Thermal Differentiation of the Adenovirus Complement Fixing Antigens

Abstract

Summary The CF antigens of adenovirus types 1 through 8 have been subjected to thermal inactivation at 68°C, 70°C and 75°C at pH levels of 6, 7 and 8. The rates of inactivation have been shown to be exponential in character and each adenovirus type CF antigen may be differentiated by its thermal characteristics. The inactivation rates of the antigens have been demonstrated to be influenced by the pH of the medium and the CF antigens have been arbitrarily separated into thermal-pH groups. Types 1, 2, 5 and 6 (Group A) are more resistant to inactivation at pH 6 whereas types 3, 4 and 8 (Group B) are more resistant at pH 8. The inactivation of type 7 is not affected by pH at temperatures of 70°C and 73°C, but is more resistant at pH 8 than at pH 6 at 68°C as are the group B antigens. The relation between the thermal-pH groupings of the adenovirus and their epidemiology has been discussed. The ΔH values derived from the thermal constants of the adenovirus CF antigens are not similar and suggest that immunologic homogeneity may mask molecular variation.