title: Inactivation of HCV and HIV by microwave: a novel approach for prevention of virus transmission among people who inject drugs.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) transmissions among people who inject drugs (PWID) continue to pose a challenging global health problem. Here, we aimed to analyse a universally applicable inactivation procedure, namely microwave irradiation, as a safe and effective method to reduce the risk of viral transmission. The exposure of HCV from different genotypes to microwave irradiation resulted in a significant reduction of viral infectivity. Furthermore, microwave irradiation reduced viral infectivity of HIV-1 and of HCV/HIV-1 suspensions indicating that this inactivation may be effective at preventing co-infections. To translate microwave irradiation as prevention method to used drug preparation equipment, we could further show that HCV as well as HIV-1 infectivity could be abrogated in syringes and filters. This study demonstrates the power of microwave irradiation for the reduction of viral transmission and establishment of this safety strategy could help reduce the transmission of blood-borne viruses.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Anindya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siddharta
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pfaender
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malassa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doerrbecker
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Hannover, Germany.
authors.lastname: Anggakusuma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Engelmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Boya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nugraha
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Todt
authors.affiliation: ReMediES, Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Hannover Medical School, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian W R
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Vondran
authors.affiliation: National Development Research Institutes, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mateu-Gelabert
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goffinet
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Eike
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steinmann
mesh_terms: D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008872:Microwaves; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*