Immunological and biophysical alteration of hepatitis B virus antigens by sodium hypochlorite disinfection

Abstract

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) was examined as an effective disinfectant in hepatitis laboratories. Concentrations of NaOCl containing 5,600 ppm (5,600 ,ug/ ml) of available chlorine were found to be effective in destroying the antigenicity of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in virion-rich plasma after an exposure time of 1 min or more. In the treatment of protein-deficient solutions containing HBsAg, smaller concentrations of available chlorine (<500 ppm) are equally effective. Neither 17to 25-nm HBsAg particles nor 45-nm virion particles could be detected by electron microscopy after treatment. Chemical interaction of protein and NaOCl was confirmed by isoelectrofocusing of 125I-labeled HBsAg. More than 90% of the labeled material was found at pH 3.0 or lower, indicating complete antigen oxidation. Labeled HBsAg was reduced in density from 1.21 g/ cm3 in CsCl to approximately 1.07 g/cm3 after treatment with NaOCl. Both hepatitis B core antigen and deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase activity were significantly reduced after interaction with hypochlorite solutions. These results show that NaOCl destroys hepatitis B antigenicity and virus structures and therefore may be utilized as a disinfectant for the virus.

Disinfection of hospital waste sludge using hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide

“…The mixture was then centrifuged for 3 min at 16 000 rev min −1 . During homogenization, the samples were maintained at 4°C by immersing them in an ice-bath (Sehulster et al 1981;Alverez and O'Brien 1982).…”

“…Chlorination, ozonation and disinfection using chlorine dioxide have also been used to disinfect waste-water (Geoclifford 1972;Collin and Elleck 1971;Somendu and Ceckler 1974;Alverez and O'Brien 1982). However, the effectiveness of such disinfection is reduced by the presence of suspended solids (Sehulster et al 1981;LeChevallier et al 1981LeChevallier et al , 1984. Under such conditions, ozon-ation always gives low disinfection efficiency unless a high ozone dose is applied.…”

Virus removal performance and mechanism of a submerged membrane bioreactor

“…As for other disinfection methods, such as chlorination, chlorine dioxide, ozone and UV radiation etc., the mutagenic/carcinogenic and toxic disinfection by-products, which are potentially harmful to humans and aquatic organisms, are often accompanied with the disinfection treatment [4]. Moreover, the presence of suspended solids and organic compounds in wastewater often lower disinfection efficiency drastically [5].…”

Allergenic proteins are fragmented in low concentrations of sodium hypochlorite

“…While this is the first description of the loss of IgE and IgG binding to antigens fragmented by NaOCl, earlier reports have described immunological effects. Sehulster and colleagues demonstrated that antigenicity of HBsAg was lost after treatment with NaOCl [6]. Our data suggest that antibody binding may be retained in mouse allergen fragments.…”