STERILIZATION OF HIV BY GAMMA-IRRADIATION - A BONE ALLOGRAFT MODEL

A human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infected bone allograft model ha s been created using HTLV-IIIB virus in a concentration simulating a m assively HIV infected bone allograft donor [HTLV-III is the denominati on initially given to the human immuno-deficiency by the american team of Prof. Gallo. It represent the virus HIV 1 of the present internati onal nomenclature]. 5x10(4) tissue culture infective doses per ml. of virus were placed within the medullary cavity of bovine femora and tib iae with a radiation dosimeter, and the ends sealed with lead The bone /virus model was maintained at -70-degrees-C while being irradiated wi th 1 to 4 megarads of gamma irradiation in increments of 0.5 megarads. The study showed that the HTLV-IIIB virus is a relatively radio-resis tant organism, a property common to most viruses. The results suggest that HTLV-IIIB can be inactivated in bone infected with a clinically s ignificant viral load, as may be found in donors who are initially neg ative when screened for HIV. It is recommended that bone allografts wh ich are secondarily sterilized by gamma irradiation receive at least 2 .5 megarads. The amount of radiation absorbed by the bone cortex was m inimal.