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Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Influenza A Virus Studies in a Mouse Model of Infection
Published on: September 7, 2017
Different susceptibility of B19 virus and mice minute virus to low pH treatment
Nicola Boschetti1, Isabel Niederhauser, Christoph Kempf
1ZLB Bioplasma AG, Bern, Switzerland. nicola.boschetti@zlb.com
Background:
Parvoviridae are small nonenveloped viruses that are known to be highly resistant to physico-chemical treatments. Because low pH is frequently applied to process intermediates or final products, the impact of such conditions on the human erythrovirus B19 (B19V) and the mouse parvovirus (mice minute virus, MMV) was assessed, which is often used as a model for B19V. Owing to the lack of a suitable cultivation and/or detection system for B19V no such data exist so far.
Study Design And Methods:
Virus inactivation was monitored by decrease of infectivity and loss of capsid integrity. Infectious B19V was quantified by detection of virus-specific messenger RNA from Ku812Ep6 cells. To measure capsid integrity, endonucleases were added after exposure to low pH and the encapsidated (endonuclease-protected) virus DNA was quantified by real-time PCR.
Results:
B19V was inactivated greater than 5 log after 2 hours at pH 4, whereas MMV was resistant over 9 hours. Infectivity data strongly correlated with data obtained by the endonuclease assay. Capsid disintegration was observed in immunoglobulin G as well as in different albumin solutions. Temperature and pH showed concerted impact on B19V capsid disintegration.
Conclusion:
Our data show that B19V is much more vulnerable toward low pH conditions than MMV. Together with the previously reported susceptibility of B19V toward wet heat conditions, low pH is the second treatment where erythrovirus B19V is less resistant than viruses from the parvovirus genus.
Insights
Human erythrovirus B19 (B19V) is sensitive to low pH, unlike the model mouse minute virus (MMV). This finding is crucial for parvovirus inactivation strategies and understanding B19V stability.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Parvoviridae viruses are known for resistance to treatments.
- Low pH is common in processing, necessitating study of its viral impact.
- Human erythrovirus B19 (B19V) and mouse minute virus (MMV) were assessed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of low pH on B19V and MMV.
- To compare the stability of B19V and MMV under acidic conditions.
- To provide data on B19V inactivation relevant to its lack of cultivation systems.
Main Methods:
- Virus inactivation monitored by infectivity and capsid integrity.
- B19V infectivity quantified via virus-specific mRNA in Ku812Ep6 cells.
- Capsid integrity assessed by endonuclease protection assay and real-time PCR.
Main Results:
- B19V inactivated >5 log after 2 hours at pH 4; MMV remained resistant for >9 hours.
- Infectivity loss correlated with capsid disintegration in protein solutions.
- Temperature and pH jointly affected B19V capsid stability.
Conclusions:
- B19V is significantly more susceptible to low pH than MMV.
- Low pH is a second identified condition (after wet heat) where B19V is less resistant than other parvoviruses.
- Findings aid in understanding B19V vulnerability and developing inactivation methods.
