Kinetics and Mechanism of Coxsackievirus B5 Inactivation by Free Chlorine for Safe Global Water

In the field of drinking water treatment, viruses have emerged as pathogens of concern, both in the developed and developing world. Free chlorine is one of the most common disinfectants used globally and is typically quite effective for control of viruses in drinking water. However, Coxsackievirus (CV), a small, single-stranded RNA virus, has previously shown a unique resistance to free chlorine. Additionally, the inactivation by free chlorine had not been thoroughly characterized under a complete array of water quality conditions. In this study, the inactivation of Coxsackievirus B5 by free chlorine was fully characterized. Coxsackievirus, in the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus, is highly virulent, with health effects including respiratory illnesses, diarrhea, fever, myocarditis, aseptic meningitis, and other adverse effects, especially in young children. As a result, it has been identified as a virus of concern in drinking water, thus, making the complete characterization of its inactivation kinetics by free chlorine an important venture.Another important aspect to viral inactivation is the mechanism in which the virion becomes no longer infectious. Understanding the molecular target of disinfectants can lead to a better insight of viral inactivation, which is not well understood. This study is focused on using a variety of innovative molecular techniques that evaluate the mechanism of free chlorine disinfection, by specifically investigating the attachment of CVB5 to the receptor on the host cell before and after disinfection. For example, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are used to determine the viral capsid integrity and the ability of the virus to bind to the receptor, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measures the affinity of virus binding. These results will not only advance the knowledge in the field of disinfection, but will also likely have important implications for the overall optimization of pathogen control in drinking water treatment worldwide.