Differential inactivation of three bacteriophages by acid and alkaline pH used in the membrane adsorption-elution method of virus recovery.

The study was prompted by our inability to concentrate phages by a membrane adsorption method effective for polioviruses. Consequently two coliphages WPK and T4, and F116 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were tested for their resistance to acid (pH 5.2-3.2) and alkaline (pH 10-11.5) exposures. Only T4 proved acid resistant allowing for acid adsorption, and only WPK was sufficiently alkaline resistant to allow for alkaline elution. Thus, the differential susceptibility of various phages precludes the use of the acid membrane adsorption-alkaline elution method as a general method for the concentration of phages from large volumes of water.