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Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1976 July; 10(1): 96-101
Copyright © 1976 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Inactivation of the Enveloped Bacteriophage ø6 by Butylated Hydroxytoluene and Butylated Hydroxyanisole

^* Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
Physics Department and Molecular Biology Program, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015

ABSTRACT

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is a potent inactivator of the enveloped bacterial virus ø6 at concentrations as low as 3 x 10^–5 M. The viral envelope is not removed by BHT treatment, in contrast to the effects of exposure to the detergent Triton X-100. BHT-treated viruses are morphologically indistinguishable from controls but are defective in their ability to attach to the host cell. Temperature at the time of exposure was found to be a crucial factor in the effectiveness of BHT against ø6. A precipitous drop in the degree of inactivation by 3 x 10^–5 M BHT occurred when the temperature was lowered from 20 to 15 C. Calcium ions were found to potentiate the effect of BHT, particularly at lower temperatures where BHT alone was relatively ineffective. Barium and strontium, but not magnesium, were also effective in enhancing the activity of BHT. A structurally related molecule, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), was also found to inactivate ø6 virus, but higher concentrations were required than with BHT. Both BHT and BHA are commonly used as food additives, have apparent low toxicity to humans and other animals, and are potentially useful as antiviral agents.

¹ Present address: Washington University Medical School, Cancer Center, St. Louis, Mo. 63130.