title: Psoralen inactivation of influenza and herpes simplex viruses and of virus-infected cells.
abstract: Psoralen compounds covalently bind to nucleic acids when irradiated with long-wavelength ultraviolet light. This treatment can destroy the infectivity of deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid viruses. Two psoralen compounds, 4'-hydroxymethyltrioxsalen and 4'-aminomethyltrioxsalen, were used with long-wavelength ultraviolet light to inactivate cell-free herpes simplex and influenza viruses and to render virus-infected cells noninfectious. This method of inactivation was compared with germicidal (short-wavelength) ultraviolet light irradiation. The antigenicity of the treated, virus-infected, antigen-bearing cells was examined by immunofluorescence and radioimmunoassay and by measuring the capacity of the herpes simplex virus-infected cells to stimulate virus-specific lymphocyte proliferation. The infectivity of the virus-infected cells could be totally eliminated without altering their viral antigenicity. The use of psoralen plus long-wavelength ultraviolet light is well suited to the preparation of noninfectious virus antigens and virus antigen-bearing cells for immunological assays.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000528:radiation effects; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004285:Dogs; D011564:Furocoumarins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011817:Rabbits; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011564:Furocoumarins