Rubella virosomes: Preparation and ultrastructure

Rubella virosomes were prepared from preformed liposomes and detergent solubilized viral hemagglutinin. The liposomes were made from lecithin/dicetyl phosphate (3.5: 1) films resuspended in NTE buffer and sonicated. Viral hemagglutinin was prepared from purified virus after solubilization with Triton X-100 and centrifugation through a sucrose gradient containing β-d-octylglucoside. Electron microscopy of the rate zonal purified virosomes, showed virus-like structures of 40–80 nm. The virosomes retained the biological activity of the hemagglutinin and had a buoyant density of 1.2 g/cm³.