title: Fluorescent dye labeled bacteriophages--a new tracer for the investigation of viral transport in porous media: 1. Introduction and characterization.
abstract: A new method for the study of pathogen transport in porous media is presented. The method is based on conjugation of fluorescent dyes to target bacteriophages and application of the modified bacteriophages for tracer studies. We demonstrate that the relevant transport determining properties of Rhodamine and several fluorescein-labeled phages are practically identical to those of the native bacteriophages. The advantages of the proposed method relative to direct enumeration of bacteriophages by plaque forming unit method, turbidity, fluorescent microspheres, and other alternative tracers are discussed. Notable advantages include simple quantitation by optical methods, unbiased signals even when virus aggregates are formed, and the ability to decouple inactivation kinetics from transport phenomena. Additionally, the signal reflects the removal and transport of the studied microorganism and not a surrogate.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Sciences, Fredy and Nadine Herrmann School of Applied Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Vitaly
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gitis
authors.forename: Avner
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adin
authors.forename: Abed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasser
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gun
authors.forename: Ovadia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lev
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D005374:Filtration; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000032:analysis*; D005470:Fluorometry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009068:Movement; D016062:Porosity
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes