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Lighting a better future: the virucidal effects of 405 nm visible light on SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus

Raveen Rathnasinghe, Sonia Jangra, Lisa Miorin, Michael Schotsasert, Clifford Yahnke, Adolfo Garcίa-Sastre
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.14.435337
Raveen Rathnasinghe
1Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
2Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
3Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Sonia Jangra
1Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
2Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Lisa Miorin
1Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
2Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Michael Schotsasert
1Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
2Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Clifford Yahnke
6Kenall Manufacturing, Kenosha, WI 53144
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  • For correspondence: cliff.yahnke@kenall.com adolfo.garcia-sastre@mssm.edu
Adolfo Garcίa-Sastre
1Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
2Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
4Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
5The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
1Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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  • For correspondence: cliff.yahnke@kenall.com adolfo.garcia-sastre@mssm.edu
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Abstract

Germicidal potential of specific wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum is an area of growing interest. While ultra-violet (UV) based technologies have shown satisfactory virucidal potential, the photo-toxicity in humans coupled with UV associated polymer degradation limit its use in occupied spaces. Alternatively, longer wavelengths with less irradiation energy such as visible light (405 nm) have largely been explored in the context of bactericidal and fungicidal applications. Such studies indicated that 405 nm mediated inactivation is caused by the absorbance of porphyrins within the organism creating reactive oxygen species which result in free radical damage to its DNA and disruption of cellular functions. The virucidal potential of visible-light based technologies has been largely unexplored and speculated to be not effective given the lack of porphyrins in viruses. The current study demonstrated increased susceptibility of lipid-enveloped respiratory pathogens of importance such as SARS-CoV-2 (causative agent of COVID-19) as well as the influenza A virus to 405nm, visible light in the absence of exogenous photosensitizers, indicating a potential porphyrin-independent alternative mechanism of visible light mediated viral inactivation. Given that visible light is generally safe to humans, our results support further exploration of the use of visible light technology for the application of continuous decontamination in areas within hospitals and/or infectious disease laboratories, specifically for the inactivation of respiratory pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A.

Competing Interest Statement

The Garcia-Sastre Laboratory has received research support from Pfizer, Senhwa Biosciences, 7Hills Pharma, Avimex, Blade Therapeutics, Dynavax, ImmunityBio, Nanocomposix and Kenall Manufacturing. Adolfo Garcia-Sastre has consulting agreements for the following companies involving cash and/or stock: Vivaldi Biosciences, Pagoda, Contrafect, 7Hills Pharma, Avimex, Vaxalto, Accurius, Pfizer and Esperovax. RR, CY and AGS have filed for a provisional patent based upon these results. CY is the Head of Clinical Affairs for Kenall Manufacturing

Footnotes

  • Textual edits for improved clarity. Submitted for peer-review on 25-Mar-20

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The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.
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Posted April 20, 2021.
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Lighting a better future: the virucidal effects of 405 nm visible light on SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus
Raveen Rathnasinghe, Sonia Jangra, Lisa Miorin, Michael Schotsasert, Clifford Yahnke, Adolfo Garcίa-Sastre
bioRxiv 2021.03.14.435337; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.14.435337
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Lighting a better future: the virucidal effects of 405 nm visible light on SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus
Raveen Rathnasinghe, Sonia Jangra, Lisa Miorin, Michael Schotsasert, Clifford Yahnke, Adolfo Garcίa-Sastre
bioRxiv 2021.03.14.435337; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.14.435337

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