[Group and type antigenic specificity of bovine adenovirus type 1 hexons]

Abstract

Hexones were obtained from the bovine serotypes 1 and 3. They were investigated through the complement-fixation test along with intact virions in the presence of a hemotype and a heterotype antiserum. It was shown that the free hexones were twice as reactogenic in the homotype system as compared to the heterotype one. The hexones were found to possess two antigenic determinants--a typespecific one and a group-specific one. The latter proved sensitive to chymotrypsin. Intact vicions reacted chiefly type-specifically. Discussed is the problem of the space disposition of the type -and group-specific antigen determinants of the hexones in sito in the virions.