RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Lighting a better future: the virucidal effects of 405 nm visible light on SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.03.14.435337
DO 10.1101/2021.03.14.435337
A1 Raveen Rathnasinghe
A1 Sonia Jangra
A1 Lisa Miorin
A1 Michael Schotsasert
A1 Clifford Yahnke
A1 Adolfo Garcίa-Sastre
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/04/20/2021.03.14.435337.abstract
AB 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 StatementThe 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