Some physicochemical properties of murine herpes virus

The effect of incubation temperature variation and various pH values on the stability of murine herpesvirus isolate-76 (MHV-76) was investigated. The virus survival in rabbit embryo fibroblasts cells (REF) has been determined. At room temperature (23 degrees C) 50% of the virus became inactivated during 12 days and at 37 degrees C its half life was 9 days. MHV-76 was completely inactivated at 50 degrees C in 1 hr or at 41 degrees C in 7 hrs. MHV-76 retains its maximal infectivity at the pH range between 6-9 regardless of the duration of treatment. The pH range 3, 4, 5 and 10, 11, 12 caused either complete or more or less expressed inactivation of the virus. A complete inactivation MHV-76 was also achieved after treatment with ethyl ether, chloroform and 2M urea.