Inactivation efficacy and mechanisms of two diarrhea-causing RNA viruses, rotavirus and Tulane virus, by UV irradiation at 220 and 254 nm UV irradiation were studied under conditions relevant for waste stabilization pond wastewater. Rotavirus (RV), OSU strain, is a double stranded RNA virus with a three-layer protein capsid. Tulane virus (TV), a culturable surrogate for norovirus, is a single stranded RNA virus with a single layer protein capsid. Inactivation efficacy by UV 220 nm was significantly higher than by UV 254 irradiation for RV (5 and 2 log10 reduction for UV dose of 22.5 mJ/cm2) but comparable for TV (5 log10 reduction for UV dose of 30 mJ/cm2). While damage in both genome and the protein responsible for binding was observed for UV irradiated single layer TV, only genome damage was detected for triple layer RT. The results present here suggest that 220 nm irradiation is more robust than 254 nm irradiation for viral disinfection. While the effects of 220 nm irradiation did not depend on the protein capsid and the RNA structure, 254 nm irradiation caused more extensive damage for single layer protein single stranded RNA TV compared to triple-layered double stranded RNA RV. Thus, knowledge of virus genome and protein structure should be considered for the design of UV disinfection process to produce safe treated water.

Mechanisms of single and triple layered RNA virus inactivation by UV irradiation

2019 Spring National Meeting

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