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January 1974, Vol 30, No. 1 >
Article | January 1974

Koch's Postulates and Slow Infections of the Nervous System

Richard T. Johnson, MD; Clarence J. Gibbs, Jr., PhD
Arch Neurol. 1974;30(1):36-38. doi:10.1001/archneur.1974.00490310038006
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Haven't you guys ever heard of Koch's postulates?

Anonymous Voice From AN Audience, 1973

The medical literature of the past ten years has presented a bewildering array of data linking viral infections to chronic human neurological disease. There have been reports of the recovery of a variety of viruses from the brains of patients, the transmission of some diseases to primates, the demonstration of γ globulin or viral antigens in neural and nonneural tissues, electron microscopic observation of virus-like particles in brain, and epidemiologic data suggesting probable viral causes for diseases. Certainly, these reports raise the question of what criteria exist for establishing a virus as the cause of a disease. In response to this question, Koch's postulates need review both within the context of his times and within the limitations of contemporary virology; possibly then some acceptable criteria tentatively can be proposed for relating viruses to chronic disease.

REFERENCES

1 +
Ford WW:  The life and work of Robert Koch . Johns Hopkins Med Bull 22:1-29, 1911;.
2 +
Koch R:  Über bakteriologische Forschung , in Verhandl X Internat Med Cong, Berlin 1890 . Berlin, Algemeiner Theil, 1891;, vol 1.
3 +
Rivers TM:  Viruses and Koch's postulates . J Bacteriol 33:1-12, 1937;.
4 +
WHO Memoranda:  Statement on the detection of viruses by electron microscopy in human leukaemic tissues and extracts and in similar material from domestic animals . Bull WHO 34:953-954, 1966;.
5 +
Rabotti GF:  Koch's postulates and viral oncogenesis in nonpermissive hosts: An experimental model , in Carcinogenesis: A Broad Critique . Houston, University of Texas, MD Anderson Hospital & Tumor Institute, 1966;, pp 125-139.
6 +
Bouteille M, et al:  Sur un cas d'encephalite subaigue a inclusions: Etude anatomoclinique et ultrastructurale . Rev Neurol 118:454-458, 1965;.
7 +
ZuRhein GM, Chou SM:  Particles resembling papova viruses in human cerebral demyelinating disease . Science 148:1477-1479, 1965;.
8 +
Gajdusek DC, Gibbs CJ Jr, Alpers M:  Experimental transmission of a kuru-like syndrome to chimpanzees . Nature 209:794-796, 1966;.
9 +
Gibbs CJ Jr, et al:  Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (subacute spongiform encephalopathy): Transmission to the chimpanzee . Science 161:388-389, 1968;.
10 +
Gibbs CJ Jr, Gajdusek DC:  Transmission and characterization of the agents of spongiform virus encephalopathies: Kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, scrapie and mink encephalopathy . Res Publ Assoc Res Nerv Ment Dis 49:383-410, 1971;.
11 +
Gibbs CJ Jr, Gajdusek DC:  Isolation and characterization of the subacute spongiform virus encephalopathies of man: Kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease . J Clin Pathol 27( (suppl 6) ):84-96, 1972;.
12 +
Katz M, Koprowski H:  The significance of failure to isolate infectious viruses in cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis . Arch Virusforsch 41:390-393, 1973;.
13 +
Horta-Barbosa L, et al:  Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: Isolation of measles virus from a brain biopsy . Nature 221:974, 1969;.
14 +
Payne FE, Baublis JV, Habashi HH:  Isolation of measles virus from cell cultures of brain from a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis . N Engl J Med 281:585-589, 1969;.
15 +
Sever JL, Zeman W (eds):  Measles virus and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis . Neurology 18( (pt 2) ):1-192, 1968;.
16 +
Byington DP, Johnson KP:  Experimental subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in the hamster: Correlation of age with chronic inclusioncell encephalitis . J Infect Dis 126:18-26, 1972;.
17 +
Padgett BL, et al:  Cultivation of papovalike virus from human brain with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy . Lancet 1:1257-1260, 1971;.
18 +
Weiner LP, et al:  Isolation of virus related to SV40 from patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy . N Engl J Med 286:385-390, 1972;.
19 +
Narayan O, et al:  The etiology of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: Identification of viruses in brains of 13 patients . N Engl J Med , to be published.
20 +
ZuRhein GM:  Association of papova-virions with a human demyelinating disease (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) . Progr Med Virol 11:195-247, 1969;.
21 +
Walker DL, et al:  Human papovavirus (JC): Induction of brain tumors in hamsters . Science 181:674-676, 1973;.
22 +
Gibbs CJ, Gajdusek DC:  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-parkinsonism-dementia complex on Guam: A review and summary of attempts to demonstrate infection as the etiology . J Clin Pathol 25( (suppl 6) ):132-140, 1971;.
23 +
Gamboa E, et al:  Influenza "A" virus as a possible cause of post-encephalitic parkinsonism . Trans Am Neurol Assoc , to be published.
24 +
Oldstone MBA, et al:  Immunoglobulin deposits in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis . Trans Am Neurol Assoc , to be published.
25 +
Weiner LP, Johnson RT, Herndon RM:  Viral infections and demyelinating diseases . N Engl J Med 288:1103-1110, 1973;.
26 +
Brody JA:  Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis and a possible virus aetiology . Lancet 2:173-176, 1972;.
27 +
terMuellen V, et al:  Fusion of cultured multiple sclerosis brain cells with indicator cells: Presence of nucleocapsids and virions and isolation of parainfluenza-type virus . Lancet 2:1-5, 1972;.
28 +
Prineas J:  Paramyxovirus-like particles associated with acute demyelination in chronic relapsing multiple sclerosis . Science 178:760-763, 1972;.
29 +
Raine CS, Powers JM, Suzuki K:  Acute multiple sclerosis: Confirmation of "paramyxovirus-like" intranuclear inclusions . Arch Neurol 30:39-46, 1974;.

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1 +
Ford WW:  The life and work of Robert Koch . Johns Hopkins Med Bull 22:1-29, 1911;.
2 +
Koch R:  Über bakteriologische Forschung , in Verhandl X Internat Med Cong, Berlin 1890 . Berlin, Algemeiner Theil, 1891;, vol 1.
3 +
Rivers TM:  Viruses and Koch's postulates . J Bacteriol 33:1-12, 1937;.
4 +
WHO Memoranda:  Statement on the detection of viruses by electron microscopy in human leukaemic tissues and extracts and in similar material from domestic animals . Bull WHO 34:953-954, 1966;.
5 +
Rabotti GF:  Koch's postulates and viral oncogenesis in nonpermissive hosts: An experimental model , in Carcinogenesis: A Broad Critique . Houston, University of Texas, MD Anderson Hospital & Tumor Institute, 1966;, pp 125-139.
6 +
Bouteille M, et al:  Sur un cas d'encephalite subaigue a inclusions: Etude anatomoclinique et ultrastructurale . Rev Neurol 118:454-458, 1965;.
7 +
ZuRhein GM, Chou SM:  Particles resembling papova viruses in human cerebral demyelinating disease . Science 148:1477-1479, 1965;.
8 +
Gajdusek DC, Gibbs CJ Jr, Alpers M:  Experimental transmission of a kuru-like syndrome to chimpanzees . Nature 209:794-796, 1966;.
9 +
Gibbs CJ Jr, et al:  Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (subacute spongiform encephalopathy): Transmission to the chimpanzee . Science 161:388-389, 1968;.
10 +
Gibbs CJ Jr, Gajdusek DC:  Transmission and characterization of the agents of spongiform virus encephalopathies: Kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, scrapie and mink encephalopathy . Res Publ Assoc Res Nerv Ment Dis 49:383-410, 1971;.
11 +
Gibbs CJ Jr, Gajdusek DC:  Isolation and characterization of the subacute spongiform virus encephalopathies of man: Kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease . J Clin Pathol 27( (suppl 6) ):84-96, 1972;.
12 +
Katz M, Koprowski H:  The significance of failure to isolate infectious viruses in cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis . Arch Virusforsch 41:390-393, 1973;.
13 +
Horta-Barbosa L, et al:  Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: Isolation of measles virus from a brain biopsy . Nature 221:974, 1969;.
14 +
Payne FE, Baublis JV, Habashi HH:  Isolation of measles virus from cell cultures of brain from a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis . N Engl J Med 281:585-589, 1969;.
15 +
Sever JL, Zeman W (eds):  Measles virus and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis . Neurology 18( (pt 2) ):1-192, 1968;.
16 +
Byington DP, Johnson KP:  Experimental subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in the hamster: Correlation of age with chronic inclusioncell encephalitis . J Infect Dis 126:18-26, 1972;.
17 +
Padgett BL, et al:  Cultivation of papovalike virus from human brain with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy . Lancet 1:1257-1260, 1971;.
18 +
Weiner LP, et al:  Isolation of virus related to SV40 from patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy . N Engl J Med 286:385-390, 1972;.
19 +
Narayan O, et al:  The etiology of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: Identification of viruses in brains of 13 patients . N Engl J Med , to be published.
20 +
ZuRhein GM:  Association of papova-virions with a human demyelinating disease (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) . Progr Med Virol 11:195-247, 1969;.
21 +
Walker DL, et al:  Human papovavirus (JC): Induction of brain tumors in hamsters . Science 181:674-676, 1973;.
22 +
Gibbs CJ, Gajdusek DC:  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-parkinsonism-dementia complex on Guam: A review and summary of attempts to demonstrate infection as the etiology . J Clin Pathol 25( (suppl 6) ):132-140, 1971;.
23 +
Gamboa E, et al:  Influenza "A" virus as a possible cause of post-encephalitic parkinsonism . Trans Am Neurol Assoc , to be published.
24 +
Oldstone MBA, et al:  Immunoglobulin deposits in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis . Trans Am Neurol Assoc , to be published.
25 +
Weiner LP, Johnson RT, Herndon RM:  Viral infections and demyelinating diseases . N Engl J Med 288:1103-1110, 1973;.
26 +
Brody JA:  Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis and a possible virus aetiology . Lancet 2:173-176, 1972;.
27 +
terMuellen V, et al:  Fusion of cultured multiple sclerosis brain cells with indicator cells: Presence of nucleocapsids and virions and isolation of parainfluenza-type virus . Lancet 2:1-5, 1972;.
28 +
Prineas J:  Paramyxovirus-like particles associated with acute demyelination in chronic relapsing multiple sclerosis . Science 178:760-763, 1972;.
29 +
Raine CS, Powers JM, Suzuki K:  Acute multiple sclerosis: Confirmation of "paramyxovirus-like" intranuclear inclusions . Arch Neurol 30:39-46, 1974;.

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