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 infec

SUBMITTER: Siddharta A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5114683 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature