Multiplicity reactivation of vaccinia virus particles treated with nitrogen mustard.

The nitrogen mustard bis(beta-chloroethyl)methylamine, a radiomimetic alkylating agent, is known for its ability to inactivate viruses in general and poxvirus in particular. These experiments show that vaccinia virus is rapidly inactivated by it. They show, in addition, that the treated virus exhibits multiplicity reactivation in L cells, closely resembling that experienced with the same virus after exposure to ultraviolet rays. These findings have come from observations of plaque titer, on the one hand, and virus particle aggregation (measured in the electron microscope), on the other. The titer of the treated virus is very sensitive to particle aggregation, increasing and decreasing in a reversible manner as the degree of clumping among the particles is changed. The magnitude of these changes is such that they must be considered in any situation involving plaque assay of the fraction of virus surviving treatment with nitrogen mustard.