Novel tools for environmental virology

Routine monitoring of relevant environmental viruses is of great importance for public health and quality assessment. Even though cell culture (i.e., viral infectivity assay) is still regarded as the golden standard, use of new strategies based on the molecular techniques significantly increased in the past years. Specific and rapid detection are main advantages of this alternative approach. Furthermore, integration of cell culture or propidium monoazide treatment with nucleic acid amplification allows for the differentiation of infectious particles. Additional recently reported approaches for the detection of viruses include, among others, whole transcriptome amplification and cell culture combined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Noteworthy is also the fact, that regardless of the selected detection method, sample preparation still remains the major bottleneck.

► Virus recovery efficiency is strongly affected by sample matrix and virus type. ► New strategies for viral concentration include RBCMS, biosensors and IMS. ► Nucleic acid amplification methods are most commonly used alternative approach. ► PMA and ICC allow for differentiation of infectious particles. ► Novel detection strategies proposed include FITR spectroscopy and WTA.