title: Mechanisms of methods for hepatitis C virus inactivation.
abstract: Virus inactivation by chemical disinfectants is an important instrument for infection control in medical settings, but the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. In this study, we systematically investigated the effects of several antiviral treatments on hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles as model for enveloped viruses. Studies were performed with authentic cell culture-derived viruses, and the influence of chemical disinfectants, heat, and UV treatment on HCV was analyzed by the determination of infectious particles in a limiting-dilution assay, by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, by core enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and by proteolytic protection assay. All different inactivation methods resulted in a loss of HCV infectivity by targeting different parts of the virus particle. Alcohols such as ethanol and 2-propanol did not affect the viral RNA genome integrity but disrupted the viral envelope membrane in a capsid protection assay. Heat and UV treatment of HCV particles resulted in direct damage of the viral genome since transfection of viral particle-associated RNA into permissive cells did not initiate RNA replication. In addition, heat incubation at 80°C disrupted the HCV envelope, rendering the viral capsid susceptible to proteolytic digest. This study demonstrated the molecular processes of viral inactivation of an enveloped virus and should facilitate the development of effective disinfection strategies in infection control not only against HCV but also against other enveloped viruses.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hanover, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pfaender
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hanover, Germany.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brinkmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hanover, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Todt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hanover, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Riebesehl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinmann
authors.affiliation: Dr. Brill and Partner, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hanover, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pietschmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hanover, Germany eike.steinmann@twincore.de.
authors.forename: Eike
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steinmann
mesh_terms: D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013696:Temperature; D014162:Transfection; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D038301:Virus Inactivation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants