The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic has created an unprecedented healthcare, social, and economic disaster. Wearing of masks and social distancing can significantly decrease transmission and spread, however, due to circumstances such as medical or dental intervention and personal choice these practices have not been universally adopted. Additional strategies are required to lessen transmission. Nasal rinses and mouthwashes, which directly impact the major sites of reception and transmission of human coronaviruses (HCoV), may provide an additional level of protection against the virus. Common over‐the‐counter nasal rinses and mouthwashes/gargles were tested for their ability to inactivate high concentrations of HCoV using contact times of 30 s, 1 min, and 2 min. Reductions in titers were measured by using the tissue culture infectious dose 50 (TCID50) assay. A 1% baby shampoo nasal rinse solution inactivated HCoV greater than 99.9% with a 2‐min contact time. Several over‐the‐counter mouthwash/gargle products including Listerine and Listerine‐like products were highly effective at inactivating infectious virus with greater than 99.9% even with a 30‐s contact time. In the current manuscript we have demonstrated that several commonly available healthcare products have significant virucidal properties with respect to HCoV.

Endocavitary ultrasound probes are part of a commonly used procedure in the clinical arena. The cavities examined, vaginal canal and cervix, anal canal, and oral cavity are all areas commonly infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV), thus making them susceptible to contamination by HPV. It has been demonstrated that these probes can remain contaminated with high-risk HPV even when approved disinfection protocols have been performed. we have previously shown that HPV is resistant to some high-level disinfectant (HLD). In our present study we analyzed efficacy of using high-level ultra-violet C (UVC) radiation against HPV16 and HPV18 using a hard-surface carrier test. Stocks of infectious authentic HPV16 and HPV18 virions were dried onto carriers with a 5% (v/v) protein soil or 4ppm hard water. Efficacy testing were performed with the automated device, Antigermix S1 device (UVC radiation at 253.7nm) and 0.55% OPA in quadruplicate with matched input, neutralization, and cytotoxicity controls. Hypochlorite was included as a positive control for viral deactivation. Infectivity was determined by the abundance (qRT-PCR) of the spliced E1^E4 transcript in infected recipient cells. The automated Antigermix S1 device showed excellent efficacy against HPV16 and HPV18 whereas OPA showed minimal efficacy. While HPV is highly resistant to OPA, high-level UVC radiation offers an effective disinfection practice for ultrasound probes. Our results suggest that healthcare facilities using endocavitary ultrasound probes need to strongly consider disinfection methods that are effective against HPV.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased the frequency of disinfecting surfaces in public places causing a strain on the ability to obtain disinfectant solutions. An alternative is to supply plain alcohols (EtOH and IPA) or sodium hypochlorite (SH). Aim There are few data showing the efficacy of multiple concentrations of EtOH, IPA, and SH on a human coronavirus (HCoV) dried on surfaces using short contact times. Methods Multiple concentrations of EtOH, IPA, and SH to inactivate high numbers of HCoV under real-life conditions were tested. High concentrations of infectious HCoV were dried on porcelain and ceramic tiles, then treated with multiple concentrations of the alcohols for contact times of 15 sec, 30 sec, and 1 min. Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommended three concentrations of SH were also tested. Reductions in titres were measured by using the tissue culture infectious dose 50 (TCID 50 ) assay. Findings Concentrations of EtOH and IPA from 62% to 80% were very efficient at inactivating high numbers of HCoV dried on tile surfaces even with a 15 sec contact time. Concentrations of 95% dehydrated the virus, allowing infectious virus to survive. The CDC recommended 1/10 and 1/50 dilutions of SH were efficient at inactivating high numbers of HCoV dried on tile surfaces, whereas, a 1/100 dilution had substantially lower activity. Conclusions EtOH, IPA, and SH at multiple concentrations efficiently inactivated infectious virus on hard surfaces, typical of those found in public places. Often no remaining infectious HCoV could be detected.

Five distinct cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) recognition sites were identified in the simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen by using H-2b cells that express the truncated T antigen or antigens carrying internal deletions of various sizes. Four of the CTL recognition determinants, designated sites I, II, III, and V, are H-2Db restricted, while site IV is H-2K' restricted. The boundaries of CTL recognition sites I, II, and III, clustered in the