A COMPARISON OF WIN-51711 AND R-78206 AS STABILIZERS OF POLIOVIRUS VIRIONS AND PROCAPSIDS

The thermal denaturation of poliovirus virions and procapsids in the 42 to 48-degrees-C range was studied using N- and H-specific monoclonal antibodies. The half-life of the N antigen of Mahoney and Sabin 1 virions was extended 50- to 250-fold by either 10-mu-M WIN 51711 or R 78206. The minimum concentrations required for full stabilization at 46-degrees-C (1.0-mu-M for WIN 51711, 0.2-mu-M for R 78206) were independent of the strain or serotype of the virus; 30 to 60 molecules of stabilizer per virion were required for full protection. R 78206 was the most efficient stabilizer of Mahoney procapsids; the half-life of the N-specific epitopes of these particles at 44-degrees-C was extended from less than 1 min to 1 day.