F-specific RNA bacteriophages model the behavior of human noroviruses during purification of oysters: the main mechanism is probably inactivation rather than release.

F-specific RNA bacteriophages model the behavior of human noroviruses during purification of oysters: the main mechanism is probably inactivation rather than release. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2020 Apr 17;: Authors: Leduc A, Leclerc M, Challant J, Loutreul J, Robin M, Maul A, Majou D, Boudaud N, Gantzer C Abstract Noroviruses (NoV) are responsible for many shellfish outbreaks. Purification processes may be applied to oysters before marketing to decrease potential fecal pollution. This step is rapidly highly effective in reducing Escherichia coli, nevertheless the elimination of virus genomes has been described to be much slower. It is therefore important to identify i) the purification conditions that optimize virus removal and ii) the mechanism involved. To this end, the effects of oyster stress, nutrients and the presence of a potential competitor to NoV adhesion during purification were investigated using naturally contaminated oysters. Concentrations of NoV (genomes) and of the viral indicator F-specific RNA bacteriophage (FRNAPH; genomes and infectious particles) were regularly monitored. No significant differences were observed under the test conditions. The decrease kinetics of both virus genomes were similar, again showing the potential of FRNAPH as an indicator of NoV behavior during purification. T90 values were 47.8 d-1 for genogroup I NoV genome, 26.7 d-1 for genogroup II NoV genome, and 43.9 d-1 for FRNAPH-II genome. Conve...
Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Appl Environ Microbiol Source Type: research