[Concentration of the Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus in a 2-phase system of water-soluble polymers].

The study concentrated Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus from tissue culture fluid using a two-phase system of polyethylene glycol and sodium dextran sulfate, which significantly increased the virus’s infectious activity and also purified virus preparations.

Research Method

• The researchers carried out concentration of VEE virus from tissue culture fluid using a two-phase system containing polyethylene glycol and sodium dextran sulfate.
• The concentration method was based on the virus distribution coefficient’s dependence on the NaCl content in the system. This allowed the alternating transfer of the virus from one phase of the system to the other.
• Three separate steps were carried out.

Results

• The researchers found that after the initial step, the virus’s infectious activity increased approximately 100-fold.
• After the second step, the increase was 190-fold, and after the third step, the infectious activity increased 300-fold.
• The concentration process also purified virus preparations, meaning fewer unnecessary cell membrane elements were present.
• This purification was shown by using immune electron microscopy, which allowed for visible observation of the virus material accumulating in the preparations and the decrease of cell membrane elements.

Removal of Sodium Dextran Sulphate

• The researchers removed Sodium Dextran Sulphate from the virus preparations by precipitating it with 3 M KCl solution in cold conditions.
• This process had no effect on the virus’s infectious activity in the researched preparations.

Conclusion

• The study effectively increased the concentration of VEE virus, making it more infectious.
• This process could be used for a number of applications, particularly in biological and medical research that requires highly concentrated and purified virus samples.