Abstract
Viruses ere distinguished from other microorganisms by their inability to reproduce except in the presence of susceptible living cells. Viruses are dependent upon susceptible cells not only for their nutrition, but for the materials necessary to reproduce. All living thing, so far as we know, derive the energy necessary for life from enzymes. Since viruses have no enzymes, or at least no complete enzyme system, it is very likely that they derive their vital energy from the enzyme systems of the susceptible cell. | Because of the extremely intimate relationship between the virus and the host cell, it would seem reasonable to suppose that factors which affect one, would also produce some affect in the other. However, studies of this nature are very difficult to evaluate because of the obligate parasitism which makes impossible the study of the virus separately. Nevertheless, the study of altered metabolism, although giving; little knowledge of the nature of the virus itself, does provide information as to what part of the host enzyme system, if any, is essential for the propagation of the virus. When it becomes known what the virus requires specifically from the host cell, there is then the possibility of changing the rate at which the enzyme reaction proceeds or of blocking some particular part of the enzyme system so as to make it impossible for the virus to survive. | The intent of this work was to devise a method for measuring the metabolic rate of individual eggs and to study the effect of altered metabolism on the reproduction of MM polio virus.