HUNGARIAN BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCHERS AND THEIR ACTIVITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00415R002400180007-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 31, 2006
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: April 1, 1949
• Content Type: REPORT

CLASSIFICATION n, l:;:-T
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
CD NO.
COUNTRY Hungary DATE DISTR. 1 April 1949
SUBJECT Hungarian Biochemical Researchers NO. OF PAGES 6
and-Their Activities
RETURN TO GILLIBRARY
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
25X1
Laboratories of the Pazmany Peter University of Budapest:
1 Department of Bacteriology, located at Hogyes andre street (number UnknoVnn).
Director: Professor Fare o (fnu).
Researcher-, (Nov )fnu), reader' at the University.
2. The laboratory is well-equipped and war damages have been. completely restored,
It has conducted (as of January) experiments with a new antibiotic agent
effective against ttgyarn positive and negative bacteria". The mould which
produces this agent was not identified up to June 1948.
3., Routine work: bacteriological investigations for the clinics of the University
such as identification of bacteria, the counting of microbes in the air of
the wards, etc. The separation of infested animals from each other and from
personnel was not carried out according to Western standards. Animals were
kept in the basement of the lab building, etc., which was a common practice
in Hungarya
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there are no activities concerned with biological
warfare being carried on in this laboratory. Professor Farago does not partic-
ipate in bacteriological research work.
5.. 1?r. Novak is a well-educated specialist whom an opportunist?5X1
6. Department o Biolo , s terhazy ucca 5. Formerly headed bProfesso Albert
I Szent or
an~`~Mr Xgker (fnu), reader at the University. B h men left
71
Hungary imago, 25X1
71
there are no activities in this laboratory having to do
with biological wfarfare, although I
dust what sort of ecient3 1
research is currently being conducted there.
8., The laboratories of this department are the best equipped for biochemical
research in Hungary.
r~s?sr - x1 atR
~pG
is h03'_
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Laboratories of the Jozsef Nador Pa eehnic1 Universi~Z, Budapest.
9. Department of Food Chemistry, Budafoki ut 5, Central Building;
10. Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Mikology,
Building. Budafoki ut 3 Chemical
11- Both laboratories are without, directors at present,L rofeseor Mihaly V
retired and Professor Binder-Kotrba (fnu) is deeeaeed
12. The laboratories were destroyed during the war and their reconstruction is
now in progress. There are no scientific activities here for the time being.
Laboratories not affiliated with the Universities
13. Biological laboratory in the Department of Natural History, National Museum.
(Address unknown but close to Calvin ter, Iiaross utca).
I
14. Director:, Toth 1a.ezlrs__-' urrently gues of the Wanner-Gren Foundation at
Upsala, Swe on. Director : Pa.r , Imre (? )
15. The laboratory is small and fairly well-equipped. Research work: atmospheric
nitrogen fixation of different bacteria, soil bacteria, etc. There is posi-
tively no research in the field-of b cal warfare here. 25X1
16, Hungarian Institute for Biological Research at Tihany:
Director: (Professor) BeznakJ(fnu) /
Researchers Gerendas, Mihaly
C T. (fnu)
ve.Havasl. L. J. '\;(fnu)
17. This institute has large, well-equipped laboratories. In addition the
researchers listed above there are numerous others F_ 1
18. There are no secrecy or security measures around and in the institute,
although an American representative wishing to visit the institute was not
taken there because of fear of Communist repercussions,
19. Research work: Havas conducts experiments. with oncogenic and polyploidogenic
a
e
t
Hi
g
s.
n
s experiments are directed at the inactivation and inhibition of
the effects of these agents and at the physiological effects of these compounds
(colchicin, aeenaphten, etc). He also examines. the effect of polyploidogenic
compounds on different bacteria and moulds, the relations between these agents
and the blood and protoplasm. Furthermore,. the biological relation between
heterocuxin, tronibin, pro-trombin, heparin, vitamin K, and the oncogenic and
polyploidogenic agents. Havas also conducts jexperiiits with plant tumors.
Gerendas concentrates his efforts also on blood chemistry. He experiments
with trombin inactivation and attempts to establish the effect of different
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 compounds such as toluidine blue,, trombokinase, etc. on the activity of
trombino
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21& Csaky experiments with atmospheric nitrogen fixation of different bacteria,
soil bacteria, etc. in cooperation with Toth and Pardue in the biological
laboratory of the Department of Natural History, National Museum.
25X1 23v this institute, although adequately equipped, does not
conduct experiments in biological warfare.
24. The four laboratories of the University of Agricultural Sciences at Budapest,
Magyarovar, Keszthe]y and Debrecten are not adequately equipped.for experi-
ments in biological warfare; these are not really institutes on the scientific
level of a university, but can better be-classed as trade schools. Accord-
ing to source, no research work had been conducted in these laboratories.
25. Department of Bacteriol of the ~(et r nar University at Budapest, Rotten-
biller ucca. Director:l(Prafesaor)b.anninger, Rezso
26. Intensive research activities are being conducted by Professor Manninger in
the genetics of bacteria, induced mutations on bacteria by bacteria and
X-rays, etc., modifying the number of the genes by bacteria, the introduction
of genes of the one species into another species, etc.
warfare b
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Manninge' would be,connected with activities
which helped the Soviet war potential, and therefore the 25X1
intensive research work at this institute has nothing to do with biological
28. This belief is supported also by the fact that the premises of the institute
are freely accessible to scientists working outside the institute.
29. Biological Division of the Hungarian Institute of Chemistry (Orszago Chemiai
Intetet) Keleti Karoly ucca 24; area 350 x 400 m with numerous buildings.
Director , Ben eed_ek (fnu).l
25X1 30.
the research work of this institute is
-concerned with biological warfare. The following facotrs have led
this is probably true:
a. the comparatively large funds allocated to this Division;
b. the complete secrecy surrounding the activities of the Division
25X1 1: 1 speciasts of other divisions in the same
Institute have no perusal of the work of this Division);
c. large number of personnel; no scientific publication;
d. the large number of experimental animals (circa 6,000 guinea pigs
as of January.)
31. An electromicroscope was sought for this institute in England about March
1945.
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32. Benedek, approximately 40-45 years of age, worked up to 1946 at the Alfoldi
Agricultural Experimental Institute in Szeged. He was transferred to head
the Biological Division of the Institute of Chemistry in 1946, not because
of his scientific merits, but because he is trusted by the Communist party.
33? Tnetitute for Milk and Dairy Research. M8avarovar_ nirpro+nri. .s--a..
gary. Research work: experiments are conducted for th
e preservation
of milk with antibiotics and antibiotic-like agents; also on lactobacilli.
25X1 010-LOgiCal warfare. this laboratory conducts no activities relating to
34.
35.
Hungarian Plant Breeding I etitute, Magyarovar - boratory for Biology and
Plant Genetics.. Director: rofessvr)Odon Villax Researchers:j Ivan niliax J1-
FArenr_b tlrrie~n +!r??
Research work: plant breeding, plant genetics, plant tumors; genetics and
physiology of bacteria; vitamin determinations for the purpose of investiga-
ting hereditary properties of plants as to their vitamin contents; also
research on enzyfa-determinations and new antibiotics.
36. Ivan Villax developed a new antibiotic and prepared a substance which is able
to increase the activity of different antibiotics in vitro and in vivo.
(The Swiss chemical factory "CIBA" invited Ivan Villax to discuss the exploi-
tation possibilities of his new antibiotic. He will go to Switzerland on or
about 25 January 1949.)
37. The experimental stations of the Ministry of Agriculture have no facilities
for research in the field of biological warfare.
38. Bacteriological Laboratory of the National Institute of Public Health (Orszagos
Kozegeszegugyi Intezet), at Gyali ut 4-6, Budapest. Director:1;`Alf ii,)(fnu).
Research work: new sensitive determinations of different antibio es.
39. Although the laboratory is well-equipped and has a good staff of scientists,
little research work is done because the laboratory is bogged down with routine
bacteriological investigations for all Hungarian hospitals.
25X1 40. I no research concerning biological warfare is conducted
in this laboratory.
41. Hungarian hospitals, in general, have no bacteriological laboratories because
all investigations are handled by the Institute of Public Health, erected by
the Rockefeller Foundation.
42. The Hungarian Ministry of Defense had no research laboratories up to June
1948. Although considerable expense had resulted from building special instal-
lations and from reconstruction, in the summer of 1948, however, the University
of Agricultural Sciences was forced to evacuate the buildings of the Bolyai
Farkas Technical Institute for Warfare and return them to the r?ia.nistry of
Defense At thi
t
s
r the Ministry of Deftblj
ense re-esa
e.
sum of Hungarian war reparations, the Hungarian cabinet committed itself toll`
use this sum upon Soviet request for the purpose of strengthening Hungaryes war
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As
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The Universities of Szeged, Peas and Debrecen also have biochemical and
bacteriological laboratories The work of these laboratories is not known
are being conductedthere no experiments concerned with biological warfare
.
The Experimental Station of Budakesz:, is a creation of the new regime. At
the time of its creation in 194.7 , it was officially stated that the reason
for creating this new experimental station was merely to have an adequate show
place for foreign visitors in the vicinity of Budapest. This institute has an
area of approximately 300 acres.. No research work was done here previously.
Laboratory equipment will be taken from the Institute of Plant Breeding to
Budakeazi.
1j4.
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45.
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46.
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47.
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48.
KI
49.
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50.
1 -1
it is unlikely that any of the Hungarian pharmaceutical
factories would experiment with biological warfare projects, 25X1
the third largest Hungarian pha
ry, ? "Dr. Wander Ltd.".. the factory had no bacterio- 25X1
logidal laboratory. all 25X1
bacteriological investigations for the pharmaceutical factories are handled
by the above-Misted institutes, with the exception of the "Chinoin", "Richter,
Gedeon", and -"Philaxia, Ltd."
The latter firm is now experimenting with the producting of a new antibiotic.
The firm was unable to purify the new compound till the su ,ier of 1948. The
Results showed only 50 Oxford Units pro milligram, compared with penicillin,
against the standard strain of staphylococcus aureus.
if production of biological war material were contemplated
In Hungary.. would be done in two distinct phases. The innoculation or
serum material would be produced by one of the institutes described above, and
only the seriological process that is the multiplication of the bacteria,
would be done in factories, o Hungarian chemical factory is 25X1
equipped to handle such a t a
numerous OHungarian scientists, have made several
a opts to renew their pre-war contacts with Soviet scientists. All such
attempts have failed up to January. They were also unable to establish con-
tacts with Rumanian and Yugoslav scientists.
i 1. some
bacteriological research work is going on in Yugoslavia. It happened that in
the sunner of 1946 he firm "Erdelyi & Szabo"
Potential, Short after this
an unknown member of the Haarigarian Arne,
was sent abroad and entrusted with buy-
expensive chemicals or he Hungarian Army on the black market. The
officer had a Merck catalogue on hand and was interested, among other chemi-
cals, in: Beta-carotin, Ergosterin, vitamin C, A12 D3 standardized
"Brocknn" for chromatography; Dioxan, and Beta-naphtol.
43. All these chemicals may well be used also in research in biological warfare,
and are probably intended for the newly opened Technical Institute for War-
fare, as the only laboratory under the direct command of the Ministry of
Defense.
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in Budapest on autoclaves, built for bacteriological*research with a
capacity of about 15 to 25 liters. firm stated
they could
UML;Lver e requested autoclaves on short notice and for a comparatively
cheap price, because the factory was just in the process of finishing 16
autoclaves of the same sort. These autoclaves were part of a reparation
payment from Hungary to Yugoslavia.
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