FATE OF THE GENOME AND INFECTIOUS UNITS OF COXSACKIE B3 VIRUS IN PHOSPHATE BUFFERED SALINE

The changes in the concentrations of infectious coxsackie B3 virus (de tected by cell culture), and the viral genome (detected by RT semi-nes ted PCR), when the virus is kept at 25 degrees C in sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and in PBS plus clay was monitored. The viral ge nome survived for twice as long as the infectious virus. The survival of the genome was greatly prolonged by adding 200 mg l(-1) Na-montmori llonite to the PBS, while the survival of the infectious virus was onl y slightly increased. The T90 of the viral genome was at least 3.5 tim es longer that the T90 of the infectious virus. Thus, the rate of deca y of the viral genome is different from that of the infectious virus. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.