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The envelope glycoprotein of rabies virus was shown to be the antigen responsible for the induction of virus neutralizing (VN) antibody formation and for the protection of animals against subsequent challenge with rabies virus. Preparation of two other envelope proteins and of the nucleocapsid protein, derived from disrupted virions, induced the formation of only low levels of VN antibody and protection of animals against rabies, which could be explained by the amount of residual glycoprotein present in these preparations. Purified preparations of free viral nucleocapsid, isolated from infected cells, did not induce VN antibody formation, but elicited, in immunized animals, the formation of antibodies demonstrable by complement fixation or fluorescent antibody tests.
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Wiktor et al. (1973) studied this question.
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