Elution and inactivation of bacteriophages on soil and cation-exchange resin.

A variety of elution schemes was tested to determine the most effective procedure for eluting Arthrobacter bacteriophages from soil. A buffer solution of pH 8.0 was found to be the most satisfactory eluent. Bacteriophages were adsorbed to cation-exchange sites on soils, clays, and Dowex-50 resin and eluted. Eluted bacteriophages were detected by passive hemagglutination and plaque assay. Although bacteriophage antigen was successfully eluted, most recovered bacteriophages were noninfective. Inactivation was greatest in bacteriophages of Bradley group B and was associated with the elution process. Inactivation is believed to be caused by physical damage to bacteriophage tails upon elution. The significance of this inactivation relative to bacteriophage models for vertebrate viruses is discussed.