Inactivation of Pathogenic Microorganisms on Polymeric Materials through Ozonation

Ozone-based technologies have been evaluated to inactivate the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on surfaces. However, the vast diversity of information makes it difficult to establish common ground for determining the best practices for using this technology. The objective of this work is to evaluate the success of N95 mask decontamination by ozonation, determining the specific parameters for process control. To quantify the effectiveness of the process, a disinfection protocol was initially developed based on two bacterial species (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius), followed by another disinfection assay using the murine hepatitis coronavirus (MHV-3), in a laboratory-scale prototype. Ozone is an effective candidate for use against SARS-CoV-2 or other viruses to disinfect personal protection equipment (PPE). © 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Temporary differences in pathogen disgust sensitivity and the perception of crowded spaces

Feelings of disgust, a disease avoidance emotion, vary among individuals. The present study investigated if individual differences in pathogen disgust sensitivity predict the level of disgust evoked by crowded places. Interested in the universality of this relationship, we studied it across countries (Study 1), and examined temporal differences in pathogen disgust sensitivity (Studies 2 and 3). Participants completed a pathogen disgust scale and rated the level of disgust evoked by two crowded situations. Data were collected in 2018 (before the COVID-19 pandemic), in 2020 (at the height of the pandemic) and in 2022 (later in the pandemic). Across studies and countries, individuals' pathogen disgust sensitivity predicted the disgust evoked by the situations. Moreover, the data revealed a significant increase in pathogen disgust from 2018 to 2020, most likely because of higher pathogen presence during the pandemic, before significantly decreasing in 2022 after the pandemic had progressed. This study captures a rare opportunity, investigating how these crises relate to pathogen disgust sensitivity and the perception of crowded spaces. Further, our longitudinal study is among the first showing changes in pathogen disgust sensitivity over time and monitoring the effect of the pandemic. [Display omitted] • A temporary increase in pathogen disgust sensitivity was found for the pandemic. • After that, pathogen disgust levels decreased again in 2022. • Patterns of pathogen disgust are similar across eleven countries. [ FROM AUTHOR]

The critical experimental aspects for developing pathogen electrochemical biosensors: A lesson during the COVID-19 pandemic

Though the bitter global pandemic posed a severe public health threat, it set an unprecedented stage for different research teams to present various technologies for detecting SARS-CoV-2, providing a rare and hard-won lesson for one to comprehensively survey the core experimental aspects in developing pathogens electrochemical biosensors. Apart from collecting all the published biosensor studies, we focused on the effects and consequences of using different receptors, such as antibodies, aptamers, ACE 2, and MIPs, which are one of the core topics of developing a pathogen biosensor. In addition, we tried to find an appropriate and distinctive application scenario (e.g., wastewater-based epidemiology) to maximize the advantages of using electrochemical biosensors to detect pathogens. Based on the enormous amount of information from those published studies, features that fit and favor wastewater pathogen detection can be picked up and integrated into a specific strategy to perform quantitative measurements in wastewater samples. [Display omitted] • Evaluate the effects of different receptors in SARS-CoV-2 electrochemical biosensors. • Dig deep into the rationale why different studies chose specific detection strategies. • Point out the importance of finding appropriate and distinctive application scenarios. • Propose the WBE to maximize the advantages of electrochemical pathogen biosensors. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Biosafety group calls for clamping down on risky virus studies

The article focuses on a draft report from two working groups of the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity which recommends to expand the definition of "Gain-of-function" research on viruses that would create a pathogen likely to create a serious public health risk such as SARS-CoV-2.

Radiation source with enhanced virucide effectiveness based on a mixture of helium and iodine vapor

Subject of study. A source of spontaneous emission (a lamp) in the ultraviolet spectral range excited by a capacitive discharge was investigated. Iodine vapor and mixtures of iodine vapor with inert gases were used as the operating gas medium of the lamp. Conditions for enhancements in specific output parameters of the lamp emission were investigated. Excitation conditions under which the lamp emits predominantly at the iodine atomic line with a wavelength of 206.16 nm were determined. Aim of study. The primary aim of the study was to investigate the spectral and energy characteristics of the lamp based on the iodine vapor, which is promising for the development of a radiation source with enhanced virucidal effectiveness for ultraviolet disinfection of a human environment contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2). Method. In this study, the composition and pressure of the operating medium were optimized. In addition, the excitation mode of the lamp emission was optimized by changing the repetition rate of voltage pulses. Main results. At a specific excitation power of approximately 1.3 mW/cm3 and partial pressures of iodine vapor and helium of approximately 2.5 and 7 Torr, respectively, the line of an iodine atom with a wavelength of 206.16 nm dominates in the output lamp spectrum, and the specific emission power at the outer surface of the lamp tube is approximately 3 mW/cm2. Practical significance. The emission of the investigated lamp is in the spectral range of 200–225 nm, which is promising in terms of developing technology for safe ultraviolet inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms including SARS-CoV-2. © 2022 Optica Publishing Group.

Transmission of viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms via road dust: Emissions, characterization, health risks, and mitigation measures

Road dust pollution is a complex atmospheric issue that poses a significant ecotoxicological threat to human health and the environment. The presence of viruses in road dust can put humans at risk of infection, as airborne viral particles are a potential synergist to respiratory infirmities, leading to widespread mortality and morbidity. This corroborates the increasing number of desk-based studies on the effects of road dust. However, the role of road dust in the spread and pathogenicity of viruses has scarcely been explored, and there is still no certainty regarding whether road dust participates in viral transmission or causes infectious diseases. Therefore, the current knowledge and mechanisms of road-dust-associated viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms are critically reviewed, highlighting the importance of keeping an eye out for road-dust-associated viruses, as they represent hotspots for viral transmission. In this overview, we evaluate the emissions, associated contaminants, and public health implications of exposure to road-dust-associated viruses. A summary of potential mitigation measures is also presented, highlighting critical knowledge gaps, challenges, and future research directions that require urgent draconian measures. This overview is intended to serve as a seminal reference and management pivot for enhancing global pollution mitigation policies, development of analytical models/methods, periodic monitoring of road dust-associated viruses, and the transport of other pathogenic microorganisms.

Biobanking: A foundation of life-science research and advancement

As a foundation of life-science research and advancement, biobanking has played a critical role and made tremendous contributions to healthcare, biotechnology, disease control and prevention, as well as bio-conservation for the benefit of all humankind. This paper starts with a brief introduction of basic concepts, history, classification, and significance of biobanking, followed by a discussion on cryobiology fundamentals and key challenges faced by cryopreservation in biobanking. A special case discussion on the cryopreservation and biobanking of pathogenic microorganisms to meet both the unmet needs for biomedical research and the urgent demand for developing countermeasures against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is highlighted with insightful recommendations for future studies.

U.S. ‘superbug’ infections rise

The article looks at a report from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which found infections and deaths caused by some of the most harmful antibiotic resistant pathogens in U.S. hospitals leapt by at least 15 percent during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic.

The environment, epidemics, and human health.

In this editorial piece, the Editors of the Virtual Special Issue (VSI) "The environment, epidemics, and human health" comment on the papers accepted for publication, which were selected after peer-reviewing among all those manuscripts submitted to the Special Issue. In view of the title of the VSI, it is clear that its aim goes beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, trying to explore relations among environmental aspects, any kind of epidemics, and human health. However, COVID-19 is still hitting as a global and current main issue, causing that manuscripts dealing with this disease and the SARS-CoV-2 virus are of high relevance in the whole set of research papers published.

Access and benefit-sharing of the pathogenic microorganisms such as SARS-CoV-2.

With the outbreak of COVID-19, it is essential to share pathogens and their data information safely, transparently, and timely. At the same time, it is also worth exploring how to share the benefits of using the provided pathogenic microorganisms fairly and equitably. There are some mechanisms for the management and sharing of pathogenic microbial resources in the world, such as the World Health Organization, the United States, the European, and China. This paper studies these mechanisms and puts forward "PICC" principles, including public welfare principle, interests principle, classified principle, and category principle, to strengthen cooperation, improve efficiency and maintain biosafety.

Morbidity ratio associated with Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) and intramural microbiological quality in a home located in Tausa

This study was carried out in order to determine the presence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms in the air of a home located in the municipality of Tausa and its possible relationship with ARIs (Acute Respiratory Infections), for which a microbiological analysis was carried out in order to identify bacteria that are possibly causing respiratory illnesses in the household. The sampling consisted of the use of a suction equipment (MAS100 Eco), during different time bands and spaces inside and outside the house. Later the respective analysis was carried out in the laboratory and 6 different mesophilic microorganisms were identified, which were: Salmonella tiphy, Bacillus subtilis, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Kingella kingae. In addition, each of these bacteria were individually analyzed to understand the dynamics of the pollutant load in the home. Finally, the identified mesophilic microorganisms correspond to bacteria with some degree of pathogenicity and/or health effects, in the same way the morbidity data from the Tausa medical center were analyzed. Here we found that the population under 13 years old is the most affected by ARI, and that the bacteria present more easily affect this type of population, generating a wider perspective on the possibilities of having more patients diagnosed with ARI, as found in the home. The data presented here were affected and biased due to the health emergency caused by COVID19. © 2021 IEEE.

Inactivation and risk control of pathogenic microorganisms in municipal sludge treatment: A review.

The rapid global spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has promoted concern over human pathogens and their significant threats to public health security. The monitoring and control of human pathogens in public sanitation and health facilities are of great importance. Excessive sludge is an inevitable byproduct of sewage that contains human and animal feces in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). It is an important sink of different pollutants and pathogens, and the proper treatment and disposal of sludge are important to minimize potential risks to the environment and public health. However, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis of the diversity, exposure risks, assessment methods and inactivation techniques of pathogenic microorganisms in sludge. Based on this consideration, this review summarizes the control performance of pathogenic microorganisms such as enterovirus, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli by different sludge treatment technologies, including composting, anaerobic digestion, aerobic digestion, and microwave irradiation, and the mechanisms of pathogenic microorganism inactivation in sludge treatment processes are discussed. Additionally, this study reviews the diversity, detection methods, and exposure risks of pathogenic microorganisms in sludge. This review advances the quantitative assessment of pathogenic microorganism risks involved in sludge reuse and is practically valuable to optimize the treatment and disposal of sludge for pathogenic microorganism control.

SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens in municipal wastewater, landfill leachate, and solid waste: A review about virus surveillance, infectivity, and inactivation.

This review discusses the techniques available for detecting and inactivating of pathogens in municipal wastewater, landfill leachate, and solid waste. In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 is being given special attention, with a thorough examination of all possible transmission pathways linked to the selected waste matrices. Despite the lack of works focused on landfill leachate, a systematic review method, based on cluster analysis, allows to analyze the available papers devoted to sewage sludge and wastewater, allowing to focalize the work on technologies able to detect and treat pathogens. In this work, great attention is also devoted to infectivity and transmission mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, the literature analysis shows that sewage sludge and landfill leachate seem to have a remote chance to act as a virus transmission route (pollution-to-human transmission) due to improper collection and treatment of municipal wastewater and solid waste. However due to the incertitude about virus infectivity, these possibilities cannot be excluded and need further investigation. As a conclusion, this paper shows that additional research is required not only on the coronavirus-specific disinfection, but also the regular surveillance or monitoring of viral loads in sewage sludge, wastewater, and landfill leachate. The disinfection strategies need to be optimized in terms of dosage and potential adverse impacts like antimicrobial resistance, among many other factors. Finally, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogenic microorganisms in sewage sludge, wastewater, and landfill leachate can hamper the possibility to ensure safe water and public health in economically marginalized countries and hinder the realization of the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Challenges and Perspectives for Biosensing of Bioaerosol Containing Pathogenic Microorganisms.

As an important route for disease transmission, bioaerosols have received increasing attention. In the past decades, many efforts were made to facilitate the development of bioaerosol monitoring; however, there are still some important challenges in bioaerosol collection and detection. Thus, recent advances in bioaerosol collection (such as sedimentation, filtration, centrifugation, impaction, impingement, and microfluidics) and detection methods (such as culture, molecular biological assay, and immunological assay) were summarized in this review. Besides, the important challenges and perspectives for bioaerosol biosensing were also discussed.

Modernization of Control of Pathogenic Micro-Organisms in the Food-Chain Requires a Durable Role for Immunoaffinity-Based Detection Methodology-A Review.

Food microbiology is deluged by a vastly growing plethora of analytical methods. This review endeavors to color the context into which methodology has to fit and underlines the importance of sampling and sample treatment. The context is that the highest risk of food contamination is through the animal and human fecal route with a majority of foodborne infections originating from sources in mass and domestic kitchens at the end of the food-chain. Containment requires easy-to-use, failsafe, single-use tests giving an overall risk score in situ. Conversely, progressive food-safety systems are relying increasingly on early assessment of batches and groups involving risk-based sampling, monitoring environment and herd/flock health status, and (historic) food-chain information. Accordingly, responsible field laboratories prefer specificity, multi-analyte, and high-throughput procedures. Under certain etiological and epidemiological circumstances, indirect antigen immunoaffinity assays outperform the diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic specificity of e.g., nucleic acid sequence-based assays. The current bulk of testing involves therefore ante- and post-mortem probing of humoral response to several pathogens. In this review, the inclusion of immunoglobulins against additional invasive micro-organisms indicating the level of hygiene and ergo public health risks in tests is advocated. Immunomagnetic separation, immunochromatography, immunosensor, microsphere array, lab-on-a-chip/disc platforms increasingly in combination with nanotechnologies, are discussed. The heuristic development of portable and ambulant microfluidic devices is intriguing and promising. Tant pis, many new platforms seem unattainable as the industry standard. Comparability of results with those of reference methods hinders the implementation of new technologies. Whatever the scientific and technological excellence and incentives, the decision-maker determines this implementation after weighing mainly costs and business risks.

How to study SARS-CoV-2 in soils?

Wastewater based epidemiology is increasingly being considered as a potentially useful tool for early warning about eventual new COVID-19 outbreaks. In addition, some authors are investigating on the detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage sludge. However, no paper has been published up to date indicating how this virus could be quantified in soil samples. In view of that, we review available data searching for methodological approaches that could guide on the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 (and even other pathogenic microorganisms) in soils.