Haemagglutinin of measles virus: purification and storage with preservation of biological and immunological properties.

Measles virus envelope haemagglutinin (H) was purified rapidly with Triton X-100-solubilized virions by a two-step anion-exchange chromatography using fast protein liquid chromatography. The purity of the glycoprotein in its dimeric form was demonstrated by SDS-PAGE followed by silver staining or autoradiography. The purified H glycoprotein was further freed from contaminating detergent by dialysis of octylglucoside detergent. This purification procedure, together with subsequent lyophilization and storage at -70 degrees C of the H glycoprotein which was incorporated into phospholipid vesicles allowed the full preservation of its haemagglutinating activity, its reactivity with a monoclonal anti-H antibody that recognized a conformational epitope and its capacity to elicit anti-H antibodies with haemagglutination-inhibiting and neutralizing activities.