THE THERMAL INACTIVATION TIME AT 41.5 degrees C. OF THREE STRAINS OF HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Thermostability studies
• Infectious diseases

Background:

• Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common human pathogen.
• Understanding HSV thermostability is crucial for developing effective inactivation methods.
• Previous research has explored thermal inactivation of various viral agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the thermal inactivation time of specific herpes simplex virus strains at 41.5°C.
• To compare the thermostability of different HSV strains, including one from a fever-treated patient.
• To investigate the differential thermal resistance of neurotropic and dermotropic factors of HSV.

Main Methods:

• Incubation of herpes simplex virus strains (HF, Frank, and a patient-derived strain) at a constant temperature of 41.5°C.
• Monitoring viral infectivity over time to determine thermal inactivation kinetics.
• Assessing the relative thermal resistance of neurotropic and dermotropic viral factors.

Main Results:

• The HF and Frank strains of HSV demonstrated a thermal inactivation time of 80 hours at 41.5°C.
• A recently isolated HSV strain from a patient treated with fever showed a reduced thermal inactivation time of 50 hours.
• The neurotropic factor of the HF and Frank strains was more heat-resistant than the dermotropic factor, unlike the Go strain where thermostability was similar.

Conclusions:

• Thermostability varies among different herpes simplex virus strains.
• Physically induced fever may influence the thermal resistance of HSV.
• Differential thermal stability exists between HSV neurotropic and dermotropic factors, with strain-specific variations.