The electrophoresis of the neurotropic virus of horsesickness and its neutralizing antibodies in low concentration

Abstract

1. By means of a modified form of the moving boundary method of electrophoresis of Tiselius, it was found possible to measure the rate of migration as well as the isoelectric points of viruses and their neutralizing antibodies in low concentrations. 2. The measurements were carried out on three antigenically different strains of horsesickness virus. It was found, within experimental error, that all three strains have the same isoelectric point as well as the same change of mobility with pH. 3. The similarity between the isoelectric points and the mobilities of serum albumin and horsesickness virus suggests a close relationship between the albumin and virus. The serum albumin can either be adsorbed on to the virus or the virus can have the same chemical composition as the albumin. 4. The mobilities and isoelectric points were determined of the neutralizing antibodies of strains 449 and OD. The same isoelectric point and the same change of mobility with pH were found for these two substances. 5. Attempts were made by means of electrophoresis on the separation of active virus from neutral virus antibody mixtures but with no success.