Effect of combined treatment of serum containing hepatitis B virus with beta-propiolactone and ultraviolet irradiation.

The effect of cold sterilization by beta-propiolactone (beta-PL) and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of serum contaminated with infectious hepatitis B virus (HBV) was investigated in chimpanzee. Chimpanzees given 0.1 ml/kg of the undiluted HBV serum estimated to contain 10(7)-10(8) CID50/ml developed acute hepatitis B infection 4 weeks after inoculation. Chimpanzees injected with the same undiluted hepatitis serum treated with beta-PL/UV developed hepatitis B infection 14 weeks later. Based on the published linear relationship between log dose of HBV and incubation period in chimpanzees this indicates a 10(6)-fold reduction in infectivity titer. Animals inoculated with the serum diluted 1:1,000 showed manifest hepatitis B infection 11 weeks later. Animals inoculated with serum diluted 1:1,000 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.