Chemical factors influencing adsorption of bacteriophage MS2 to membrane filters.

Antichaotropic salts, such as magnesium sulfate, and metal chelators, such as citrate ions, promoted adsorption of bacteriophage MS2 to membrane filters. In contrast, compounds that disrupt hydrophobic interactions, such as chaotropic salts, urea, Tween 80, and ethanol, did not promote adsorption of MS2 to membrane filters and counteracted the ability of magnesium sulfate to promote such adsorption. These results provide evidence that magnesium sulfate promotes the association of MS2 with membrane filters primarily by strengthening hydrophobic interactions between the virus and the filters.