Effect of -propiolactone on Sendai virus.

The biological properties (infectivity, hemagglutination, hemolysis, cell fusion, neuraminidase) of Sendai virus were dissociated on the basis of sensitivity to beta-propiolactone, by freeze-thawing, by heating at different temperatures, and by adsorption-elution with formalinized chicken erythrocytes. Possible mechanisms whereby beta-propiolactone selectively destroys viral infectivity are discussed.