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Vaccinia Reporter Viruses for Quantifying Viral Function at All Stages of Gene Expression
Published on: May 15, 2014
EFFECT OF INTENSE SONIC VIBRATIONS ON ELEMENTARY BODIES OF VACCINIA
T M Rivers1, J E Smadel, L A Chambers
1Hospital of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, New York, and The Johnson Foundation for Medical Physics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Sonic vibrations inactivated vaccinia elementary bodies without disruption. Adventitious proteins hindered this inactivation, suggesting oxidation may play a role in vaccinia virus inactivation.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Microbiology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Vaccinia virus, a large double-stranded DNA virus, is the type species of the genus Orthopoxvirus.
- Elementary bodies are the infectious form of the vaccinia virus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the inactivation of vaccinia virus elementary bodies using sonic vibrations.
- To determine the effect of adventitious substances on this inactivation process.
Main Methods:
- Washed vaccinia elementary bodies were subjected to sonic vibrations at approximately 8900 cycles per second.
- The influence of adventitious substances, particularly proteins, on inactivation was assessed.
Main Results:
- Sonic vibrations effectively inactivated vaccinia elementary bodies.
- Inactivation occurred without causing physical disruption of the viral particles.
- Presence of adventitious substances, especially proteins, inhibited or prevented inactivation.
- Preliminary evidence suggested a potential role for oxidation in the inactivation mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Sonic vibration is a viable method for vaccinia virus inactivation, preserving particle integrity.
- Adventitious materials, like proteins, can interfere with physical inactivation methods.
- Oxidation may be a contributing factor in the sonic inactivation of vaccinia virus, warranting further investigation.
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