Pathogenic Viruses in Space: Indicators and Risks in Closed Space Environments

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail Brion ◽  
Charles P. Gerba ◽  
JoAnn Silverstein
Keyword(s):  
Closed Space ◽  
Pathogenic Viruses ◽  
Space Environments

Electrochemical Peroxide Generation for In Situ Disinfection

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh Vijapur ◽  
Tim Hall ◽  
Jennings E. Taylor ◽  
DAN WANG ◽  
Maria Inman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Closed Space ◽  
Decomposition Products ◽  
International Space ◽  
Novel Technologies ◽  
Human Contact ◽  
Space Environments

Novel technologies with limited earth support are required to enable energy-efficient maintenance of closed air, water, and waste systems in microgravity spacecraft habitats such as International space station (ISS). One area of need for the interstellar travel community is cleaning/sanitizing supplies to meet personal hygiene requirements, which is currently accomplished through the use of pre-packaged, disposable, wetted wipes, or ion exchange cartridges. These items represent an appreciable carry-along mass and disposal/replacement burden requiring earth based support. Therefore, if a system could be developed to use onboard utilities to create cleaning and disinfecting solutions it would reduce the astronaut’s dependence on earth based supplies.We are addressing this challenge by demonstrating a technology that will use utilities on-board the spacecraft habitat to create sanitizing solutions and eliminate the need for regular delivery of disinfecting wipes. This concept is founded on the electrochemical reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide using readily available on-board supplies of O2 and water. Peroxide is well-established disinfectant with non-toxic decomposition products (viz., O2 and H2O), that is safe enough for human contact to be sold commercially as a 3% w/w solution. Thus, it is an ideal disinfecting solution for closed space environments.

Fibre Bragg Gratings in Harsh and Space Environments: Principles and applications

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brahim Aissa ◽  
Emile I. Haddad ◽  
Roman V. Kruzelecky ◽  
Wes R. Jamroz
Keyword(s):  
Bragg Gratings ◽  
Space Environments ◽  
Fibre Bragg Gratings

F-specific bacteriophage as an indicator of human viruses in natural waters and sewage effluents in Northern New Zealand

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 231-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian D. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Natural Waters ◽  
Sewage Effluents ◽  
Pathogenic Viruses ◽  
Human Viruses ◽  
Specific Bacteriophage ◽  
Beach Water

To assess the F-specific bacteriophage as an indicator of pathogenic viruses, a comparative study has been made of the occurrence of F-phage and human enteroviruses in sewage wastes and the marine environment. Although F-phage seemed in several respects to match pathogen behaviour, its low abundance in bathing beach water, uncertainty as to its source and other detection irregularities make its use as an indicator problematical.

scholarly journals Tannic acid-functionalized HEPA filter materials for influenza virus capture

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Subin Kim ◽  
Jinhyo Chung ◽  
Sang Hyun Lee ◽  
Jeong Hyeon Yoon ◽  
Dae-Hyuk Kweon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Tannic Acid ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Capture Efficiency ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Filter Materials ◽  
Washing Process ◽  
Pathogenic Viruses ◽  
Cost Efficient

AbstractInfluenza, one of the most contagious and infectious diseases, is predominantly transmitted through aerosols, leading to the development of filter-based protective equipment. Though the currently available filters are effective at removing submicron-sized particulates, filter materials with enhanced virus-capture efficiency are still in demand. Coating or chemically modifying filters with molecules capable of binding influenza viruses has received attention as a promising approach for the production of virus-capturing filters. For this purpose, tannic acid (TA), a plant-derived polyphenol, is a promising molecule for filter functionalization because of its antiviral activities and ability to serve as a cost-efficient adhesive for various materials. This study demonstrates the facile preparation of TA-functionalized high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter materials and their efficiency in influenza virus capture. Polypropylene HEPA filter fabrics were coated with TA via a dipping/washing process. The TA-functionalized HEPA filter (TA-HF) exhibits a high in-solution virus capture efficiency of up to 2,723 pfu/mm2 within 10 min, which is almost two orders of magnitude higher than that of non-functionalized filters. This result suggests that the TA-HF is a potent anti-influenza filter that can be used in protective equipment to prevent the spread of pathogenic viruses.

scholarly journals Use of masks in public places in Poland during SARS-Cov-2 epidemic: a covert observational study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Ganczak ◽  
Oskar Pasek ◽  
Łukasz Duda – Duma ◽  
Dawid Świstara ◽  
Marcin Korzeń
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Communication Channels ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Closed Space ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Health Control ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Face masks have been employed in the COVID-19 pandemic plans as a public and personal health control measure against the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In Poland, obligatory wearing of masks in public spaces was introduced on April 10th, 2020; a relaxation of previous universal measures was announced on May 29th, 2020, limiting use to indoor public places. Objective To assess use of masks or other protective devices in public spaces in Poland during the SARS-Cov-2 epidemic. Methods A non-participatory covert observational study was conducted on three dates, (10.05/18.05/25.05.2020) at public spaces in 13 regions with different risks. Ten consecutive individuals were observed by each of 82 medical students (n = 2460 observations), using a structured checklist. Results Among 2353 observed persons, the female/male ratios were 1.0, 1.1, and 1.0 on the three dates. Almost three quarters - 73.6% (n = 552/750) were using masks on date 1, 66.5% (544/818) on date 2; and 65.7% (516/785) on date 3. Cloth masks predominated on all dates (64.7–62.3%-62.6%), followed by medical (23.4–28.5%-26.9%). Being female (OR = 1.77–1.47-1.53 respectively) and location in a closed space (OR = 2.60–2.59-2.32) were each associated with higher usage. Participants in sports were about two times less likely to use masks (OR = 0.64–0.53-0.53) as compared to other activities. The proportion using masks correctly decreased gradually over time (364/552; 65.9%; 339/544; 62.3% and 304/516; 58.9%). More females wore masks correctly (date 1: 205/294; 69.7% vs 159/258; 61.6%, and date 3: 186/284; 65.5% vs 118/232; 50.9%; p = 0.045; p = 0.0008 respectively). Uncovered noses (47.3–52.7%) and masks around the neck (39.2–42.6%) were the most frequent incorrect practices. Conclusions Practices were not in line with official recommendations, especially among males, and deteriorated over time. Cloth masks were predominantly used in public spaces. Health promotion, through utilizing all available communication channels, would be helpful to increase compliance.

scholarly journals Host Cell Restriction Factors of Bunyaviruses and Viral Countermeasures

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 784
Author(s):  
Solène Lerolle ◽  
Natalia Freitas ◽  
François-Loïc Cosset ◽  
Vincent Legros
Keyword(s):  
Host Cell ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Restriction Factors ◽  
Antiviral State ◽  
Cellular Factors ◽  
Pathogenic Viruses ◽  
Genome Transcription ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Molecular Patterns

The Bunyavirales order comprises more than 500 viruses (generally defined as bunyaviruses) classified into 12 families. Some of these are highly pathogenic viruses infecting different hosts, including humans, mammals, reptiles, arthropods, birds, and/or plants. Host cell sensing of infection activates the innate immune system that aims at inhibiting viral replication and propagation. Upon recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by cellular pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), numerous signaling cascades are activated, leading to the production of interferons (IFNs). IFNs act in an autocrine and paracrine manner to establish an antiviral state by inducing the expression of hundreds of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). Some of these ISGs are known to restrict bunyavirus infection. Along with other constitutively expressed host cellular factors with antiviral activity, these proteins (hereafter referred to as “restriction factors”) target different steps of the viral cycle, including viral entry, genome transcription and replication, and virion egress. In reaction to this, bunyaviruses have developed strategies to circumvent this antiviral response, by avoiding cellular recognition of PAMPs, inhibiting IFN production or interfering with the IFN-mediated response. Herein, we review the current knowledge on host cellular factors that were shown to restrict infections by bunyaviruses. Moreover, we focus on the strategies developed by bunyaviruses in order to escape the antiviral state developed by the infected cells.

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