Human Coronavirus 229E Remains Infectious on Common Touch Surface Materials

ABSTRACTThe evolution of new and reemerging historic virulent strains of respiratory viruses from animal reservoirs is a significant threat to human health. Inefficient human-to-human transmission of zoonotic strains may initially limit the spread of transmission, but an infection may be contracted by touching contaminated surfaces. Enveloped viruses are often susceptible to environmental stresses, but the human coronaviruses responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) have recently caused increasing concern of contact transmission during outbreaks. We report here that pathogenic human coronavirus 229E remained infectious in a human lung cell culture model following at least 5 days of persistence on a range of common nonbiocidal surface materials, including polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon; PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ceramic tiles, glass, silicone rubber, and stainless steel. We have shown previously that noroviruses are destroyed on copper alloy surfaces. In this new study, human coronavirus 229E was rapidly inactivated on a range of copper alloys (within a few minutes for simulated fingertip contamination) and Cu/Zn brasses were very effective at lower copper concentration. Exposure to copper destroyed the viral genomes and irreversibly affected virus morphology, including disintegration of envelope and dispersal of surface spikes. Cu(I) and Cu(II) moieties were responsible for the inactivation, which was enhanced by reactive oxygen species generation on alloy surfaces, resulting in even faster inactivation than was seen with nonenveloped viruses on copper. Consequently, copper alloy surfaces could be employed in communal areas and at any mass gatherings to help reduce transmission of respiratory viruses from contaminated surfaces and protect the public health.IMPORTANCERespiratory viruses are responsible for more deaths globally than any other infectious agent. Animal coronaviruses that “host jump” to humans result in severe infections with high mortality, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and, more recently, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). We show here that a closely related human coronavirus, 229E, which causes upper respiratory tract infection in healthy individuals and serious disease in patients with comorbidities, remained infectious on surface materials common to public and domestic areas for several days. The low infectious dose means that this is a significant infection risk to anyone touching a contaminated surface. However, rapid inactivation, irreversible destruction of viral RNA, and massive structural damage were observed in coronavirus exposed to copper and copper alloy surfaces. Incorporation of copper alloy surfaces in conjunction with effective cleaning regimens and good clinical practice could help to control transmission of respiratory coronaviruses, including MERS and SARS.

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Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus NS4b Protein Inhibits Host RNase L Activation

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.00258-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

Joshua M. Thornbrough ◽

Babal K. Jha ◽

Boyd Yount ◽

Stephen A. Goldstein ◽

Yize Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Innate Immunity ◽

Middle East ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Therapeutic Intervention ◽

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Accessory Proteins ◽

Rnase L ◽

Human Coronavirus ◽

Highly Pathogenic ◽

Ns4b Protein

ABSTRACTMiddle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is the first highly pathogenic human coronavirus to emerge since severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2002. Like many coronaviruses, MERS-CoV carries genes that encode multiple accessory proteins that are not required for replication of the genome but are likely involved in pathogenesis. Evasion of host innate immunity through interferon (IFN) antagonism is a critical component of viral pathogenesis. The IFN-inducible oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS)-RNase L pathway activates upon sensing of viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Activated RNase L cleaves viral and host single-stranded RNA (ssRNA), which leads to translational arrest and subsequent cell death, preventing viral replication and spread. Here we report that MERS-CoV, a lineage CBetacoronavirus, and related bat CoV NS4b accessory proteins have phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity and antagonize OAS-RNase L by enzymatically degrading 2′,5′-oligoadenylate (2-5A), activators of RNase L. This is a novel function for NS4b, which has previously been reported to antagonize IFN signaling. NS4b proteins are distinct from lineage ABetacoronavirusPDEs and rotavirus gene-encoded PDEs, in having an amino-terminal nuclear localization signal (NLS) and are localized mostly to the nucleus. However, the expression level of cytoplasmic MERS-CoV NS4b protein is sufficient to prevent activation of RNase L. Finally, this is the first report of an RNase L antagonist expressed by a human or bat coronavirus and provides a specific mechanism by which this occurs. Our findings provide a potential mechanism for evasion of innate immunity by MERS-CoV while also identifying a potential target for therapeutic intervention.IMPORTANCEMiddle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is the first highly pathogenic human coronavirus to emerge since severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). MERS-CoV, like other coronaviruses, carries genes that encode accessory proteins that antagonize the host antiviral response, often the type I interferon response, and contribute to virulence. We found that MERS-CoV NS4b and homologs from related lineage C bat betacoronaviruses BtCoV-SC2013 (SC2013) and BtCoV-HKU5 (HKU5) are members of the 2H-phosphoesterase (2H-PE) enzyme family with phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity. Like murine coronavirus NS2, a previously characterized PDE, MERS NS4b, can antagonize activation of the OAS-RNase L pathway, an interferon-induced potent antiviral activity. Furthermore, MERS-CoV mutants with deletion of genes encoding accessory proteins NS3 to NS5 or NS4b alone or inactivation of the PDE can activate RNase L during infection of Calu-3 cells. Our report may offer a potential target for therapeutic intervention if NS4b proves to be critical to pathogenesis inin vivomodels of MERS-CoV infection.

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Human Coronavirus Infections—Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and SARS-CoV-2

Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences ◽

10.1016/b978-0-12-801238-3.11634-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

David S. Hui ◽

Esam I. Azhar ◽

Ziad A. Memish ◽

Alimuddin Zumla

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Human Coronavirus ◽

Coronavirus Infections

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Does the novel coronavirus 2019 like heart more than the other family members of coronaviruses?

Journal of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Research ◽

10.34172/jcvtr.2020.27 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 156-157

Author(s):

Mohammad Mostafa Ansari Ramandi ◽

Mohammadreza Baay ◽

Nasim Naderi

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Family Members ◽

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽

The Other ◽

The Novel ◽

The World ◽

Future Challenges ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Coronavirus Infections

The disaster due to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) around the world has made investigators enthusiastic about working on different aspects of COVID-19. However, although the pandemic of COVID-19 has not yet ended, it seems that COVID-19 compared to the other coronavirus infections (the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [MERS] and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome [SARS]) is more likely to target the heart. Comparing the previous presentations of the coronavirus family and the recent cardiovascular manifestations of COVID-19 can also help in predicting possible future challenges and taking measures to tackle these issues.

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Penanggulangan Virus Covid – 19 melalui Penyaluran Handsanitizer dan Sabun Cuci Tangan Alami serta Penyemprotan Disenfektan di desa Ngale, Kecamatan Pilangkenceng, Kabupaten Madiun

Batoboh ◽

10.26887/bt.v6i1.1392 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 10

Author(s):

Reza Kusuma Setyansah

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Sars Coronavirus

Coronavirus merupakan keluarga besar virus yang menyebabkan penyakit pada manusia, biasanya menyebabkan penyakit infeksi saluran pernapasan, mulai flu biasa hingga penyakit yang serius seperti Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) dan Sindrom Pernafasan Akut Berat/ Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Coronavirus jenis baru yang ditemukan pada manusia sejak kejadian luar biasa muncul di Wuhan Cina, pada Desember 2019, kemudian diberi nama Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV2), dan menyebabkan penyakit Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). Salah satu cara gampang melakukan pencegahan terhadap penyebaran virus ini adalah dengan menggunakan Handsanitizer alami. Menurut Organisasi Kesehatan Dunia (WHO), Handsanitizer alami harus mengandung setidaknya 60% alkohol untuk bekerja secara efektif. Selain handsanitizer, dengan melalukan metode penyemprotan disenfektan menggunakan cairan disenfektan. Disenfektan merupakan bahan kimia yang berguna untuk mencegah pertumbuhan bakteri ataupun jasad renik pada permukaan benda mati. Pelaksanaan pengabdian kepada masyarakat mengadakan penyaluran handsanitizer dan sabun cuci tangan alami serta penyemprotan disenfektan di desa Ngale sebagai upaya pencegahan Covid-19. Metode dalam pelaksanaan kegiatan ini yaitu wawancara dan diskusi bersama kepala desa Ngale. Kegiatan ini diharapkan mampu menumbuhkan kesadaran pada masyarakat akan pentingnya menjaga kebersihan, salah satunya menjaga kebersihan tangan serta dapat memutus mata rantai penyebaran Covid-19 di desa Ngale Kec Pilangkenceng Kab Madiun.

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COVID-19: Need of the hour to revisit asymptomatic prevalence of coronavirus pandemic

Borneo Epidemiology Journal ◽

10.51200/bej.v1i1.2429 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Richard Avoi ◽

Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim ◽

Mohammad Saffree Jeffree ◽

Visweswara Rao Pasupuleti

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Control Measures ◽

Case Detection ◽

Viral Loads ◽

Early Stages ◽

Exponential Increase ◽

Asymptomatic Patients

Since the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic unfolded in China (Huang et al., 2020) back in December 2019, thus far, more than five million people were infected with the virus and 333,401 death were recorded worldwide (WHO, 2020b). The exponential increase in number shows that COVID-19 spreads faster compared to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). A study (Zou et al., 2020) has shown that high viral loads of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are detected in symptomatic patients soon after the onset of symptoms, wherein the load content is higher in their nose than in their throat. Furthermore, the same study has revealed similar viral loads between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Therefore, these findings may suggest the possibility of COVID-19 transmission earlier before the onset of symptoms itself. In the early stages of the pandemic, the control measures carried out have focused on screening of symptomatic person; at the time, the whole world thought that the spread of SARS-Cov-2 would only occur through symptomatic person-to-person transmission. In comparison, transmission in SARS would happen after the onset of illness, whereby the viral loads in the respiratory tract peaked around ten days after the development of symptoms by patients (Peiris et al., 2003). However, case detection for SARS (i.e. screening of symptomatic persons) will be grossly inadequate for the current COVID-19 pandemic, thus requiring different strategies to detect those infected with SARS-CoV-2 before they develop the symptoms.

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Coronaviruses: HCoV, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and COVID-19

10.2310/nephro.1422 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Michael G. Ison

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽

World Health ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Viral Pathogens ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

The Common ◽

Upper Respiratory ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Health Organization

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a group of viral pathogens that infect mammals and birds. The presentation in humans is typically that of a mild upper respiratory tract infection, similar to the common cold. However, in recent years, dramatic attention has arisen for more lethal members of this viral family (e.g., severe acute respiratory syndrome [SARS-CoV], Middle East respiratory syndrome [MERS-CoV], and coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]). The epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of these viruses are discussed in this review. Importantly, new guideline tables from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the World Health Organization are provided at the conclusion of the review. This review contains 12 tables, 3 figure and 48 references. Keywords: Coronavirus, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), COVID-19, respiratory infection, antiviral, real-time polymerase chain reaction

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Coronaviruses: HCoV, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and COVID-19

10.2310/fm.1422 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Michael G. Ison

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽

World Health ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Viral Pathogens ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

The Common ◽

Upper Respiratory ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Health Organization

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A Review of the Virology of SARS-CoV-2

Spectrum: Science and Technology ◽

10.54290/spect/2020.v7.1.0009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 69-77

Author(s):

Aldonna Maria Susngi ◽

◽

Clara Ermine Sawian

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Causative Agent ◽

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽

The Novel ◽

Highly Pathogenic ◽

Key Features

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a β-coronavirus, which also includes the highly pathogenic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Emerging in December 2019 from Wuhan, China, it has spread worldwide resulting in a pandemic that has not ended till date. This review highlights some of the key features of the virology of SARS-CoV-2.

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