Strong alkaline electrolyzed water efficiently inactivates SARS-CoV-2, other viruses, and Gram-negative bacteria.

Air spaces and material surfaces in a pathogen-contaminated environment can often be a source of infection to humans, and disinfection has become a common intervention focused on reducing the contamination levels. In this study, we examined the efficacy of SAIW, a unique electrolyzed water with chlorine-free, high pH, high concentration of dissolved hydrogen, and low oxygen reduction potential, for the inactivation of several viruses and bacteria. Infectivity assays revealed that initial viral titers of enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza A virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, human coronavirus, feline calicivirus, and canine parvovirus, were reduced by 2.9- to 5.5-log10 within 30 s of SAIW exposure. Similarly, the culturability of three Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Legionella) dropped down by 1.9- to 4.9-log10 within 30 s of SAIW treatment. Mechanistically, treatment with SAIW was found to significantly decrease the binding and subsequent entry efficiencies of SARS-CoV-2 on Vero cells. Finally, we showed that this chlorine-free electrolytic ion water had no acute inhalation toxicity in mice, demonstrating that SAIW holds promise for a safer antiviral and antibacterial disinfectant.

Naturally-occurring right terminal hairpin mutations in three genotypes of canine parvovirus (CPV-2a, CPV-2b and CPV-2c) have no effect on their growth characteristics.

We have isolated 4 naturally-occurring strains of CPV in mainland China and have identified them as CPV-2, 2a, 2b and 2c genotypes according to their VP2 sequences which also revealed substitutions within their right terminal regions. To determine if these substitutions affected the growth characteristics of the 4 strains, we constructed plasmids based on their genomic sequences minus their right terminal sequences, with the latter replaced by a single right terminal region. Analysis of rescued recombinants showed that the substitutions within their natural right termini had no significant effect on their growth characteristics.

Tissue distribution of the antigenic variants of canine parvovirus type 2 in dogs.

Twelve dogs dead as consequence of natural infection caused by canine parvovirus (CPV) type 2a (n=4), type 2b (n=4) or type 2c (n=4) were investigated for determining the viral DNA loads in different tissue samples. By means of a real-time PCR assay, CPV DNA was detected in all tissues examined, with the highest titres observed in the lymphoid tissue and the lowest loads in the urinary tract. Surprisingly, the nervous tissue was found to contain considerable amounts of CPV nucleic acid. Similar patterns of tissue distribution were observed in all the examined dogs irrespective of the antigenic variant causing the disease.

Growth characteristics of canine pathogenic viruses in MDCK cells cultured in RPMI 1640 medium without animal protein.

Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were adapted to serum-free RPMI 1640 medium and used for cultivation of canine viruses. RPMI 1640 medium was supplemented with a soybean peptone, L-glutamine and antibiotics, so that the protein concentration was less than 5 microg/ml (RPMI/SP medium). The resulting adapted MDCK-SP cells showed steady growth after the twenty-eighth passage in RPMI/SP medium (MDCK-SP cell culture). Canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, canine adenoviruses and canine parainfluenza virus, which are the principal components of canine combined virus vaccines, grew in the MDCK-SP cell culture as efficiently as the parental MDCK cells cultured in the conventional Eagle's MEM containing fetal bovine serum. Consequently, the use of MDCK-SP cell culture can make current canine vaccine products much safer, of higher quality and at lower cost.

Effect of early enteral nutrition on intestinal permeability, intestinal protein loss, and outcome in dogs with severe parvoviral enteritis.

A randomized, controlled clinical trial investigated the effect of early enteral nutrition (EN) on intestinal permeability, intestinal protein loss, and outcome in parvoviral enteritis. Dogs were randomized into 2 groups: 15 dogs received no food until vomiting had ceased for 12 hours (mean 50 hours after admission; NPO group), and 15 dogs received early EN by nasoesophageal tube from 12 hours after admission (EEN group). All other treatments were identical. Intestinal permeability was assessed by 6-hour urinary lactulose (L) and rhamnose (R) recoveries (%L, %R) and L/R recovery ratios. Intestinal protein loss was quantified by fecal alpha1-proteinase inhibitor concentrations (alpha1-PI). Median time to normalization of demeanor, appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea was 1 day shorter for the EEN group for each variable. Body weight increased insignificantly from admission in the NPO group (day 3: 2.5 +/- 2.8%; day 6: 4.3 +/- 2.3%; mean +/- SE), whereas the EEN group exhibited significant weight gain (day 3: 8.1 +/- 2.7%; day 6: 9.7 +/- 2.1%). Mean urinary %L was increased, %R reduced, and L/R recovery ratios increased compared to reference values throughout the study for both groups. Percent lactulose recovery decreased in the EEN group (admission: 22.6 +/- 8.0%; day 6: 17.9 +/- 2.3%) and increased in the NPO group (admission: 11.0 +/- 2.6%; day 6: 22.5 +/- 4.6%, P = .035). Fecal alpha1-PI was above reference values in both groups and declined progressively. No significant differences occurred for %R, L/R ratios, or alpha1-PI between groups. Thirteen NPO dogs and all EEN dogs survived (P = .48). The EEN group showed earlier clinical improvement and significant weight gain. The significantly decreased %L in the EEN versus NPO group might reflect improved gut barrier function, which could limit bacterial or endotoxin translocation.

Evolutionary dynamics of viral attenuation.

The genetic trajectory leading to viral attenuation was studied in a canine parvovirus (CPV) strain grown on dog kidney cells for 115 transfers. Consensus sequences of viral populations at passages 0, 3, 30, 50, 80, and 115 were obtained from PCR products covering 86% of the genome; clones from each of the 80th and 115th passages were also sequenced, covering 69% of the genome. Sixteen changes were fixed in the 115th-passage virus sample. Levels of polymorphism were strikingly different over time, in part because of a plaque-cloning step at passage 112 that reduced variation: passage 80 had 19 variants common among the clones, but passage 115 had only a single common variant. Several mutations increased in the culture at the same time, with most reaching fixation only after the 80th passage. The pattern of evolution was consistent with recombination and not with separate selective sweeps of individual mutations. Thirteen of the changes observed were identical to or at the same positions as changes observed in other isolates of CPV or feline panleukopenia virus.

Virucidal efficacy of the newer quaternary ammonium compounds.

The virucidal activity of several disinfectants containing newer generation quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) as their active ingredients was evaluated. Disinfectants were used at the manufacturers' recommended dilutions with isolates of feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, and canine parvovirus, and a contact time of 10 minutes at room temperature. Detoxification of virus/disinfectant solutions was done by dialysis prior to virus assay in cell cultures. Two of four disinfectants completely inactivated feline herpesvirus, and two significantly reduced the titer of this virus. None of the disinfectants that were tested completely inactivated feline calicivirus. Canine parvovirus was not inactivated significantly by any of the QAC disinfectants. Sodium hypochlorite completely inactivated all viruses.

Single-stranded DNA-protein interactions in canine parvovirus.

BACKGROUND: Parvoviruses are small icosahedral single-stranded (ss) DNA viruses which replicate in rapidly proliferating cells, causing a variety of serious and often lethal diseases in mammals, including humans. The structure of canine parvovirus (CPV) showed an 11-nucleotide oligomeric fragment of its genome bound to 60 equivalent binding sites on the inside surface of the capsid. This provides an opportunity to study the conformation of ssDNA, its interactions with protein, and its role in viral assembly. RESULTS: The icosahedrally ordered part of CPV ssDNA has an unusual loop conformation with the bases pointing outwards and the phosphates surrounding metal ions on the inside. The protein interacts with the bases, making 15 putative hydrogen bonds. The DNA electron density indicates preferences for particular base types in parts of the binding site. Statistical analysis of the genome yields approximately 30 regions with sequences similar to that observed in the structure, demonstrating a low level of sequence specificity for binding to capsid protein. CONCLUSIONS: ssDNA can adopt unusual conformations upon association with protein by using phosphoribose backbone rotamers that are found in tRNA, but not in DNA duplexes. The CPV DNA-protein interactions differ from the non-specific backbone interactions seen in some plant and insect viruses. The sequence specificity, albeit low level, of the protein for CPV DNA may contribute both to distinguishing the viral DNA from other nucleic acids and to the DNA packaging process during viral assembly.

Mapping of determinants of the host range for canine cells in the genome of canine parvovirus using canine parvovirus/mink enteritis virus chimeric viruses.

Feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV), mink enteritis virus (MEV) and canine parvovirus (CPV) are more than 98% similar in DNA and predicted amino acid sequences, but they show different host-cell specificities; CPV is able to replicate in canine cells in culture, whereas FPLV and MEV cannot or replicate only to a low titre. To map the genomic region responsible for the host range of CPV in vitro, CPV/MEV chimeric viruses were generated by transfecting infectious CPV/MEV chimeric plasmids into a cultured feline kidney cell line, and their host cell ranges were analysed. The 60 to 91 map units (m.u.) region of the CPV genome, which contains a part of the capsid protein (VP) gene encoding from amino acid 91 (in the VP2 sequence) to the carboxy terminus of VP protein, was required to impart the ability to replicate in canine cells to MEV, although the chimeric virus containing the 60 to 91 m.u. region of the CPV genome in the MEV background did not replicate in canine cells as efficiently as did CPV derived from the infectious plasmid of CPV. Not only the VP gene, but also a part of the NS gene of CPV were considered to participate in the full expression of the ability to replicate in canine cells. Within the 60 to 91 m.u. region, five of nine amino acid changes between MEV-Abashiri and CPV-Y1 were thought to be phylogenetically CPV-common; however, a recombinant virus containing all five amino acid changes of CPV in the MEV background replicated minimally in canine cells.

Characterization of the feline host range and a specific epitope of feline panleukopenia virus.

The feline parvovirus subgroup is comprised of viruses isolated from various carnivores, including the dog, cat, mink, raccoon, Arctic fox, and raccoon dog. Those viruses are > 98% identical in their DNA sequences and are very similar antigenically. We have shown that although canine parvovirus (CPV) replicates in numerous feline cell lines in vitro it does not infect cats after parenteral inoculation (U. Truyen and C. R. Parrish, (1992) J. Virol. 66, 5399-5408). Here we use recombination mapping to locate some viral determinants required for feline host range, and show that the ability to replicate in cats was determined by the right-hand 45% of the genome, most likely a function of the capsid protein gene. Efficient replication in the cat appeared to require feline panleukopenia virus sequences from both ends of the VP2 molecule, which contained differences of VP2 amino acid residues 80, 564, and 568. The difference at amino acid 80 was also associated with expression of an FPV-specific antigenic epitope. The differences which affected the feline host range were located in a region of the capsid structure where three VP2 molecules interact, and the mutations gave rise to changes in the conformation of loops of the three adjoining VP2 monomers. The mechanism(s) of the in vivo feline host range restriction were not defined, and we were unable to show in vitro inhibition of virus infectivity by feline serum components or erythrocytes.

Antigenic and genomic variabilities among recently prevalent parvoviruses of canine and feline origin in Japan.

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) and feline panleukopenia (FLP) virus (FPLV) are well known and ubiquitous diarrhea-causing pantropic viruses. A "new" antigenic variant of CPV-2 (designated as CPV-2a) has been also prevalent among dogs in Japan. In the present study, 24 canine and 8 feline isolates collected during 1987-1991 were compared with 17 CPV-2 or CPV-2a and 7 FPLV strains that had been characterized previously. Genomic properties were determined by the restriction cleavage patterns of amplified genes encoding the capsid proteins VP1 and VP2 by the polymerase chain reaction. Antigenic properties were determined by hemagglutination-inhibition assay with monoclonal antibodies against an FPLV strain. Growth characteristics in feline CRFK and canine MDCK cells were also examined. Genomic and antigenic properties of the canine isolates were relatively invariable with one exceptional isolate, C27, which was recovered from a typical clinical case of parvovirus infection but possessed properties similar to FPLV rather than CPV-2 and CPV-2a. All isolates from FPL cases possessed the same genomic and antigenic properties as those of reference FPLVs isolated in the 1970s, but three of five strains isolated from the feces of clinically healthy cats were likely to be of canine origin because they possessed very similar properties to CPV-2a. Although species-specificity of these novel isolates could not be determined definitely, the results indicate a possibility that transmission of parvovirus has occurred between these two animal species.