Virion and soluble antigens of Japanese encephalitis virus

Abstract

Japanese encephalitis virions contain a 58 x 103 molecular weight envelope glycoprotein antigen that can be solubilized with sodium lauryl sulfate and separated from other virion structural polypeptides and viral ribonucleic acid by gel filtration chromatography. The 58 x 103 molecular weight envelope protein is the major antigen responsible for cross reactivity of the virion in complement fixation tests with other closely related arboviruses. A naturally occurring soluble complement fixing antigen was found in Japanese encephalitis mouse brain preparations after removal of particulate antigens. After partial purification by gel filtration and isoelectric focusing, the 53 x 103 molecular weight soluble complement fixing antigen was more type specific than the Japanese encephalitis envelope antigen in complement fixation tests. The Japanese encephalitis soluble complement fixing antigen was stable to treatment with sodium lauryl sulfate and 2 mercaptoethanol, whereas virion complement fixing antigens are unstable after this treatment.