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EFFECT OF FORMALIN ON THE VIRUS OF VESICULAR STOMATITIS OF HORSES
1Laboratories of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Formalin does not effectively inactivate the vesicular stomatitis virus. Dead virus, whether from formalin treatment or other methods, fails to induce immunity in guinea pigs, unlike live virus.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Formalin is a protein-coagulating agent.
- Protein-coagulating agents are generally not virucidal.
- The vesicular stomatitis virus is not readily inactivated by formalin.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of formalin in inactivating the vesicular stomatitis virus.
- To determine if formalin-inactivated virus can induce active immunization.
Main Methods:
- Inoculation of guinea pigs with live and formalin-treated vesicular stomatitis virus.
- Assessment of immune response and protection against subsequent live virus challenge.
Main Results:
- Formalin does not readily kill the vesicular stomatitis virus.
- Single injections of formalinized (dead) virus did not induce protection in guinea pigs.
- Repeated inoculations of formalin-killed virus also failed to induce resistance to live virus.
Conclusions:
- Formalin is ineffective for creating a dead-virus vaccine for vesicular stomatitis.
- Active immunization against vesicular stomatitis virus requires the presence of living virus.
