title: Inactivation of Coxiella burnetii by gamma irradiation.
abstract: The gamma radiation inactivation kinetics for Coxiella burnetii at -79 degrees C were exponential. The radiation dose needed to reduce the number of infective C. burnetii by 90% varied from 0.64 to 1.2 kGy depending on the phase of the micro-organism, purity of the culture and composition of suspending menstruum. The viability of preparations containing 10(11) C. burnetii ml-1 was completely abolished by 10 kGy without diminishing antigenicity or ability to elicit a protective immune response in vaccinated mice. Immunocytochemical examinations using monoclonal antibodies and electron microscopy demonstrated that radiation doses of 20 kGy did not alter cell-wall morphology or cell-surface antigenic epitopes.
authors.affiliation: United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Department of Intracellular Pathogens, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland 21701.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: McCaul
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions / Q000528:radiation effects; D003381:Coxiella / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial