Stabilization of adenovirus infectivity against thermoinactivation by lowered ionic strength

The thermostability of adenovirus 5 increases when the ionic strength is decreased before heating by dilution in distilled water (1 : 100, heating at 50 degrees C). A predilution in Eagle's MEM before heating or a previous dialysis against water had no effect on thermostability. The stabilizing effect was found likewise in crude and purified virus, in heating at 50 degrees C up to 320 min, from 50 degrees C to 56 degrees C, and in dilution from 10(-2) to 10(-5). The degree of stabilization was similar to cationic stabilization in 2M NaCl. The infectivity of heated adenovirus 5 was not sensitivity to DNase digestion. Other adenovirus types were stabilized in a similar manner.