[Isolation of glycoproteins of the Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus and an evaluation of their immunogenic activity].

Isolation of purified Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus glycoproteins by means of a new Soviet nonionic detergent, MESK, is described. The MESK detergent was shown to permit isolation of approximately 70% of virus particle glycoproteins. The resulting preparation had a high hemagglutinating activity, contained no admixtures of foreign proteins and was not infectious. The study of the immunogenicity of purified glycoproteins in experimental mice and rabbits showed them to be capable of inducing high levels of serum antibodies. The immunogenicity of the isolated glycoproteins was comparable to their immunogenicity as components of virus particles. Treatment of the virus with MESK detergent also yielded preparations with predominant content of capsid protein. The described procedure for disintegration and purification of viral proteins is technologically simple and may be the basis for manufacture of a subunit vaccine. The resulting material may also be used for preparation of diagnosticums and in laboratory studies.