Toxin inactivation and antigen stabilization: two different uses of formaldehyde.
Since the 1920s, when Ramon discovered the detoxifying properties of formaldehyde, this compound has been used to inactivate toxins, whole bacterial cells and viruses. With the development of vaccines that are detoxified by genetic manipulation, formaldehyde has a new role as a stabilizer of such genetically detoxified antigens.
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IRIS, Immunobiological Research Institute Siena, Italy.
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000187:drug effects*; D000992:Antitoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005079:Excipients / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000992:Antitoxins; D005079:Excipients; D005557:Formaldehyde