Key result
Relative humidity below 50% rapidly inactivates aerosolized encephalomyocarditis virus, driven by virion dehydration.
Why the study?
The mechanisms and factors influencing the rapid inactivation of Encephalomyocarditis virus in aerosols at varying relative humidities were not fully understood.
Dehydration mediates EMCV aerosol inactivation below 50% RH; leaves open applicability to other viruses or infection control.
Encephalomyocarditis virus in aerosols is inactivated rapidly at relative humidities below 50%. In glycerol-water mixtures a similar decrease of infectivity occurs when the glycerol concentration exceeds 78% (wt/wt), corresponding to a relative humidity of 50%. The decay in aerosols does not involve oxygen or surface-dependent factors. Variation of temperature shows the inactivation to be a low-energy process with an activation enthalpy of 15 kcal per mol. The damage could be ascribed to dehydration of the virion, presumably proceeding to removal of structurally essential water molecules. This might trigger irreversible changes in the protein coat, resulting in disintegration of the virion.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Jong et al. (1975) studied Encephalomyocarditis virus. Relative humidity below 50% was evaluated on Virus inactivation. Encephalomyocarditis virus in aerosols is rapidly inactivated at relative humidities below 50%, a low-energy process likely driven by virion dehydration and protein coat disintegration.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: