Effect of Combined Treatment of Serum Containing Hepatitis B Virus with Beta‐Propiolactone and Ultraviolet Irradiation

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Abstract
The effect of cold sterilization by .beta.-propiolactone (.beta.-PL) and UV irradiation of [human] serum contaminated with infectious hepatitis B virus (HVB) was investigated in chimpanzees. Chimpanzees given 0.1 ml/kg of the undiluted HBV serum estimated to contain 107-108 chimpanzee median infectious dose/ml developed acute hepatitis B infection 4 wk after inoculation. Chimpanzees injected with the same undiluted hepatitis serum treated with .beta.-PL/UV developed hepatitis B infection 14 wk later. Based on the published linear relationship between log dose of HBV and incubation period in chimpanzees, this indicates a 106-fold reduction in infectivity titer. Animals inoculated with the serum diluted 1:1000 showed manifest hepatitis B infection 11 wk later. Animals inoculated with serum diluted 1:1000 and then cold sterilized with .beta.-PL/UV showed no signs of hepatitis B infection. Sensitive proteins are not denatured by .beta.-PL/UV cold sterilization.