Ross River virus is a mosquito-borne alphavirus which causes several t
housand cases of arthritis (epidemic polyarthritis) each year. in this
study, binary ethylenimine (BEI) was used to destroy the infectivity
of this vir us without abolishing the antigenicity or immunogenicity o
f the virion. Mice immunized intramuscularly with BEI-inactivated viru
s, with or without Alhydrogel adjuvant, produced antibody which neutra
lized Ross River virus in vitro, and the mice also failed to develop v
iraemia when challenged intravenously with live virus. Serum neutraliz
ation and in vivo protection were greatest when BEI-inactivated virus
was administered without adjuvant.