Stability of bovine leukemia virus antigens.

Stability of bovine leukemia virus glycoprotein 51 and nonglycosylated protein 24 antigens was examined under various conditions. The glycoprotein antigen was unstable at 56 degrees C and 37 degrees C and at acidic and basic pH. The specificity of the glycoprotein 51 antigen was reduced to half by the first treatment with ethyl ether, but was not decreased further by repeated treatments. This antigen was not inactivated with triton X-100 and was resistant to lyophilization as well as to freezing and thawing. The protein 24 antigen was generally very stable under all conditions tested.