Quantitative Study of Rauscher Virus Inactivation by Various Physical and Chemical Agents

Abstract

The inactivation curves of Rauscher murine leukemia virus (RV) submitted to various physicochemical agents have been studied with repeated titrations. The agents involved were: temperature, pH, molarity, ionic composition of the medium, mechanical factors, ultraviolet light, trypsin, and formalin. They were classified into three groups: 1) factors rapidly inactivating RV: 56 C, ultraviolet light, mechanical agitation, pH 3, 0.50% trypsin, and 1/400 formalin; 2) agents inactivating RV with a lower rate: 37 C, 20 C, high molarity, NaCI 0.14 M, pH 4 and 5, formalin 1/1000 or 1/4000; 3) factors inducing no or little inactivation: 4C,–170C, low molarity, pH 9.3.