Inhibition of the infectivity of enveloped viruses while retaining the specific biological activity of the viral proteins
Berezin, V.E.; Artamonov, A.F.; Isaeva, E.S.; Zaĭdes, V.M.; Zhdanov, V.M.
Voprosy Virusologii 31(4): 475-479
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0507-4088 PMID: 3020807 Document Number: 272032
A method of inactivation of enveloped viruses by treatment of virus-containing material with a nonionic detergent MESK was studied. Treatment with the detergent of allantoic or culture fluids containing influenza, parainfluenza, herpes simplex, and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis viruses was shown to result in significant (to 10 lg ID50) decrease of the infectivity of the viruses. At that, the specific biological activity of viral proteins: the hemagglutinating and neuraminidase activities in the case of influenza and parainfluenza viruses, and the hemagglutinating activity in the case of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus, remained unchanged. Treatment of the viruses with the detergent in the presence of 2% BSA, 5% gamma-globulin, or 50% blood serum also inactivated the infectivity of virions. The inactivating effect of the MESK detergent is associated with solubilization of external glycoproteins of the virus envelope. The method of mild nondenaturating inactivation of enveloped viruses with the MESK detergent may prove to be useful in laboratory practice.