Purification of Viruses

Question 1

What device is used for concentration and purification of viruses, and can efficiently sediment even the smallest viruses?

Answer 1

Ultracentrifuge

Question 2

The ultracentrifuge separates virus particles based on their mass, in a process called:

Answer 2

Rate-Zonal Centrifugation

Question 3

In rate-zonal centrifugation, larger particles will descend through the sucrose gradient faster/slower than smaller particles?

Answer 3

Faster. Larger particles will be at the bottom of the tube.

Question 4

In what type of centrifugation are particles separated solely on the basis of their buoyant density?

Answer 4

Isopycnic Centrifugation

*Particles move until their density is the same as the surrounding medium (Caesium chloride).

Question 5

In isopycnic centrifugation, do the particles eventually sediment to the bottom of the tube?

Answer 5

Heck no

Question 6

What type of virus purification utilizes chromatographic membranes with different size pores?

Answer 6

Membrane Chromatography

Question 7

During rate-zonal centrifugation, why does timing matter?

Answer 7

If centrifugation isn’t stopped in a timely manner, all particles will eventually settle at the bottom of the tube together.