Methanol precipitation of transmissible gastroenteritis virus

Methanol precipitation of transmissible gastroenteritis virus was tested at Ph 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0 and at methanol concentrations of 15%, 25%, and 30%. Supernatant and precipitate fractions were tested for complement-fixing and agar-diffusion soluble antigens and plaque-forming units, and were examined by electron microscopy. Virus could be obtained free of detectable agar-diffusion antigens and most of the complement-fixing antigens. Most of the virions were without peplomers after methanol treatment but they retained infectivity.