Dear Karen,

Acetate-nitrate cellulose membrane filters are suitable for the isolation of bacteriophages. Among the studies used this kind of technique is:

J Virol Methods. 2004 Apr;117(1):19-25.

Standardised evaluation of the performance of a simple membrane filtration-elution method to concentrate bacteriophages from drinking water.

Méndez J1, Audicana A, Isern A, Llaneza J, Moreno B, Tarancón ML, Jofre J, Lucena F.

Abstract

The bacteriophage elution procedure described further after adsorption to acetate-nitrate cellulose membrane filters allows better recovery of phages concentrated from 1l of water than elution procedures used previously. The improvement is due to the combined effect of the eluent (3% (w/v) beef extract, 3% (v/v) Tween 80, 0.5M NaCl, pH 9.0) and the application of ultrasound instead of agitation or swirling. Average recovery of somatic coliphages, 82 +/- 7%, was the greatest, and that of phages infecting Bacteroides fragilis, 56 +/- 8%, the lowest, with intermediate values for F-specific and F-specific RNA bacteriophages. Thus, the method allowed recovery of over 56% for all the phages suggested as surrogate indicators. The method was then validated according to an International Standardisation Organisation validation standard procedure and implemented in routine laboratories, which obtained reproducible results.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15019256

Hoping this will be helpful,

Rafik

Hi, 

For the isolation of bacteriophages 0.45um whattmann  No. 1 filter papers are enough for the isolation of bacteriophages.

Any 0.22 um filters should work well. I don't think the exact material makes much of a difference for phage isolation.

Phages range in size considerably. If you are interested in concentrating them then I'd use a Regenerated cellulose 100 kD Ultrafilter. If you are trying to fractionate then you need a different strategy. A DEAE Column may work well.

Since quite often bacteriophages have been used to test retention characteristics of parvovirus membranes, I think any of those aimed for parvovirus retention could be useful in this case. Sartorius and Millipore have some of them in their portfolios

0.22 um.

I would not suggest using 0.45 asunder certain conditions, you might receive bacterial contamination.

kindly let me know size of filters for phage isolation.....preferable for bacteriophages..@@

thanks for advices, If you don't mind can I ask something? is it better use 0.22um filter when I made phage titer? I used to use 0.45um filter twice when I make phage titer, first time for isolation bacterial host from phage solution and second for removing cell debris after resuspension phage pellets.

recently I noticed there were some bacterial contamination in my phage titer.. will it be prevented when I use 0,.22um filter?

100kd regenerated cellulose is best for concentration. If you wish to clear bacteria pre filter using a 0.2 um filter in a TFF mode. The key is to keep the delta p low. Expect the flux to drop and then reach a steady state when using a tff system on the 0.2um. This can be followed by a 0.2 um dead end sterIlIzIng grade filter.