Influenza virus inactivation for studies of antigenicity and phenotypic neuraminidase inhibitor resistance profiling.

Abstract

Introduction of a new influenza virus in humans urges quick analysis of its virological and immunological characteristics to determine the impact on public health and to develop protective measures for the human population. At present, however, the necessity of executing pandemic influenza virus research under biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) high-containment conditions severely hampers timely characterization of such viruses. We tested heat, formalin, Triton X-100, and beta-propiolactone treatments for their potencies in inactivating human influenza A(H3N2) and avian A(H7N3) viruses, as well as seasonal and pandemic A(H1N1) virus isolates, while allowing the specimens to retain their virological and immunological properties. Successful heat inactivation coincided with the loss of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) characteristics, and beta-propiolactone inactivation reduced the hemagglutination titer and NA activity of the human influenza virus 10-fold or more. Although Triton X-100 treatment resulted in inconsistent HA activity, the NA activities in culture supernatants were enhanced consistently. Nonetheless, formalin treatment permitted the best retention of HA and NA properties. Triton X-100 treatment proved to be the easiest-to-use influenza virus inactivation protocol for application in combination with phenotypic NA inhibitor susceptibility assays, while formalin treatment preserved B-cell and T-cell epitope antigenicity, allowing the detection of both humoral and cellular immune responses. In conclusion, we demonstrated successful influenza virus characterization using formalin- and Triton X-100-inactivated virus samples. Application of these inactivation protocols limits work under BSL-3 conditions to virus culture, thus enabling more timely determination of public health impact and development of protective measures when a new influenza virus, e.g., pandemic A(H1N1)v virus, is introduced in humans.

• Authors: Marcel Jonges, Wai Ming Liu, Erhard van der Vries, Ronald Jacobi, Inge Pronk, Claire Boog, Marion Koopmans, Adam Meijer, Ernst Soethout
• Journal: Journal of clinical microbiology (J Clin Microbiol) Vol. 48 Issue 3 Pg. 928-40 (Mar 2010) ISSN: 1098-660X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20089763 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Neuraminidase

Topics

• Antiviral Agents (pharmacology)
• Containment of Biohazards (methods)
• Disinfection (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Influenza A virus (drug effects, physiology, radiation effects)
• Influenza, Human (prevention & control)
• Male
• Microbial Viability
• Middle Aged
• Neuraminidase (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Occupational Exposure (prevention & control)
• Orthomyxoviridae (drug effects, immunology)
• Virus Inactivation