title: Virucidal effect of cold atmospheric gaseous plasma on feline calicivirus, a surrogate for human norovirus.
abstract: Minimal food-processing methods are not effective against foodborne viruses, such as human norovirus (NV). It is important, therefore, to explore novel nonthermal technologies for decontamination of foods eaten fresh, minimally processed and ready-to-eat foods, and food contact surfaces. We studied the in vitro virucidal activity of cold atmospheric gaseous plasma (CGP) against feline calicivirus (FCV), a surrogate of NV. Factors affecting the virucidal activity of CGP (a so-called radio frequency atmospheric pressure plasma jet) were the plasma generation power, the exposure time and distance, the plasma feed gas mixture, and the virus suspension medium. Exposure to 2.5-W argon (Ar) plasma caused a 5.55 log10 unit reduction in the FCV titer within 120 s. The reduction in the virus titer increased with increasing exposure time and decreasing exposure distance. Of the four plasma gas mixtures studied (Ar, Ar plus 1% O2, Ar plus 1% dry air, and Ar plus 0.27% water), Ar plus 1% O2 plasma treatment had the highest virucidal effect: more than 6.0 log10 units of the virus after 15 s of exposure. The lowest virus reduction was observed with Ar plus 0.27% water plasma treatment (5 log10 unit reduction after 120 s). The highest reduction in titer was observed when the virus was suspended in distilled water. Changes in temperature and pH and formation of H2O2 were not responsible for the virucidal effect of plasma. The oxidation of viral capsid proteins by plasma-produced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in the solution was thought to be responsible for the virucidal effect. In conclusion, CGP exhibits virucidal activity in vitro and has the potential to combat viral contamination in foods and on food preparation surfaces.
authors: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA Food Science and Technology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, El-Shatby, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: Hamada A
authors: HA
authors: Aboubakr
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Williams
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors: Urvashi
authors: U
authors: Gangal
authors: Food Science and Technology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, El-Shatby, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: Mohammed M
authors: MM
authors: Youssef
authors: Department of Food Biotechnology, Arid Land Cultivation and Development Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: Sobhy A A
authors: SA
authors: El-Sohaimy
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Bruggeman
authors: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA goyal001@umn.edu.
authors: Sagar M
authors: SM
authors: Goyal
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001128:Argon / Q000494:pharmacology; D017927:Calicivirus, Feline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D058626:Plasma Gases; D001128:Argon; D010100:Oxygen