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Biomembrane Fabrication by the Solvent-assisted Lipid Bilayer (SALB) Method
Published on: December 1, 2015
Virus passage through track-etch membranes modified by salinity and a nonionic surfactant
C D Lytle1, L B Routson, N B Jain
1Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland 20857, USA. cdl@cdrh.fda.gov
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|May 29, 1999
Summary
High salinity reduces virus passage through filters by decreasing electrostatic repulsion, allowing for increased adsorption. This finding is crucial for understanding virus behavior in various environments.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Materials Science
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Viruses can be retained by track-etch filters, but the mechanisms are not fully understood.
- Factors influencing virus passage through porous membranes are critical for applications in filtration and purification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of salinity on virus passage through track-etch membranes.
- To elucidate the role of electrostatic interactions and adsorption in virus retention.
Main Methods:
- Experiments were conducted using bacteriophages phiX174 and PRD1.
- Track-etch polycarbonate and polyester membranes were used, with varying surface coatings (sodium dodecyl sulfate and polyvinylpyrrolidone).
- Virus passage was measured across a range of sodium (Na+) concentrations and in the presence of nonionic surfactant (Tween 80).
Main Results:
- Increased salinity (0.8 to 160 mM Na+) significantly decreased the passage of phiX174 and PRD1 through coated polycarbonate membranes.
- PRD1 passage was also reduced through polyester membranes with increasing salinity.
- Undiminished virus passage with the addition of 0.1% Tween 80 indicated nonionic adsorption, suggesting salinity's effect was electrostatic.
Conclusions:
- High salinity levels decrease virus passage through track-etch filters by reducing electrostatic repulsion.
- This reduction in repulsion promotes virus adsorption onto the membrane surface.
- Understanding these electrostatic effects is key for optimizing virus filtration and recovery processes.
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