Failure to Detect Coronavirus SK Antigen in Multiple Sclerosis Brain Tissue by Autoradiography

Abstract

Illnesses such as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) are known to be induced by a virus which is present in a non-infectious state. Measles virus antigen and IgG are present in the brains of SSPE patients as shown by immunofluorescent techniques (1). Autoradiography techniques using I125 have been useful in demonstrating viral antigen and IgG in the brain and spinal cords of coronavirus SD infected mice in areas of demyelination when infectious virus cannot be recovered (2). Autoradiography is more sensitive than immunofluorescence in this coronavirus system.