Inactivation of filter bound aerosolized MS2 bacteriophages using a non-conductive ultrasound transducer

Michael Versoza; Wonseok Jung; Mona Loraine Barabad; Yongil Lee; Kyomin Choi; Duckshin Park

doi:10.1016/j.jviromet.2018.02.015

Inactivation of filter bound aerosolized MS2 bacteriophages using a non-conductive ultrasound transducer

J Virol Methods. 2018 May:255:76-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2018.02.015. Epub 2018 Feb 21.

Authors

Michael Versoza¹, Wonseok Jung², Mona Loraine Barabad¹, Yongil Lee², Kyomin Choi², Duckshin Park³

Affiliations

¹ Transportation Environmental Research Team, Korea Railroad Research Institute, Uiwang City, South Korea; Railway System Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon City, South Korea.
² Transportation Environmental Research Team, Korea Railroad Research Institute, Uiwang City, South Korea; Mechanical Engineering Department, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea.
³ Transportation Environmental Research Team, Korea Railroad Research Institute, Uiwang City, South Korea; Railway System Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon City, South Korea. Electronic address: dspark@krri.re.kr.

PMID: 29474812
DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2018.02.015

Abstract

The inactivation of viruses that retain their infectivity when transmitted through the air is challenging. To address this issue, this study used a non-contact ultrasound transducer (NCUT) to generate shock waves in the air at specific distances, input voltages, and exposure durations, targeting bacteriophage virus aerosols captured on to H14 HEPA filters. Initially, a frequency of 27.56 kHz (50V) at 25-mm distance was used, which yielded an inactivation efficiency of up to 32.69 ± 12.10%. Other frequencies at shorter distances were investigated, where 29.10 kHz had the highest inactivation efficiency (up to 81.95 ± 9.79% at 8.5-mm distance and 100 V). Longer exposure times also influenced virus inactivation, but the results were inconclusive because the NCUT overheated with time. Overall, NCUT appears to be a promising method for inactivating virus aerosols that may be safer than other forms of inactivation, which can cause genetic mutations or produce dangerous by-products.

Keywords: Non-contact ultrasound transducer; Virus aerosols; Virus inactivation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aerosols
Disinfection / methods*
Levivirus / radiation effects*
Ultrasonic Waves*
Virus Inactivation / radiation effects*

Substances

Aerosols