title: Complete inactivation of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus by 1,5-iodonaphthylazide.
abstract: Hydrophobic alkylating compounds like 1,5-iodonaphthylazide (INA) partitions into biological membranes and accumulates selectively into the hydrophobic domain of the lipid bilayer. Upon irradiation with far UV light, INA binds selectively to transmembrane proteins in the viral envelope and renders them inactive. Such inactivation does not alter the ectodomains of the membrane proteins thus preserving the structural and conformational integrity of immunogens on the surface of the virus. In this study, we have used INA to inactivate Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV). Treatment of VEEV with INA followed by irradiation with UV light resulted in complete inactivation of the virus. Immuno-fluorescence for VEEV and virus titration showed no virus replication in-vitro. Complete loss of infectivity was also achieved in mice infected with INA treated plus irradiated preparations of VEEV. No change in the structural integrity of VEEV particles were observed after treatment with INA plus irradiation as assessed by electron microscopy. This data suggest that such inactivation strategies can be used for developing vaccine candidates for VEEV and other enveloped viruses.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Combat Casualty and Life Sustainment Research, Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Anuj
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Yossef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Raviv
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viard
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blumenthal
authors.forename: Radha K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Maheshwari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001386:Azides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004666:Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014709:Vero Cells; D038301:Virus Inactivation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001386:Azides; C015298:iodonaphthylazide