Assessment of a membrane filter coated with hygroscopic glycerol for improved recovery of airborne viable bacteriophage MS2.

ABSTRACT: The viability of viruses collected on membrane filters during air sampling is compromised by desiccation. This leads to an underestimation of the concentration of viable viruses in the air. We investigated whether adding a hygroscopic glycerol coating to membrane filters could enhance the recovery of viable bacteriophage MS2 collected through air sampling. Mixed cellulose ester (MCE) filters were coated with glycerol and compared with as-packaged filters (APF) as a control to determine the impact of glycerol on MS2 viability. First, MS2 viability upon direct deposition of MS2 suspension on APF vs. glycerol-coated filters (GCF) was assessed at benchtop. On average 121% more viable MS2 were recovered from GCF than APF (p = 0.031). MS2 was then aerosolized and collected onto APF, GCF, phospha

SUBMITTER: Washeem M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12803739 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature