Physical integrity of herpes simplex virus following thermal inactivation.

The effect of thermal inactivation on the gross physical integrity of herpes simplex virus (HSV) was investigated. Purified preparations of HSV containing 3H-thymidine were subjected to thermal inactivation at 36 degrees C, ph 6.3 and pH 7.8 and then were analysed by sucrose gradient centrifugation. The data indicated that although HSV inactivation at 36 degrees C was significantly greater at pH 7.8 than at 6.3, the gross physical integrity of most of the HSV in both of these inactivated virus populations was maintained. In addition, heat inactivated HSV adsorbed to mammalian cells as readily as non-inactivated HSV. Thus, thermal inactivation of HSV does not result in the physical disassembly of the virion particles or in the destruction of virus receptor activity.