Studies on the different properties of adenovirus penton.

The physical, chemical, immunological and biological properties of the soluble penton antigen of adenovirus strains types 1, 5, 7, 8 and 9, belonging to three distinct subgroups of human adenoviruses, were analysed. Mono-, di-, and polymers of the penton were studied by complete and incomplete hemagglutination and a method was developed to separate pentons of subgroup II. Immunological techniques were developed for the rapid detection of penton antigen. Elution characteristics of the pentons of various types were studied by anion exchange chromatography and the amino acid composition and isoelectric point of the purified adenovirus type 1 penton were determined. The virion-associated endonuclease activity and its correlation with the penton of this adenovirus type were demonstrated.