Lipid-enveloped Viruses Research Articles

A fatty acid-ordered plasma membrane environment is critical for Ebola virus matrix protein assembly and budding

Plasma membrane (PM) domains and order phases have been shown to play a key role in the assembly, release, and entry of several lipid-enveloped viruses. In the present study, we provide a mechanistic understanding of the Ebola virus (EBOV) matrix protein VP40 interaction with PM lipids and their effect on VP40 oligomerization, a crucial step for viral assembly and budding. VP40 matrix formation is sufficient to induce changes in the PM fluidity. We demonstrate that the distance between the lipid headgroups, the fatty acid tail saturation, and the PM order are important factors for the stability of VP40 binding and oligomerization at the PM. The use of FDA-approved drugs to fluidize the PM destabilizes the viral matrix assembly leading to a reduction in budding efficiency. Overall, these findings support an EBOV assembly mechanism that reaches beyond lipid headgroup specificity by using ordered PM lipid regions independent of cholesterol.

Differing Susceptibilities to Certain Microbicidal Chemistries among Three Representative Enveloped Viruses.

Three lipid-enveloped viruses (bovine viral diarrhea virus [BVDV], vaccinia virus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]) were evaluated in side-by-side liquid inactivation efficacy studies of low pH (3.0 to 3.1) treatment and of the non-formulated microbicidal actives sodium hypochlorite (100 ppm), ethanol (70%), quaternary ammonium compound BTC® 835 (100 ppm), and peracetic acid (100 ppm). Low pH was evaluated at 10 and 60 min contact times, and the microbicides were evaluated at 1 min contact time at room temperature per the ASTM E1052 standard. In each case, 5% animal serum was included in the viral inoculum as a challenge soil load. The three viruses displayed similar susceptibility to sodium hypochlorite and ethanol, with complete inactivation resulting. Significant differences in susceptibility to BTC® 835 and peracetic acid were identified, with the ordering of the three viruses for susceptibility to BTC® 835 being SARS-CoV-2 > vaccinia virus = BVDV, and the ordering for peracetic acid being vaccinia virus > SARS-CoV-2 > BVDV. The ordering for susceptibility to low pH treatment (60 min contact time) was vaccinia virus > SARS-CoV-2 > BVDV. Not all enveloped viruses display equivalent susceptibilities to inactivation approaches. For the chemistries evaluated here, BVDV appears to represent a worst-case enveloped virus.

National Blood Foundation 2021 Research and Development summit: Discovery, innovation, and challenges in advancing blood and biotherapies.

National Blood Foundation 2021 Research and Development summit: Discovery, innovation, and challenges in advancing blood and biotherapies.

Orthopox viruses and the safety margins of solvent-detergent treated plasma-derived medicinal products.

The currently ongoing outbreak of monkeypox virus in many non-endemic countries around the world has also raised concerns about the safety of plasma-derived medicinal products. Based on what is known about the poxviridae, that is, that members are exceedingly large and carry a lipid envelope, effective removal and inactivation by plasma product manufacturing processes is expected. For the widely used solvent-detergent (S/D) treatments, however, poxviruses have been reported as potentially being a bit more resistant. Using a S/D mixture comprising tri-n-butyl-phosphate, polysorbate 80 and Triton X-100 (TX-100), inactivation of vaccinia virus (a model closely resembling monkeypox virus, both within the same genus, i.e., Orthopoxvirus) in a plasma-derived process intermediate was analyzed over 60 min. As use of Triton X-100 will, based on environmental concerns, be restricted, similar experiments were conducted with a physicochemically virtually identical alternative, Nereid. Fast inactivation of vaccinia virus to the assay detection limit, that is, reduction of infectivity by greater than 4 log10 within 10-20 min, was measured for the TX-100 S/D mixture. The alternative S/D mixture (Nereid instead of TX-100) was found fully equivalent. As for other lipid-enveloped viruses, treatment of process intermediates with S/D mixtures containing TX-100 or the closely related detergent Nereid are highly effective in inactivating poxviruses. Thus, the current spread of monkeypox virus does not compromise the viral safety margins of plasma-derived medicines.

Virucidal N95 Respirator Face Masks via Ultrathin Surface-Grafted Quaternary Ammonium Polymer Coatings.

N95 respirator face masks serve as effective physical barriers against airborne virus transmission, especially in a hospital setting. However, conventional filtration materials, such as nonwoven polypropylene fibers, have no inherent virucidal activity, and thus, the risk of surface contamination increases with wear time. The ability of face masks to protect against infection can be likely improved by incorporating components that deactivate viruses on contact. We present a facile method for covalently attaching antiviral quaternary ammonium polymers to the fiber surfaces of nonwoven polypropylene fabrics that are commonly used as filtration materials in N95 respirators via ultraviolet (UV)-initiated grafting of biocidal agents. Here, C12-quaternized benzophenone is simultaneously polymerized and grafted onto melt-blown or spunbond polypropylene fabric using 254 nm UV light. This grafting method generated ultrathin polymer coatings which imparted a permanent cationic charge without grossly changing fiber morphology or air resistance across the filter. For melt-blown polypropylene, which comprises the active filtration layer of N95 respirator masks, filtration efficiency was negatively impacted from 72.5 to 51.3% for uncoated and coated single-ply samples, respectively. Similarly, directly applying the antiviral polymer to full N95 masks decreased the filtration efficiency from 90.4 to 79.8%. This effect was due to the exposure of melt-blown polypropylene to organic solvents used in the coating process. However, N95-level filtration efficiency could be achieved by wearing coated spunbond polypropylene over an N95 mask or by fabricating N95 masks with coated spunbond as the exterior layer. Coated materials demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against several lipid-enveloped viruses, as well as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. For example, a 4.3-log reduction in infectious MHV-A59 virus and a 3.3-log reduction in infectious SuHV-1 virus after contact with coated filters were observed, although the level of viral deactivation varied significantly depending on the virus strain and protocol for assaying infectivity.

Rapid assembly of colorless antimicrobial and anti-odor coatings from polyphenols and silver

The development of antimicrobial fabrics and textiles that can sustainably inhibit a broad spectrum of microbes is crucial for protecting against pathogens in various environments. However, engineering antimicrobial textiles is challenging due to issues with discoloration and inhibited breathability, the use of harmful or harsh reagents and synthesis conditions, and complex and/or time-consuming processing. Herein, we develop a facile and rapid approach to deposit antimicrobial coatings using universally adherent plant polyphenols and antimicrobial silver ions. Importantly, the coatings are colorless, thin (< 10 nm), rapidly assembled (< 20 min), and can be deposited via immersion or spraying. We demonstrate that these metal-phenolic coatings on textiles can inhibit lipid-enveloped viruses over one thousand times more efficiently than coatings composed of other metal ions, while maintaining their efficacy even after 5 washes. Moreover, the coatings also inhibit Gram positive and negative bacteria, and fungi, and can prevent odors on clothes for at least 10 washes. Collectively, the ease of synthesis, use of simple and safe precursors, and amenability to at-home and industrial application suggests that the coatings will find practical application in various settings.

High Affinity Peptides in Processes of IgG Purification, Chromatographic Column Virus Inactivation/Elimination and Titer of Anti-Rubella IgG Enrichment

According to "The Proteome Code" concept introduced by J. Biro and our early development of affinity peptide calculation method it was studied the possibility of high affinity peptide chromatographic gels development for IgG1-4 separation from the donor plasma. Given the next step of virus inactivation of IgG directly in the chromatographic column, the affinity gel had bind IgG at several spatially spaced points in order to limit the degree of freedom of the protein for retention IgG at high buffer flow rate or elevated buffer temperatures without denaturation. In addition, the possibility of creating highly specific affinity sense-antisense peptides against Rubella virus in order to increase the titer of aRIgG in plasma or even its isolation in highly purified form was studied. Based on previous experiments, an affinity multi-peptide chromatographic gel with the following properties was developed: the DBC with enough residence time 10 min was around 50-54 mg × mL-1 of total 98.0% purity of IgG with natural proportion of the 1-4 subclasses, any other immunoglobulins were not found. The virus inactivation/elimination on this gel directly in chromatographic column shown a highly effective virus elimination (log10&gt;9) for both nonenveloped and lipid enveloped viruses. Using RV sequence from UniProt_KB and dates from more than 20 literature sources on the virus proteins interaction, affinity peptides were calculated against virus proteins C and E1,2. Then these peptides were modified to reach more affinity enhancement and affinity-peptide chromatographic gel was synthetized. By this gel from total mass IgG1-4 contained 6644 IU anti-Rubella IgG with specificity 6.64 IU × mg-1 were isolated 5382 IU aRIgG (&gt; 80%) with a specificity of 791 IU × mg-1.

Inhibition of Viral Membrane Fusion by Peptides and Approaches to Peptide Design.

Fusion of lipid-enveloped viruses with the cellular plasma membrane or the endosome membrane is mediated by viral envelope proteins that undergo large conformational changes following binding to receptors. The HIV-1 fusion protein gp41 undergoes a transition into a “six-helix bundle” after binding of the surface protein gp120 to the CD4 receptor and a co-receptor. Synthetic peptides that mimic part of this structure interfere with the formation of the helix structure and inhibit membrane fusion. This approach also works with the S spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Here we review the peptide inhibitors of membrane fusion involved in infection by influenza virus, HIV-1, MERS and SARS coronaviruses, hepatitis viruses, paramyxoviruses, flaviviruses, herpesviruses and filoviruses. We also describe recent computational methods used for the identification of peptide sequences that can interact strongly with protein interfaces, with special emphasis on SARS-CoV-2, using the PePI-Covid19 database.

Hantavirus.

Hantaviruses are tri-segmented lipid-enveloped RNA viruses belonging to the Bunyaviridae family. Human infection corresponds to a zoonosis associated with two different clinical syndromes: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome that occurs in Asia and Europe and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) that occurs in the North America, Central America and South America. The major pathogenic mechanisms in HCPS include (1) direct microvascular endothelial injury leading to increased capillary permeability and the development of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema and acute respiratory distress syndrome, and (2) exaggerated host immune response leading to secondary organ damage. The incubation period for this disease is quite long (6-39 days, median: 18 days); however, rapid progression to respiratory failure and shock can occur highlighting the importance of high index of clinical suspicion. Management revolves around high-quality supportive care. Various management and preventative strategies are currently being explored and warrant further examination to improve the overall outlook following infection with hantavirus.

Negative-sense RNA viruses: An underexplored platform for examining virus-host lipid interactions.

Viruses are pathogenic agents that can infect all varieties of organisms, including plants, animals, and humans. These microscopic particles are genetically simple as they encode a limited number of proteins that undertake a wide range of functions. While structurally distinct, viruses often share common characteristics that have evolved to aid in their infectious life cycles. A commonly underappreciated characteristic of many deadly viruses is a lipid envelope that surrounds their protein and genetic contents. Notably, the lipid envelope is formed from the host cell the virus infects. Lipid-enveloped viruses comprise a diverse range of pathogenic viruses, which often lead to high fatality rates and many lack effective therapeutics and/or vaccines. This perspective primarily focuses on the negative-sense RNA viruses from the order Mononegavirales, which obtain their lipid envelope from the host plasma membrane. Specifically, the perspective highlights the common themes of host cell lipid and membrane biology necessary for virus replication, assembly, and budding.

Ethanol Inactivation of Enveloped Viruses: Structural and Surface Chemistry Insights into Phi6.

Lipid-enveloped viruses, such as Ebola, influenza, or coronaviruses, are a major threat to human health. Ethanol is an efficient disinfectant that is widely used to inactivate these viruses and prevent their transmission. However, the interactions between ethanol and enveloped viruses leading to their inactivation are not yet fully understood. This study demonstrates the link between ethanol-induced viral inactivation and the nanostructural and chemical transformations of the model virus Phi6, an 85 nm diameter lipid-enveloped bacterial virus that is commonly used as surrogate for human pathogenic viruses. The virus morphology was investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering and dynamic light scattering and was related to its infectivity. The Phi6's surface chemistry was characterized by cryogenic X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the modifications in protein structure were assessed by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. Ethanol-triggered structural modifications were found in the lipid envelope, detaching from the protein capsid and forming coexisting nanostructures.

Lipid-protein interactions in virus assembly and budding from the host cell plasma membrane.

Lipid enveloped viruses contain a lipid bilayer coat that protects their genome to help facilitate entry into the new host cell. This lipid bilayer comes from the host cell which they infect. After viral replication, the mature virion hijacks the host cell plasma membrane where it is then released to infect new cells. This process is facilitated by the interaction between phospholipids that make up the plasma membrane and specialized viral matrix proteins. This step in the viral lifecycle may represent a viable therapeutic strategy for small molecules that aim to block enveloped virus spread. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of plasma membrane lipid–protein interactions on viral assembly and budding.

Retraction Note to: Methylene blue photochemical treatment as a reliable SARS-CoV-2 plasma virus inactivation method for blood safety and convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19

In 2020, a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, quickly spread worldwide within a few months. Although coronaviruses typically infect the upper or lower respiratory tract, the virus RNA can be detected in plasma. The risk of transmitting coronavirus via transfusion of blood products remains. As more asymptomatic infections are identified in COVID-19 cases, blood safety has become particularly important. Methylene blue (MB) photochemical technology has been proven to inactivate lipid-enveloped viruses with high efficiency and safety. The present study aimed to investigate the SARS-CoV-2 inactivation effects of MB in plasma. The SARS-CoV-2 virus strain was isolated from Zhejiang University. The live virus was harvested from cultured VERO-E6 cells, and mixed with MB in plasma. The MB final concentrations were 0, 1, 2, and 4 μM. The “BX-1 AIDS treatment instrument” was used at room temperature, the illumination adjusted to 55,000 ± 0.5 million Lux, and the plasma was irradiated for 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mins using light at a single wavelength of 630 nm. Virus load changes were measured using quantitative reverse transcription- PCR. BX-1 could effectively eliminate SARS-CoV-2 within 2 mins in plasma, and the virus titer declined to 4.5 log10 TCID50 (median tissue culture infectious dose)/mL. BX-1 is based on MB photochemical technology, which was designed to inactivate HIV-1 virus in plasma. It was proven to be safe and reliable in clinical trials of HIV treatment. In this study, we showed that BX-1 could also be applied to inactivate SARS-CoV-2. During the current outbreak, this technique it has great potential for ensuring the safety of blood transfusions, for plasma transfusion therapy in recovering patients, and for preparing inactivated vaccines.

Using Mouthwashes by a Healthcare Practitioner in Order to Decrease the Chance of Transmission of COVID-19

The use of mouthwashes has shown that they can reduce the viral load of Covid-19, with the most promising mouthwashes containing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Cetylpyridinium Chloride (CPC), Povidone Iodine (PVP-I) and Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHX) [1]. Since Sars-Cov-2 is transmitted by airborne droplets and the respiratory tract is the main route of infection, having a way to clear this pathway can ensure that the practitioner does not contract Covid-19 in their patients. Discussion Chlorhexidine (CHX) CHX is a wider-spectrum antiseptic that has an action on Gramnegative and Gram-positive facultative anaerobes, fungi, bacteria, and aerobes by increasing the bacterial cell wall permeability, then causing its cell lysis [2,3]. It is mainly used in dentistry procedure to treat periodontal disease and reduce dental plaque [4]. Evidence shows that an in-vitro consequence against lipidenveloped viruses likes herpesvirus 1, influenza A, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and parainfluenza virus [5]. Even though COVID-19 is virus with an envelope, 0.12% CHX gluconate was recommended to have no or little effect against coronaviruses when associated with other type of mouthwashes [6-8]. On the other hand, Yoon et al. [9] shown that SARS-CoV-2 suppression for two hours after consuming 15ml 0.12% CHX once, suggesting that its application would be helpful for the transmission of control of COVID-19. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) Since the turn of the century, H2O2 has been used in dentistry in salt combination or alone since the turn of the century [10]. Like a mouthwash, it is a clear, colorless, odorless liquid [11]. No adverse effects on soft tissue have been shown in many studies using 1-1.5 % H2O2 as a daily rinse over two years of follow-up [12,13]. An the study of in vitro study that 3% H2O2 entirely inactivates type 4 adeno-associated viruses, influenza A and B, 1B and 7 rhinoviruses, type 6 and 3 adenoviruses, type 1A, mixoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus with a long-term strain, and the Coronavirus strain 229E within 1-30 minutes, the study shows that influenza virus and coronaviruses were the most subtle [14]. Because SARS-CoV2 is susceptible to oxidation, pre-procedure mouth rinses containing oxidizing agents like the 1% H2O2 h should have reduced viral load in saliva [6,15]. Iodopovidone Povidone Iodine (PVP-I) is a iodine water-soluble mixture that is widely used as a preoperative mouthwash and skin antiseptic [16]. It is commonly used at a concentration of 1% [17] to treat mucositis, prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia and prevent oropharyngeal infections. Its antimicrobial effect is manifested after free iodine dissociates from polyvinylpyrrolidone, then iodine quickly penetrates microbes, destroying proteins and oxidizing nucleic acid structures, causing the death of microbes [18,19]. Prior studies have shown that PVP-I is more virucidal than other commonly used antiseptics, including benzalkonium chloride and CHX [20]. It is nontoxic, reporting a incidence of 0.4% of allergy cases [21], does not cause or taste disturbance and tongue or tooth discoloration [22] and, nothing like alcohol-based products, can be used along with electrocautery [23]. Its efficiency has been well revealed in many studies of in vitro against several viruses, including and influenza A (H1N1) virus SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV [16,20,24]. Recent studies have shown that 0.23% PVP-I mouthwash perfore procedure for at least 15 seconds before can reduce viral load in saliva [24], representing its procedure in COVID patients -19 [6,18,25,26]. Effectiveness of mouthwash on viral load The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has long suggested taking advantage over mouthwash in reducing airborne pathogens of all kinds prior to clinical procedures [27]. During this global pandemic, given the encounters associated with dispatching dental procedure, attention has been drawn to the potential use of mouthwashes to reduce and prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Conclusion Mouthwashes are an effective way to reduce the transmission of viruses that infect the respiratory tract. As oral cavities are a major source of entry and transmission for human coronaviruses, so mouthwashes are the preventive measure to reduce the risk of COVID-19. Mouthwashes, especially PVP-I, are a potential antiviral that can significantly minimize viral load in saliva and then aerosols, thereby reduce the spread of COVID-19 infection. However, there is paucity of literature and, as a result, a lack of knowledge among dental practitioners about the value of using mouthwashes. Consequently, there is a great need for more clinical trials in order to take a step forward in clinical practice.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Methylene blue photochemical treatment as a reliable SARS-CoV-2 plasma virus inactivation method for blood safety and convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19

BackgroundIn 2020, a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, quickly spread worldwide within a few months. Although coronaviruses typically infect the upper or lower respiratory tract, the virus RNA can be detected in plasma. The risk of transmitting coronavirus via transfusion of blood products remains. As more asymptomatic infections are identified in COVID-19 cases, blood safety has become particularly important. Methylene blue (MB) photochemical technology has been proven to inactivate lipid-enveloped viruses with high efficiency and safety. The present study aimed to investigate the SARS-CoV-2 inactivation effects of MB in plasma.MethodsThe SARS-CoV-2 virus strain was isolated from Zhejiang University. The live virus was harvested from cultured VERO-E6 cells, and mixed with MB in plasma. The MB final concentrations were 0, 1, 2, and 4 μM. The “BX-1 AIDS treatment instrument” was used at room temperature, the illumination adjusted to 55,000 ± 0.5 million Lux, and the plasma was irradiated for 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mins using light at a single wavelength of 630 nm. Virus load changes were measured using quantitative reverse transcription- PCR.ResultsBX-1 could effectively eliminate SARS-CoV-2 within 2 mins in plasma, and the virus titer declined to 4.5 log10 TCID50 (median tissue culture infectious dose)/mL.ConclusionBX-1 is based on MB photochemical technology, which was designed to inactivate HIV-1 virus in plasma. It was proven to be safe and reliable in clinical trials of HIV treatment. In this study, we showed that BX-1 could also be applied to inactivate SARS-CoV-2. During the current outbreak, this technique it has great potential for ensuring the safety of blood transfusions, for plasma transfusion therapy in recovering patients, and for preparing inactivated vaccines.

The Relationship Between the Global Burden of Influenza From 2017 to 2019 and COVID-19: Descriptive Epidemiological Assessment.

BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 and influenza are lipid-enveloped viruses with differential morbidity and mortality but shared modes of transmission.ObjectiveWith a descriptive epidemiological framing, we assessed whether recent historical patterns of regional influenza burden are reflected in the observed heterogeneity in COVID-19 cases across regions of the world.MethodsWeekly surveillance data reported by the World Health Organization from January 2017 to December 2019 for influenza and from January 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020, for COVID-19 were used to assess seasonal and temporal trends for influenza and COVID-19 cases across the seven World Bank regions.ResultsIn regions with more pronounced influenza seasonality, COVID-19 epidemics have largely followed trends similar to those seen for influenza from 2017 to 2019. COVID-19 epidemics in countries across Europe, Central Asia, and North America have been marked by a first peak during the spring, followed by significant reductions in COVID-19 cases in the summer months and a second wave in the fall. In Latin America and the Caribbean, COVID-19 epidemics in several countries peaked in the summer, corresponding to months with the highest influenza activity in the region. Countries from regions with less pronounced influenza activity, including South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, showed more heterogeneity in COVID-19 epidemics seen to date. However, similarities in COVID-19 and influenza trends were evident within select countries irrespective of region.ConclusionsEcological consistency in COVID-19 trends seen to date with influenza trends suggests the potential for shared individual, structural, and environmental determinants of transmission. Using a descriptive epidemiological framework to assess shared regional trends for rapidly emerging respiratory pathogens with better studied respiratory infections may provide further insights into the differential impacts of nonpharmacologic interventions and intersections with environmental conditions. Ultimately, forecasting trends and informing interventions for novel respiratory pathogens like COVID-19 should leverage epidemiologic patterns in the relative burden of past respiratory pathogens as prior information.

Lipid-specific oligomerization of the Marburg virus matrix protein VP40 is regulated by two distinct interfaces for virion assembly

Marburg virus (MARV) is a lipid-enveloped virus harboring a negative-sense RNA genome, which has caused sporadic outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fever in sub-Saharan Africa. MARV assembles and buds from the host cell plasma membrane where MARV matrix protein (mVP40) dimers associate with anionic lipids at the plasma membrane inner leaflet and undergo a dynamic and extensive self-oligomerization into the structural matrix layer. The MARV matrix layer confers the virion filamentous shape and stability but how host lipids modulate mVP40 oligomerization is mostly unknown. Using in vitro and cellular techniques, we present a mVP40 assembly model highlighting two distinct oligomerization interfaces: the (N-terminal domain [NTD] and C-terminal domain [CTD]) in mVP40. Cellular studies of NTD and CTD oligomerization interface mutants demonstrate the importance of each interface in matrix assembly. The assembly steps include protein trafficking to the plasma membrane, homo-multimerization that induced protein enrichment, plasma membrane fluidity changes, and elongations at the plasma membrane. An ascorbate peroxidase derivative (APEX)-transmission electron microscopy method was employed to closely assess the ultrastructural localization and formation of viral particles for wildtype mVP40 and NTD and CTD oligomerization interface mutants. Taken together, these studies present a mechanistic model of mVP40 oligomerization and assembly at the plasma membrane during virion assembly that requires interactions with phosphatidylserine for NTD–NTD interactions and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate for proper CTD–CTD interactions. These findings have broader implications in understanding budding of lipid-enveloped viruses from the host cell plasma membrane and potential strategies to target protein–protein or lipid–protein interactions to inhibit virus budding.

COVID ‐19 transmission in cold chain: A safe and green new‐generation cold chain is demanded

<scp>COVID</scp> ‐19 transmission in cold chain: A safe and green new‐generation cold chain is demanded

Virus disinfection for biotechnology applications: Different effectiveness on surface versus in suspension

Virus contamination events in cell culture-based biotechnology processes have occurred and have had a dramatic impact on the supply of life-saving drugs, and thus on the wellbeing of patients. Cleanup requires effective and robust virucidal decontamination procedures for both the liquid reactor content before discharge, as well as facility surfaces to prevent recurrence. Beyond rare contamination events, it is important to implement virucidal disinfection for change-over procedures as effective preventive measure in routine biomanufacturing. Knowledge of the virus inactivation capacity of commonly used disinfectants is therefore important. However, available virus inactivation data often refer to studies performed in suspension only, and not, as often more relevant, to virus inactivation on surfaces. In this study three liquid disinfectants, based on sodium hypochlorite, glutaraldehyde, or hydrogen peroxide/peroxyacetic acid, as well as one gaseous hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectant were investigated for inactivation of lipid enveloped and non-lipid enveloped model viruses, using suspension (for the liquid disinfectants) and carrier assay designs for their virucidal efficacy on surface. The results of these side-by-side investigations demonstrate that depending on the type of application, i.e. routine surface disinfection or decontamination of e.g. a contaminated bioreactor content, the most effective choice of disinfectant may be remarkably different.

Assembly and Budding of Filoviruses from the Host Cell Plasma Membrane

Lipid enveloped viruses replicate and bud from the host cell where they acquire their lipid coat. Filoviruses are lipid-enveloped viruses that have a filamentous lipid-envelope and despite being discovered more than 40 years ago, not much is known on how they interact with host cell lipids to achieve new virion formation. Filoviruses bud from the plasma membrane of the host cell and cause viral hemorrhagic fever with high fatality rates. Filoviruses include Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV), which are classified as category A pathogens by the NIH as they pose a serious public health and national security risk.