Inactivation of Zika virus with nucleic acids transport media, potentially applicable to clinical samples for the molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2

Authors

Keywords:

guanidinium hydrochloride, viral inactivation, cell culture, Zika virus, SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Introduction: Collection media of clinical samples with the capacity to denature viruses reduce the risk of contagion during transportation and processing.

Objective: To use the nucleic acids transport media (NATM) in nasopharyngeal swab samples collected for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: An experimental study was conducted to demonstrate the medium capacity to inactivate viral infectivity. Zika virus (ZIKV), of biosafety level 2, was used as an enveloped virus model. The clinical performance of the NATM for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated. A ZIKV strain propagated in the Vero cell line was used and, prior to cells infection, ZIKV was in contact at different intervals (2; 15, and 30 min) with pure NATM; subsequently, serial dilutions (10-1-10-4) were performed. Viral inactivation was evaluated by RT-PCR in the supernatant and the collected cells when the propagation period was completed. CITOSWAB® VTM was used as reference to estimate the clinical performance of the NATM in 30 nasopharyngeal swabs collected for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results: ZIKV remained infectious at inoculum dilutions of ≥ 10-2, regardless of contact time. Clinical specificity and sensitivity of the NATM for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 were 100%, respectively.

Conclusions: Results suggest that ZIKV positive clinical samples at dilutions ≤ 10-1 of the NATM can be safely handled, which could potentially be applied to the molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2.

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Author Biographies

María Caridad Montalvo Villalba, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Departamento de Virología, Investigador Títular

Alexis Labrada Rosado, Centro Nacional de Biopreparado (BioCen)

Director de Investigación y Desarrollo, Investigador Titular

Odalys Valdes Ramirez, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Departamento de Virología, Investigador Títular

Mayling Alvarez Vera, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Departamento de Virología, Investigador Títular

Emidalys Santana Acosta, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Departamento de Virología, Licenciada en Tenología de la Salud.

Dailyn Medero Díaz, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Departamento de Virología, Investigadora Agregada

Claudia Wilson Jiménez, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Departamento de Aseguramiento Científico Técnico, Tecnica A.

Dayesi López Hernández, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Departamento de Virología, Investigadora Agregada

Lirialys Nuñez Quiroz, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Departamento de Virología, Médico Especialista

Yailen Sanchez Dominguez, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Departamento de Virología, Médico Especialista

Celine Naranjo Gonzalez, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Departamento de Virología, Licenciada en Tecnología de la Salud.

Wendy Chuairey Rodriguez, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Departamento de Virología, Licenciada en Microbiología

Yamile Aleaga Santiesteban, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Laboratocrio de Microbiología, Investigador Agregado

Licel de los A Rodriguez Lay, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Departamento de Virología, Investigador Titular

Maria Guadalupe Guzmán Tirado, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí (IPK)

Directora del Centro de Investigación, Diagnóstico y Referencia, Investigadora Titular

Published

2022-09-03

How to Cite

1.
Montalvo Villalba MC, Labrada Rosado A, Valdes Ramirez O, Alvarez Vera M, Santana Acosta E, Medero Díaz D, et al. Inactivation of Zika virus with nucleic acids transport media, potentially applicable to clinical samples for the molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. Rev Cuba Med Tropical [Internet]. 2022 Sep. 3 [cited 2025 Mar. 16];74(2). Available from: https://revmedtropical.sld.cu/index.php/medtropical/article/view/802

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