prof. E. B. Chain, (Italy,) Prof. R. V. Christie, Prof. M. M. Janot (France), Prof. H. Theorell (Sweden), and Prof. S. A. Waksman (U.S.A.). The report on their deliberations, which has only just reached us, observes that often the most serious obstacle to increased production is lack of trained personnel, and recommends that W.H.O. research fellowships should be founded to enable people with a sound knowledge of chemistry, engineering, or Those
F.R.S.
POTENTIATION OF SULPHONAMIDES THE paper by Professor Bigger and Mr. Ware which we publish this week is unhappily the last of the series reporting the senior author’s investigations on anti-
bacterial
substances. They began with an article in 19441 in which he described the synergic action of penicillin and sulphonamides. This was quickly followed by one describing inactivation of penicillin by serum,23 and a third in the Irish Journal of Medical Science which conclusively demonstrated the bactericidal action of penicillin. These contributions resulted from work done in the Command Laboratory at York, where Professor Bigger served during the late war as assistant director of pathology, Northern Command, and they illustrate both his love of inquiry and his determination to go on inquiring in circumstances which others might think inconvenient for fundamental research. During the same difficult period he also made contributions on impetigo4 and on jaundice in syphilitics.5 Though some of his research on antibacterial substances might seem academic, Professor Bigger never hesitated to suggest how the principles might be applied to clinical practice ; in fact, he laid down6 schemes for the treatment7 of staphylococcal infections and typhoid carriers using these agents. On his return to Dublin after the war the scope of his studies was enlarged, and many of the antibacterial substances in general clinical use were tested at varying concentrations and in different combinations to ascertain whether they showed antagonism or In the current paper Bigger and were synergistic.8 Ware tell how, in an attempt to overcome the wellknown antagonising effect of broth on sulphonamides, a synthetic medium was used to which a little ’ LabLemco’ was added; and this led to the discovery that lab lemco contains a substance which, though not itself antibacterial, enables sulphonamides to kill micro-organisms instead of merely inhibiting their growth. , This type of reaction Bigger calls potentiation, and he records the investigation designed to elucidate its nature. A start has already been made to isolate the substance (termed L substance) concerned, and no doubt the work will continue on Professor Bigger’s original impetus. But all must greatly regret, on scientific as well as personal grounds, that the end of this week sees his retirement, through ill health, from the Dublin chair of bacteriology he has so ably filled.
appearing
PRODUCTION OF ANTIBIOTICS IN some countries the construction of efficient plants for the manufacture of antibiotics is being hampered by difficulty in obtaining essential equipment, such as Podbielniak extractors for penicillin production. At its first meeting, in Geneva last April, the W.H.O. Expert Committee on Antibiotics concluded that with existing knowledge these extractors could not be used to concentrate toxins for bacteriological warfare ; and it declared that the prestige of W.H.O. had been seriously damaged by its inability to help various governments to lay hands on this apparatus. There was no recent information on the state of the UNRRA penicillin plants in the Byelorussian S.S.R., China, and the Ukrainian S.S.R. ; but if W.H.O. were approached, the committee would gladly consider any problems that had arisen. Bigger, J. W. Lancet, 1944, ii, 142. Bigger, J. W. Ibid, p. 400. Bigger, J. W. Irish J. med. Sci. 1944, 553, 585. Bigger, J. W., Hodgson, G. A. Lancet, 1943, i, 544. Bigger, J. W. Ibid, p. 457. 6. Bigger, J. W. Ibid, 1944, ii, 497. 7. Bigger, J. W., Daly, R. A. Ibid, 1949, i, 296. 8. Bigger, J. W. Ibid, July 8, 1950, p, 46. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
microbiology to attend for a year or more at selected Help in constructing new plants should be given to as many countries as possible. The risk of firms losing capital through a particular antibiotic becoming obsolete is negligible, since the equipment can be modified for the manufacture of others. Recognising the investigator’s difficulty in surveying the whole field of antibiotic research, the committee decided to explore the possibility of setting up a rapid and comprehensive abstracting service. It also discussed the advisability of holding next year a symposium on one or more aspects of antibiotics, and a larger congress in 1952. institutes.
DAIRY RESEARCH IN READING
THE national policy of an abundance of home-produced milk is ably supported, by the team of close on 80 scientific research-workers at the National Institute for Research in Dairying (N.I.R.D.) at the University of Reading. In 1949 they published 58 papers on the subject; and their report1 displays the astonishing diversity of the problems connected with the production, distribution, and manufacture of milk and its products. In view of our need to restrict imports of winter feeding-stuffs for cows it is satisfactory to learn that well-managed leys showed a good capacity to produce milk throughout the year and that there is every reason for exploiting them to the maximum. To many it has seemed that we were in danger of forgetting that grass is the natural food of cows and to have been slow in this country to follow the lead from New Zealand and develop experiments on pasture management under our own special conditions as an essential part of our research into animal A possible explanation is the difficulty of nutrition. combining experimental work with some aspects of farm management, and the N.I.R.D. is prepared to face this reality. Another encouraging development of the same problem is the work done on the value of kale, cabbage, maize-silage, and fodder beet for winter feeding. It appears that fodder beet may be practically useful for the small-holder especially since it may be used to feed pigs. It is evident from the report that fundamental and applied research can thrive well together, each gaining something from the proximity of the other. The sections dealing with the nutritional role of the micro-organisms of the intestinal tract indicate how much has yet to be learnt about this subject in spite of all the work and writing. For instance, one sample of potato starch given to rats on a diet deficient in vitamin B enabled the animals to survive and grow-the phenomenon known as refection-whereas another sample did not. It is noteworthy that refected rats, even when given supplements of the known B vitamins, could produce only small litters and were unable to suckle them. Above a certain concentration, B vitamins may be directly absorbed from the rumen of the goat, and enough biotin is present in the rumen liquor of a cow to permit of its direct absorption. The protective effect of colostrum against white scours in calves is now well established, and this property has been found to reside in the non-dialysable constituents of whev. Treatment with sulphaguanidine did not 1.
National Institute for Research University of Reading. Dairying. Report for the year 1949.
in
Annotations
attending the meeting were Prof. E. B. Chain, (Italy,) Prof. R. V. Christie, Prof. M. M. Janot (France), Prof. H. Theorell (Sweden), and Prof. S. A. Waksman (U.S.A.). The report on their deliberations, which has only just reached us, observes that often the most serious obstacle to increased production is lack of trained personnel, and recommends that W.H.O. research fellowships should be founded to enable people with a sound knowledge of chemistry, engineering, or Those
F.R.S.
POTENTIATION OF SULPHONAMIDES THE paper by Professor Bigger and Mr. Ware which we publish this week is unhappily the last of the series reporting the senior author’s investigations on anti-
bacterial
substances. They began with an article in 19441 in which he described the synergic action of penicillin and sulphonamides. This was quickly followed by one describing inactivation of penicillin by serum,23 and a third in the Irish Journal of Medical Science which conclusively demonstrated the bactericidal action of penicillin. These contributions resulted from work done in the Command Laboratory at York, where Professor Bigger served during the late war as assistant director of pathology, Northern Command, and they illustrate both his love of inquiry and his determination to go on inquiring in circumstances which others might think inconvenient for fundamental research. During the same difficult period he also made contributions on impetigo4 and on jaundice in syphilitics.5 Though some of his research on antibacterial substances might seem academic, Professor Bigger never hesitated to suggest how the principles might be applied to clinical practice ; in fact, he laid down6 schemes for the treatment7 of staphylococcal infections and typhoid carriers using these agents. On his return to Dublin after the war the scope of his studies was enlarged, and many of the antibacterial substances in general clinical use were tested at varying concentrations and in different combinations to ascertain whether they showed antagonism or In the current paper Bigger and were synergistic.8 Ware tell how, in an attempt to overcome the wellknown antagonising effect of broth on sulphonamides, a synthetic medium was used to which a little ’ LabLemco’ was added; and this led to the discovery that lab lemco contains a substance which, though not itself antibacterial, enables sulphonamides to kill micro-organisms instead of merely inhibiting their growth. , This type of reaction Bigger calls potentiation, and he records the investigation designed to elucidate its nature. A start has already been made to isolate the substance (termed L substance) concerned, and no doubt the work will continue on Professor Bigger’s original impetus. But all must greatly regret, on scientific as well as personal grounds, that the end of this week sees his retirement, through ill health, from the Dublin chair of bacteriology he has so ably filled.
appearing
PRODUCTION OF ANTIBIOTICS IN some countries the construction of efficient plants for the manufacture of antibiotics is being hampered by difficulty in obtaining essential equipment, such as Podbielniak extractors for penicillin production. At its first meeting, in Geneva last April, the W.H.O. Expert Committee on Antibiotics concluded that with existing knowledge these extractors could not be used to concentrate toxins for bacteriological warfare ; and it declared that the prestige of W.H.O. had been seriously damaged by its inability to help various governments to lay hands on this apparatus. There was no recent information on the state of the UNRRA penicillin plants in the Byelorussian S.S.R., China, and the Ukrainian S.S.R. ; but if W.H.O. were approached, the committee would gladly consider any problems that had arisen. Bigger, J. W. Lancet, 1944, ii, 142. Bigger, J. W. Ibid, p. 400. Bigger, J. W. Irish J. med. Sci. 1944, 553, 585. Bigger, J. W., Hodgson, G. A. Lancet, 1943, i, 544. Bigger, J. W. Ibid, p. 457. 6. Bigger, J. W. Ibid, 1944, ii, 497. 7. Bigger, J. W., Daly, R. A. Ibid, 1949, i, 296. 8. Bigger, J. W. Ibid, July 8, 1950, p, 46. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
microbiology to attend for a year or more at selected Help in constructing new plants should be given to as many countries as possible. The risk of firms losing capital through a particular antibiotic becoming obsolete is negligible, since the equipment can be modified for the manufacture of others. Recognising the investigator’s difficulty in surveying the whole field of antibiotic research, the committee decided to explore the possibility of setting up a rapid and comprehensive abstracting service. It also discussed the advisability of holding next year a symposium on one or more aspects of antibiotics, and a larger congress in 1952. institutes.
DAIRY RESEARCH IN READING
THE national policy of an abundance of home-produced milk is ably supported, by the team of close on 80 scientific research-workers at the National Institute for Research in Dairying (N.I.R.D.) at the University of Reading. In 1949 they published 58 papers on the subject; and their report1 displays the astonishing diversity of the problems connected with the production, distribution, and manufacture of milk and its products. In view of our need to restrict imports of winter feeding-stuffs for cows it is satisfactory to learn that well-managed leys showed a good capacity to produce milk throughout the year and that there is every reason for exploiting them to the maximum. To many it has seemed that we were in danger of forgetting that grass is the natural food of cows and to have been slow in this country to follow the lead from New Zealand and develop experiments on pasture management under our own special conditions as an essential part of our research into animal A possible explanation is the difficulty of nutrition. combining experimental work with some aspects of farm management, and the N.I.R.D. is prepared to face this reality. Another encouraging development of the same problem is the work done on the value of kale, cabbage, maize-silage, and fodder beet for winter feeding. It appears that fodder beet may be practically useful for the small-holder especially since it may be used to feed pigs. It is evident from the report that fundamental and applied research can thrive well together, each gaining something from the proximity of the other. The sections dealing with the nutritional role of the micro-organisms of the intestinal tract indicate how much has yet to be learnt about this subject in spite of all the work and writing. For instance, one sample of potato starch given to rats on a diet deficient in vitamin B enabled the animals to survive and grow-the phenomenon known as refection-whereas another sample did not. It is noteworthy that refected rats, even when given supplements of the known B vitamins, could produce only small litters and were unable to suckle them. Above a certain concentration, B vitamins may be directly absorbed from the rumen of the goat, and enough biotin is present in the rumen liquor of a cow to permit of its direct absorption. The protective effect of colostrum against white scours in calves is now well established, and this property has been found to reside in the non-dialysable constituents of whev. Treatment with sulphaguanidine did not 1.
National Institute for Research University of Reading. Dairying. Report for the year 1949.
in