title: Inactivation of bacterial and viral biothreat agents on metallic copper surfaces.
abstract: In recent years several studies in laboratory settings and in hospital environments have demonstrated that surfaces of massive metallic copper have intrinsic antibacterial and antiviral properties. Microbes are rapidly inactivated by a quick, sharp shock known as contact killing. The underlying mechanism is not yet fully understood; however, in this process the cytoplasmic membrane is severely damaged. Pathogenic bacterial and viral high-consequence species able to evade the host immune system are among the most serious lethal microbial challenges to human health. Here, we investigated contact-killing mediated by copper surfaces of Gram-negative bacteria (Brucella melitensis, Burkholderia mallei, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Francisella tularensis tularensis and Yersinia pestis) and of Gram-positive endospore-forming Bacillus anthracis. Additionally, we also tested inactivation of monkeypox virus and vaccinia virus on copper. This group of pathogens comprises biothreat species (or their close relatives) classified by the Center for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) as microbial select agents posing severe threats to public health and having the potential to be deliberately released. All agents were rapidly inactivated on copper between 30 s and 5 min with the exception of B. anthracis endospores. For vegetative bacterial cells prolonged contact to metallic copper resulted in the destruction of cell structure.
authors.affiliation: Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bleichert
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Espírito Santo
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanczaruk
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grass
mesh_terms: D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D001433:Bacteriolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D023482:Bioterrorism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D008993:Monkeypox virus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000187:drug effects*; D014774:Virulence; D038301:Virus Inactivation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper