Use of β-Propiolactone in Preparation of Inactivated Arbovirus Serologic Test Antigens

Abstract

Summary: The results of experimentation designed to develop procedures for preparing noninfectious arthropod-borne virus antigens are presented. Noninfectious serologic antigens have been prepared for the viruses of VEE, WEE, EEE, and TP-21 strain Langat virus and found to be comparable or superior in every respect to nontreated control antigens. Preliminary data are presented for Mayaro and YF viruses. The immediate HA titers of group A arbovirus BPL-treated antigens were usually 32- to 64-fold greater than those of nontreated preparations. A similar but less dramatic difference in titer was found with the group B virus agents tested. Concurrently, the pH range of agglutination is broader for BPL-treated HA antigens. BPL-treated CF antigens were usually equal in titer to nontreated controls and not anticomplementary. BPL-treated antigens may be stored in identical fashion to nontreated antigens and are equally stable. Recommendations are presented for preparing noninfectious HA and CF antigens for the six viruses tested.