[Characteristics of the precipitation of the antigenic structures of the tick-borne encephalitis virus using polyethylene glycol and ammonium sulfate].

When immunoelectrophoretic methods were used for analysis of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus antigens, TBE virus virion antigen (VA) from the virus-containing tissue culture fluid sedimented upon addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) up to 7% whereas upon addition of ammonium sulphate (AS) the bulk of VA sedimented in the range of 40-70% salt saturation. The non-virion antigens (NA) sedimented at all PEG (up to 22%) and AS (up to 70% saturation) concentrations. In stringent ultracentrifugation procedure (12-13 X 10(6) g X min), the bulk of VA and a small portion of NA are pelleted. Repeated ultracentrifugation results in sedimentation of additional amounts of VA and NA. The sedimentable NA are pelleted by low PEG (up to 5-7%) and AS (up to 20-30%) concentrations and differ in their interaction with antibodies in the course of immunoelectrophoresis from nonprecipitatable ("soluble") NA. Combined sedimentation of antigens with AS (in the range of 40-70% saturation), intensive dialysis and subsequent sedimentation with low and high PEG concentrations produces homogeneous antigenic preparations containing VA or "soluble" NA.