Inactivation of Prions Using Electrical DC Discharges at Atmospheric Pressure and Ambient Temperature

Abstract

The ability of DC discharges to inactivate infectious prions was studied using prion cell infectivity assays and direct Western blot analysis of abnormal prion protein. The negative corona discharge of the point-to-plane type significantly decreased prion infectivity of mouse RML scrapie brain homogenates within 20 min of exposure. The positive discharge treated liquids display persistent cidal effect, which kills the cell culture and makes it impossible to assess the presence of prions by the cell infectivity assay. The point-to-point and 'cometary' discharges exhibit only a low ability to inactivate infectious prions. As a possible mechanism of prion inactivation, the formation of insoluble and non-infective high molecular weight complexes is suggested.

Protein Inactivation by Low‐temperature Atmospheric Pressure Plasma in Aqueous Solution

“…We believe that LTAP plasma generally decreases the enzymatic activity of soluble proteins because lysozyme is a typical enzyme with a small and monomeric structure in water‐soluble form. The hypothesis is consistent with the other two facts that LTAP plasma inactivates infectious prion proteins28 and recombinant GFP without affecting peptide bonds 14…”

“…Recently, it has been reported that the low‐temperature atmospheric pressure plasma (LTAP plasma) degrades proteins in aqueous solution. For example, LTAP plasma inactivates infectious prion protein,28 activates lipase in solution after treated within one minute,29 and inactivates recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFP) in Escherichia coli cells 14. Although these effects of plasma on protein have been reported, molecular mechanisms of the plasma on enzymatic activity have remained unclear.…”

Assessment of Damage of Glutathione by Glow Discharge Plasma at the Gas–Solution Interface through Raman Spectroscopy

“…[23,24] In addition, protein dissolved in solution can also be easily inactivated and degraded by discharge plasma formed in contact with liquid water. [25,26,28] Although so many studies have been reported on the effect of plasma on the activity and conformation of biomacromolecules, but the corresponding molecular mechanisms are still elusive. This situation is partially owing to the reason that there is a lack of effective tool which can assess the involved chemical reactions quickly, quantitatively, and non-invasively.…”

Terminal sterilization: Conventional methods versus emerging cold atmospheric pressure plasma technology for non‐viable biological tissues

“…bacterial species, bacterial culture age (growth phase), bacterial medium during and post-treatment. [135] The eradicating effect of CAP on various microorganisms is well-established in literature [91,130] , however, studies on sterilization and removal of biological non-living disease causing agents would have a promising medical applications. [13,130] However, CAP system variation, the flexibility of …”