Inactivation of MS-2 phage and poliovirus in groundwater

Abstract

Since temperature affects the inactivation rate of viruses in natural water systems, the aim of this study was to determine if a temperature shift could influence the structural integrity of model viruses. When crude lysates of MS-2 phage were seeded into groundwater microcosms and incubated at 27 degrees C, complete virus inactivation took place in eight days. The temperature was then shifted to 4 degrees C. Three days after the temperature shift, a two-log increase in virus titer (reactivation) occurred. However, when purified MS-2 lysates were added to groundwater microcosms, no reactivation was obtained. No reactivation of poliovirus took place when similar microcosm experiments were done. The sedimentation coefficients of MS-2 shifted from 80S to 58S, 48S, 37S, 32S, and 18S as inactivation proceeded in groundwater and distilled water controls. Similarly, the sedimentation coefficients of polioviruses changed from 156S to 142S, 135S, 117S, 105S, 95S, and 80 S as inactivation took place. There was no correlation between % virus inactivation and % decrease in virions with intact sedimentation coefficients, as reported earlier for poliovirus inactivated by chlorine. The results presented support our hypothesis that virus inactivation proceeds gradually, involving the rearrangement and (or) loss of capsomere components that may eventually lead to the ejection of nucleic acids. The intermediate particles generated as inactivation proceeds may be in a reversibly inactivated state, and may revert back to a fully infectious state when chemical components stabilize the virus particle.

Removal of bacteriophages MS2 and phiX174 from aqueous solutions using a red soil

“…For example, Ottosson and Stenström [29] found that MS2 had a significantly higher decay rate in the tyndallized sediments than in the non-tyndallized sediments. Alvarez et al [28] got similar results for virus in groundwater, showing that inactivation of MS2 and poliovirus in the groundwater filtered through a 0.2-m pore filter was slightly faster than in raw groundwater. However, Nasser et al [58] and Davies et al [59] reported more rapid inactivation of MS2 and PRD1 in nonsterilized as compared to sterilized soils.…”

“…However, published results on the effect of autochthonous microorganisms on virus inactivation are generally not consistent [28][29][30]. Ferguson et al [31] reviewed that up to date, very few studies have examined the impact of such biological factors as antagonism, competition, and predation on inactivation/disintegration when evaluating transport of pathogens in the field.…”

Radiation sensitivity of poliovirus, a model for norovirus, inoculated in oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and culture broth under different conditions

“…Ionic composition as well as pH has been reported to be important factors that influence the kinetics of viral inactivation in a variety of systems. In addition, the presence of organic matter in water directly or indirectly contributes to viral stability or inactivation (Alvarez et al, 2000). Eubanks and Farrah (1981) reported that poliovirus and other enteroviruses in sodium fluoride solution were rapidly inactivated, whereas other sodium salt had little or no effect on virus infectivity.…”

Natural persistence of food- and waterborne viruses

“…Viruses have been shown to persist better in sewage-polluted water than in non-polluted water environments, probably due to the presence of organic matter or solid particles. Alvarez et al . ( 2000 ) reported that the inactivation of bacteriophage MS2 and poliovirus in pre-fi ltered ground water was faster than in raw ground water.…”