title: Exposure of RML scrapie agent to a sodium percarbonate-based product and sodium dodecyl sulfate renders PrPSc protease sensitive but does not eliminate infectivity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prions, the causative agents of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, are notoriously difficult to inactivate. Current decontamination recommendations by the World Health Organization include prolonged exposure to 1 N sodium hydroxide or > 20,000 ppm sodium hypochlorite, or autoclaving. For decontamination of large stainless steel surfaces and equipment as in abattoirs, for example, these methods are harsh or unsuitable. The current study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a commercial product containing sodium percarbonate to inactivate prions. Samples of mouse brain infected with a mouse-adapted strain of the scrapie agent (RML) were exposed to a sodium percarbonate-based product (SPC-P). Treated samples were evaluated for abnormal prion protein (PrPSc)-immunoreactivity by western blot analysis, and residual infectivity by mouse bioassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure to a 21% solution of SPC-P or a solution containing either 2.1% or 21% SPC-P in combination with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) resulted in increased proteinase K sensitivity of PrPSc. Limited reductions in infectivity were observed depending on treatment condition. A marginal effect on infectivity was observed with SPC-P alone, but an approximate 2-3 log10 reduction was observed with the addition of SDS, though exposure to SDS alone resulted in an approximate 2 log10 reduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that exposure of a mouse-adapted scrapie strain to SPC-P does not eliminate infectivity, but does render PrPSc protease sensitive.
authors: Virus and Prion Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, 1920 Dayton Ave, Ames, IA 50010, USA.
authors: Jodi D
authors: JD
authors: Smith
authors: Eric M
authors: EM
authors: Nicholson
authors: Gregory H
authors: GH
authors: Foster
authors: Justin J
authors: JJ
authors: Greenlee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002254:Carbonates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012608:Scrapie / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002254:Carbonates; D018620:PrPSc Proteins; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; C034738:sodium percarbonate