Isoelectric points of viruses.
Viruses as well as other (bio-)colloids possess a pH-dependent surface charge in polar media such as water. This electrostatic charge determines the mobility of the soft particle in an electric field and thus governs its colloidal behaviour which plays a major role in virus sorption processes. The pH value at which the net surface charge switches its sign is referred to as the isoelectric point (abbreviations: pI or IEP) and is a characteristic parameter of the virion in equilibrium with its environmental water chemistry. Here, we review the IEP measurements of viruses that replicate in hosts of kingdom plantae, bacteria and animalia. IEPs of viruses are found in pH range from 1.9 to 8.4; most frequently, they are measured in a band of 3.5 < IEP < 7. However, the data appear to be scattered widely within single virus species. This discrepancy is discussed and should be considered when IEP values are used to account for virus sorption processes.
Michen
B
B
 Laboratory for High Performance Ceramics, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, Duebendorf, Switzerland.| Institute for Ceramics, Glass and Construction Materials, Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany.
Graule
T
T
 Laboratory for High Performance Ceramics, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, Duebendorf, Switzerland.| Institute for Ceramics, Glass and Construction Materials, Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany.
D001419:Bacteria / Q000821:virology; D003102:Colloids; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D010944:Plants / Q000821:virology; D055672:Static Electricity; D014780:Viruses / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D003102:Colloids; D014867:Water