Preparation of inactivated viral vaccines
AssigneeAdvanced Genetics Research Institute
InventorsGary P. Wiesehahn, Richard P. Creagan, David R. Stevens, Richard Giles
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Abstract
Vaccines employing inactivated viruses having improved retention of antigenic characteristics are prepared by psoralen-inactivation of the live virus in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. By excluding oxygen and other oxidizing species from the inactivation medium, degradation of the antigen characteristics resulting from irradiation with ultraviolet light is largely prevented. The resulting inactivated viruses are employed in vaccine preparations for the inoculation of susceptible hosts to inhibit viral infection.
Claims9
A method for inactivating a live virus without substantially degrading their antigenic characteristics, said method comprising:
- exposing the virus to a preselected intensity of long wavelength ultraviolet radiation and a preselected concentration of an inactivating furocoumarin for a time period sufficiently long to render the virus non-infectious but less than that which would result in degradation of its antigenic characteristics, wherein said exposure is performed in the substantial absence of oxygen and other oxidizing species.
An improved method for inactivating viruses, said method being of the type wherein the virus is inactivated by exposure to long wavelength ultraviolet radiation in the presence of an inactivating furocoumarin, said improvement comprising performing said exposure to ultraviolet radiation in the substantial absence of oxygen and other oxidizing species.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.