Rotaviruses are the leading cause of life-threatening diarrheal disease in children under five and a current burden in developing nations. We have previously investigated the solar inactivation kinetics of rotaviruses in various water matrices, however, the solar inactivation mechanisms have not been studied. Here, the mechanisms of human rotavirus inactivation by solar (full spectrum, UVA and visible light only) and heat (57�C) disinfection were studied. Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR was used to assess the steps in the replication cycle (i.e., binding, replication, etc.) of human rotaviruses that become compromised by treatment with solar irradiation and heat. Our data show that the penetration and replication steps are the most compromised by solar and heat treatment. Thus, protein conformation and/or genome damage result in the de-activation of rotavirus. Our work contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of human rotavirus inactivation mechanism, which can be exploited in the design of solar-driven water treatment technologies.

Aspects of human rotavirus inactivation mechanisms as examined by quantitative PCR: Roles of solar irradiation and temperature

248th National Meeting (2014)

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