Purification of Large Quantities of Influenza Virus by Density Gradient Centrifugation

Abstract

New zonal centrifuges can conveniently process as much as five orders of magnitude (10 5 ) greater sample volumes than conventional swinging-bucket rotors. The continuous-sample-flow-with-banding versions may be used in series with ancillary purification procedures. Here we have studied the combined process: absorption and elution of influenza virus with barium sulfate followed by concentration and isopycnic banding of the virus in a buffered sucrose gradient. Kilogram quantities of impurity have been rapidly separated from grams of purified virus, which have been conveniently concentrated several hundred-fold by the purification process. Experimental vaccines made by these procedures are being evaluated.