Dengue and chikungunya viruses in plasma are effectively inactivated after treatment with methylene blue and visible light

Abstract

Our study demonstrated the THERAFLEX MB-Plasma system can reduce the infectivity of all DENV serotypes and CHIKV spiked into plasma to the detection limit of the assay used at half of the standard illumination dose. This suggests this system has the capacity to be an effective option for managing the risk of DENV or CHIKV transfusion transmission in plasma.

Reduction of Zika virus infectivity in platelet concentrates after treatment with ultraviolet C light and in plasma after treatment with methylene blue and visible light

“…For ZIKV spiked into pooled plasma, the residual infectivity fell below the detection limit of the large‐volume plating plaque assay at a visible light dose of 40 J/cm 2 , which is one‐third of the standard dose emitted by the MacoTronic B2 illuminator. The resulting mean level of reduction at this dose was at least 5.68 log, which is consistent with that for DENV‐1 to ‐3 (>5.17 log) and CHIKV (≥ 6.58 log) treated with the same PI system . Studies with WNV were conducted using an older illumination system, the MacoTronic V4 (MacoPharma), which uses sodium vapor lamps at a wavelength of 590 nm and a dose of 180 J/cm 2 , which is comparable with the dose of 120 J/cm 2 delivered by the MacoTronic B2 device that uses LEDS at 630 nm .…”

“…PI presents an alternate yet proactive approach to manage the risk of transmitting blood‐borne pathogens through blood transfusions. The THERAFLEX UV‐Platelets system and the THERAFLEX MB‐Plasma system have been designed to reduce the ability of a pathogen to replicate, as demonstrated for a number of different agents . In this study we show that ZIKV can be effectively inactivated by the THERAFLEX UV‐Platelets system and THERAFLEX MB‐Plasma system.…”

“…These units were then stored and processed as previously described to create a buffy coat–derived PLT concentrate (PC) in PAS (SSP+; MacoPharma), containing 28% residual plasma. Plasmapheresis donations were collected, stored, and made into pooled plasma aliquots as described previously . Where possible, buffy coats and plasmapheresis units were selected from young blood donors (under the age of 45 years at time of donation) residing in the Brisbane area, to minimize the presence of cross‐reactive antibodies from those previously exposed to DENV.…”

“…Plasmapheresis donations were collected, stored, and made into pooled plasma aliquots as described previously. 24 Where possible, buffy coats and plasmapheresis units were selected from young blood donors (under the age of 45 years at time of donation) residing in the Brisbane area, to minimize the presence of cross-reactive antibodies from those previously exposed to DENV.…”

Mitigating the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Dengue in Australia

“…In the future, other approaches may be used, for example, PI, particularly in areas endemic for dengue. The Theraflex UV-Platelets System (MacoPharma) has been shown to inactivate DENV in spiked platelet units to the limit of detection of the assay used [19], as has the Theraflex-MB Plasma System (MacoPharma) for DENV spiked into plasma [20]. Similarly the Intercept Plasma Inactivation System (Cerus Corporation) demonstrated inactivation of DENV in spiked plasma to the limit of detection [21].…”