Partial Purification of Viruses with an Anion Exchange Resin. ∗

Abstract

A variety of techniques have been developed for the purification of viruses. Methods which have been applied to poliomyelitis viruses include: adsorption to, and elution from alumina gel 1 or aluminum hydroxide 2 ; half saturation with ammonium sulfate 3 ; filtration 4 ; procedures involving ether extraction, protein precipitation and centrifugation or ultracentrifugation^5-9; methanol precipitation 10 ; and protein precipitation with protamine sulfate 11 . A relatively simple and rapid procedure for the partial purification of the Lansing strain of poliomyelitis virus has been developed in this laboratory. It utilizes a strong-base anion exchange resin. The method is also applicable to the extraction of poliomyelitis virus from human feces and Theiler virus (TO) from mouse feces and presumably may be applied to other viruses as well.

With this method, it is possible to eliminate rapidly the bulk of extraneous material and to obtain a preparation that has not lost a significant amount of virus. Advantages of the method include a considerable saving, of time, the requirement of only the simplest equipment, and the elimination of lengthy chemical procedures.

Materials and methods. The Lansing strain of poliomyelitis virus from nervous tissue of mice, poliomyelitis virus from human feces, and Theiler virus obtained from the feces of normal mice were used in these experiments. The Lansing virus and Theiler virus were assayed in 4-5 and 3-4-week-old mice respectively (CFW-albino agouti strain, Carworth Farms), using the intracerebral route of infection. Poliomyelitis virus extracted from human stools was tested intracerebrally in monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Of the 3 strong-base anion exchange resins tested (Amberlite XE-56, Amberlite XE-75, and Amberlite XE-67)† only Amberlite XE-67 proved satisfactory for virus purification. The resin is used in the chloride exchange form as it is supplied by the manufacturer. It is a very fine powder, the particles passing through a 325 mesh screen.