Aggregation of enterovirus small plaque variants and polioviruses under low ionic strength conditions

J Gen Virol. 1978 Mar;38(3):519-33. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-38-3-519.

Abstract

Virion aggregation in low ionic conditions was observed with small plaque variants of Coxsackievirus type B3 and Echovirus types 4 and 11 by sedimentation and filtration methods. Inclusion of salts or DEAE-dextran into the media prevented or reversed virion aggregation. The effect of pH on aggregate formation in low ionic strength solutions was also investigated with various strains of poliovirus. Type I Sabin strain formed aggregates even at high pH, while Mahoney strains did so only below pH 6.5. Type 2 virus, Sabin and MEF1 strains, and type 3 virus, Sabin, Saukett and Suwa strains, showed an intermediate behaviour between the two type 1 strains, except MEF1-LB strain, a clone obtained from MEF1 strain under acidic overlay, which showed little tendency to aggregate. These results were compared with the degree of the d character of the strains. Besides the effect of inhibiting virion aggregation, the inclusion of DEAE-dextran into a sucrose gradient slowed the sedimentation of some of the viruses in low ionic strength solutions.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Centrifugation, Density Gradient
  • DEAE-Dextran
  • Enterovirus / growth & development
  • Enterovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Enterovirus B, Human / growth & development
  • Enterovirus B, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Genetic Variation
  • Micropore Filters
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Poliovirus / growth & development
  • Poliovirus / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • DEAE-Dextran