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April 16, 1970

Dr. J. Lederberg
Genetics Department
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

Many thanks for your useful and interesting paper "Orthobiosis" and
your suggestion about ASCA.

The test of the Shope in cultures of cells from the kids prior to
their inoculation was part of the plan. I sent virus to the people with
the cells who are in Antwerp in late Autum. I have been waiting on them
to send me a line of their cells for a couple of months but they have had
a problem as the lines were contaminated with bacteria or fungi. In any
event, the kids were inoculated about a month ago and everything has run
smoothly since. I have been expecting everyday to learn of their results
as I would estimate that it will take a month to two months for the effect
on blood arginine to be manifest.

As the virus has never gone in culture a negative result would not have
had much meaning but certainly a positive one would be comforting. I hope
they took another biopsy for new cell lines before inoculating the virus.
The overall group seemed very competent so I am sure they did. To test the
virus in culture prior to inoculation was in the protocol we jointly drew up.

My chief worry is whether we can induce enough enzyme to significantly
lower the ten-fold increase these kids have. If so, we should be able to
stop the progression of the disease in the younger child. The older one,
(about 7 yrs. old) is in very bad shape.

I will let you know at once when I hear anything further.

 

BR Stanfield Rogers, M. D.
Biology Division

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