Inactivation of bacteria and viruses in water: passage of germicidal ultraviolet light through Teflon.

Teflon pipe as used in a water purification system transmitted germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light to inactivate Pseudomonas aeruginosa and poliovirus. The information is useful for animal care workers and others concerned with the prevention of microbial growth in water systems such as deionizers and distilled water. Of special significance is that there is a plastic that transmits UV light.

S13, a rapidly oncogenic replication-defective avian retrovirus.

The avian leukemia sarcoma virus S13 transforms chicken and Japanese quail embryo fibroblasts and chicken erythroid cells in tissue culture. S13-induced erythroid transformation requires culture conditions suitable for the growth of normal erythroid precursors (H. Beug and M. J. Hayman (1984), Cell 36, 963-972). S13-transformed erythroid colonies contain a high percentage of cells that differentiate in absence of erythropoietin. S13 is defective in pol and env functions but can code for a complete set of gag proteins. Nonproducer cell clones transformed by S13 release a noninfectious viral particle containing gag but no functional env or pol proteins. They also synthesize a transformation-specific protein of 155,000 molecular weight. This protein reacts with antibody to viral envelope glycoproteins and appears to represent onc as well as env sequences. The 155,000-molecular weight env-linked protein does not cross react immunologically with an antiserum against the v-erb A and v-erb B gene products.

The effectiveness of six disinfectants in inactivation of reovirus 3.

Reovirus 3 in the presence of foetal bovine serum was exposed to six disinfectants for times of 10, 20 and 30 sec. At the end of such exposure times the addition of skim milk terminated disinfectant activity, and residual virus was assayed using the plaque technique. The six disinfectants considered were Javex (a sodium hypochlorite disinfectant), sodium hydroxide, ethanol, Wescodyne, One Stroke Ves-Phene, and Sonacide. Ethanol (95% v/v) and 1/75 Javex (800 ppm chlorine) were the most effective virucides. Both of these agents inactivated 10(5) plaque forming units (PFU) in 30 sec. Undiluted Sonacide, 0.25% (w/v) sodium hydroxide and 1/200 Wescodyne each inactivated between 10(2) and 10(3) PFU in 30 sec. Javex at a dilution of 1/100 (600 ppm chlorine) was next in effectiveness, inactivating 10(1.5) PFU in 30 sec and was more effective than 1/50 Ves-Phene which inactivated 10(1) PFU in 30 sec. Ethanol in 70% (v/v) solution was totally ineffective in inactivating reovirus 3. Ethanol (95% v/v) after dilution in the test system was 76% (v/v) and ethanol (70% v/v) was really 56% (v/v).

The relative resistance of f2 bacteriophage to inactivation by disinfectants.

f2 bacteriophage in the presence of fetal calf serum (at a final concentration of 10%) was exposed to six commonly used disinfectants for times of 10, 20 and 30 sec. At the end of exposure times skim milk neutralized the disinfectant activity and residual virus was assayed using the plaque technique. The 6 disinfectants considered were Javex, sodium hydroxide, ethanol, Wescodyne, One Stroke Ves-Phene and Sonacide. A 0.25% (w/v) solution of sodium hydroxide and 1/50 Javex (1200 parts/10(6) chlorine) were the most effective of the six disinfectants considered since 10(5) f2 bacteriophage were inactivated in 30 seconds in each instance. Since a 0.25% (w/v) solution of sodium hydroxide had a pH of 12.5 this made it too caustic to use as a disinfectant in many practical situations. It was concluded therefore that Javex at some dilution less than 1/50 (greater than 1200 parts/10(6) chlorine) was the most practical of the six disinfectants to use. Ethanol (95%, v/v) inactivated 10(3) f2 bacteriophage in 30 seconds while 1/20 Wescodyne and undiluted Sonacide inactivated 10(1)-virus particles. Ves-Phene at a dilution of 1/50 was a completely ineffective virucide during the 30 sec exposure. The resistance of f2 bacteriophage to inactivation by these six disinfectants was compared with that of echovirus 11 and coxsackievirus B5. In all instances except exposure to undiluted Sonacide, f2 was comparable in resistance to inactivation and in many cases had greater resistance.

The relative effectiveness of commonly used disinfectants in inactivation of coxsackievirus B5.

Coxsackievirus B5 in the presence of fetal calf serum was exposed to six commonly used disinfectants for times of 10, 20 and 30 s. At the end of exposure times skim milk neutralized the disinfectant activity, with residual virus assayed by the plaque technique. The six disinfectants considered were Javex, sodium hydroxide, ethanol, Wescodyne, One Stroke Ves-Phene and Sonacide. Although 95% (v/v) ethanol was significantly more virucidal than dilutions of the other five disinfectants tested causing a 10(6) reduction in 20 s, it may not be practical to use in many instances. Next to 95% (v/v) ethanol, 1/75 (800 parts/10(6) Javex, 0.25% (w/v) sodium hydroxide and 1/200 Wescodyne were the most effective virucides. These disinfectants were equal in effectiveness causing a 10(5) reduction of coxsackievirus B5 in 30 s. Of these three disinfectants Javex is the most practical to use since sodium hydoroxide is caustic and Wescodyne is selective in its virucidal action. Undiluted Sonacide was a less effective virucide causing a less than 10-fold reduction of coxsackievirus B5 in 30 s. A 1/50 dilution of One Stroke Ves-Phene was the least effective virucide tested since it did not significantly inactivate coxsackievirus B5 in 30 s.

The relative effectiveness of commonly used disinfectants in inactivation of echovirus 11.

Echovirus 11 in the presence of fetal calf serum was exposed to six commonly used disinfectants for times of 10, 20 and 30 s. At the end of such exposure times, skim milk neutralized disinfectant activity and residual virus was assayed using the plaque technique. The six disinfectants studied were Javex, sodium hydroxide, ethanol, Wescodyne, One Stroke Ves-Phene, and Sonacide. Although 0.25% (w/v) sodium hydroxide and 95% (v/v) ethanol were equally virucidal and significantly more so than the other four disinfectants, causing 10(6) reduction in 20 s, they may not be practical to use in many instances. Javex at a dilution of 1/50 (1200 parts/10(6) chlorine) proved to be virucidal causing 10(3.5) reduction of echovirus 11 in 30 s. Wescodyne (1/50) and undiluted Sonacide were relatively ineffective causing 10 reduction or less of echovirus 11 in 30 s. One Stroke Ves-Phene (1/50) was ineffective causing no significant inactivation in 30 s.

Wescodyne: lack of activity against poliovirus in the presence of organic matter.

The National Institute of Health Guidelines for Recombinant DNA Research recommends 2% aqueous Wescodyne, an iodophore that is used in many hospitals and laboratories as a disinfectant, as a decontaminant for biological safety cabinets and 5% for a spill outside a cabinet. A contact time of 10 to 15 minutes was given for the 2% solution and 20 minutes was considered adequate for the 5% concentration. The results indicate: 1. Aqueous Wescodyne (5%) is ineffective when used for 80 minutes against poliovirus in a test mixture containing 8.5% bovine serum albumin (a mixture equivalent in protein concentration to the higher range in serum). 2. Wescodyne (10%) employed under the same conditions for 40 minutes is also ineffective. 3. Wescodyne (10% v/v) in 50% ethanol (w/w) was effective and this mixture, originally recommended for hand washing, should be considered for use in biohazard situations, particularly for decontamination of work surfaces and biological safety cabinets. These results are of significance for if a virucide cannot inactivate poliovirus one would be concerned about using the virucide against hepatitis B or SV40 viruses.

1-Adamantanamine hydrochloride: inhibition of Rous and Esh Sarcoma viruses in cell culture.

I-Adamantanamine hydrochloride, added to chick embryo cells, inhibited focus production upon subsequent inoculation of the cells with Rous and Esh sarcoma viruses. Addition of the chemical to suspensions of Rous and Esh viruses before they were added to chick cell cultures did not inactivate the viruses; and the addition to chick cells did not prevent plaque formation following their inoculation with Newcastle disease virus. This indicates that cells treated with 1-adamantanamine hydrochloride are capable of supporting viral replication, and these observations suggest that the drug inhibits growth of two oncogenic viruses by prevention of virus penetration, but not by a virucidal effect or cell intoxication.