Separation of viruses and viroids using monolith chromatographyIzdvajanje virusa i viroida monolitnom kromatografijom

By using monolithic supports it is possible to apply chromatography in purification, separation, and concentration of various large molecules and macromolecular complexes. In this thesis, chromatographic behaviour of RNA molecules was analysed using ion-exchange and hydrophobic interaction modes. A concentrating protocol for Potato spindle tuber viroid, which improved the sensitivity of its reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) detection, was developed. Turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) and Tomato bushy stunt virus were separated from plant homogenate with monolithic supports for the first time. Furthermore, several plant viruses were separated from an artificially mixed sample using ion-exchange chromatography. High recoveries were obtained and virus infectivity was maintained. Electron microscopy confirmed the integrity of the plant virus particles after chromatography. The method was also used to differentiate members of two groups of TYMV isolates representing different virus strains. Chromatographic behaviour of several structurally modified Adenovirus 5-based vectors was considered. The influence of changes in the hexon protein and in the fibre on retention time was observed. Results obtained within this thesis represent methodological advancement in the research of viroids and viruses, proving that monolith chromatography is a fast, practical and efficient method for separation of different virus particles and concentrating viroid RNA.