A Gel Filtration-Based Method for the Purification of Infectious Rotavirus Particles for Environmental Research Applications

  • Kata Farkas
  • , Liping Pang
  • , Susan Lin
  • , Wendy Williamson
  • , Richard Easingwood
  • , Rayleen Fredericks
  • , Mohamed A. Jaffer
  • , Arvind Varsani

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article describes a rapid method for purifying infectious rotavirus particles from cell culture for environmental research. The method is based on size-exclusion chromatography using TOSOH TSKgel® G5000PWXL-CP with a TSKgel® Size Exclusion G2500PWxl guard column, set up on an AKTA Explorer10. Four peaks were identified from the chromatogram and the corresponding fractions were collected and analysed by electron microscopy, 1-step quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and qNano measurement. Infectivity potential of the recovered virus particles was determined using cell culture. Our analysis reveals that the first fraction contains majority of the intact triple-layered infectious virions while the other three fractions contain mixtures of empty capsids and intact infectious virions. Our results also indicate that there is a gross overestimation of rotaviruses in crude extracts due to encapsidated RNA in the order of 2.3 × 1011 particles and we note that estimates by qNano are similarly skewed (1.36 × 1013 particle) possibly due to empty capsids and cellular debris. In summary we present a method for purification (~12 h) of rotaviruses for a more robust and accurate quantification of virus size, surface charge and particle concentration in environmental contexts.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)231-235
Number of pages5
JournalFood and Environmental Virology
Volume5
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Characterisation
  • Purification
  • Quantification
  • Rotavirus
  • Size-exclusion chromatography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Food Science
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
  • Virology

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