Rotavirus VLP2/6: a new tool for tracking rotavirus in the marine environment.
The potential of rotavirus 2/6-virus-like-particles (VLP2/6) for use as tracers in the marine environment was investigated. The stability of bovine rotavirus (strain RF) and VLP2/6 in natural seawater at 25 degrees C for six days was studied. ELISA and western blot methods were used to quantify the particles. The rates of decline of rotavirus particles and VLP2/6 were similar (approximately 0.5log(10) per day). Western blot analysis showed that the integrity of capsid proteins VP2 and VP6 was conserved during the incubation time. These results demonstrate that VLP2/6 particles have the same stability in seawater as rotavirus particles. Thus, VLP2/6 can be used as a tracer, which should be of particular value for studying the fate of rotavirus particles in the marine environment.
Laboratoire de Microbiologie, IFREMER, BP 21105, 44311 Nantes cedex 3, France.
Fabienne
F
Loisy
Robert L
RL
Atmar
Jean
J
Cohen
Albert
A
Bosch
Françoise S
FS
Le Guyader
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002213:Capsid / Q000737:chemistry*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012623:Seawater / Q000821:virology*
D036022:Capsid Proteins