Concentration of bacteriophages from natural waters
Seeley, N.D.; Primrose, S.B.
Journal of Applied Bacteriology 46(1): 103-116
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-8847 PMID: 374327 Document Number: 149789
The methods used for concentrating animal viruses from drinking water were unsuitable for the concentration of bacteriophages from natural waters. The factors affecting recovery were investigated and a concentration procedure devised which is amenable to larger scale and field use. This procedure involves: passage of the water through a sand filter; removal of dissolved organic material with an anion exchange resin; addition of MgCl2 to a final concentration of 5 .times. 10-4 M; adjustment of the pH value to 3.8; adsorption of the bacteriophages on to fiber glass and cellulose nitrate filters; elution of bound phage with 3% (wt/vol) beef extract, and concentration by ultrafiltration of the resulting eluates. Using this procedure a wide range of test bacteriophages was concentrated from 4 to 5 ml with recoveries ranging from 18-80%, concentration factors of 200- to 900-fold.