The Efficacy of Commercial Surface Sanitizers against Norovirus on Formica Surfaces with and without Inclusion of a Wiping Step.

Commonly used surface sanitizers often lack activity against human noroviruses (hNoVs). The impact of inactivation versus removal when these products are applied via wiping is poorly characterized. The purpose of this work was to assess the anti-hNoV efficacy of various surface sanitizer chemistries, as applied to a laminate material commonly used for restaurant tabletops, using standard surface assays (ASTM E1053-11) and a newly developed wiping protocol.

Comparative Assessment of the Efficacy of Commercial Hand Sanitizers Against Human Norovirus Evaluated by an Fingerpad Method.

Human noroviruses (hNoV) are the leading cause of acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide and contaminated hands play a significant role in the spread of disease. Some hand sanitizers claim to interrupt hNoV transmission, but their antiviral efficacy on human hands is poorly characterized. The purpose of this work was to characterize the efficacy of representative commercial hand sanitizers against hNoV using an fingerpad method (ASTM E1838-17).

Efficacy of an alcohol-based surface disinfectant formulation against human norovirus.

Aim: To evaluate the anti-noroviral efficacy of PURELL® surface sanitizer and disinfectant spray (PSS, an alcohol-based formulation) using human norovirus GII.4 Sydney [hNoV, by RT-qPCR and human intestinal enteroid (HIE) infectivity assay] and its cultivable surrogate, Tulane virus (TuV, infectivity assay), compared to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solutions.

Methods And Results: PSS efficacy was evaluated in suspension and on surfaces [stainless steel (SS)] using ASTM methods.

Comparison of estimated norovirus infection risk reductions for a single fomite contact scenario with residual and nonresidual hand sanitizers.

Background: The purpose of this study was to relate experimentally measured log human norovirus reductions for a nonresidual (60% ethanol) and a residual (quaternary ammonium-based) hand sanitizer to infection risk reductions.

Methods: Human norovirus log reductions on hands for both sanitizers were experimentally measured using the ASTM International Standard E1838-10 method, with modification. Scenarios included product application to: (1) inoculated fingerpads with 30- and 60-second contact times, and (2) hands followed by inoculation with human norovirus immediately and 4 hours later.

Use of DNA aptamer for sandwich type detection of Listeria monocytogenes.

A single stranded (ss) DNA aptamer, specific to members of Listeria genus, was used to develop a two-site binding sandwich assay for capture and detection of L. monocytogenes. Antibody-immobilized immunomagnetic beads were used to capture L.

An Enzyme-Linked Aptamer Sorbent Assay to Evaluate Aptamer Binding.

Nucleic acid aptamers are a class of alternative ligands increasingly growing in importance in the face of contemporary detection challenges. Aptamers offer multiple advantages over traditional ligands like antibodies; however, their ability to specifically bind target molecules must first be confirmed after their generation. Use of a plate-based enzyme-linked aptamer sorbent assay (ELASA) is a generally rapid way to screen and characterize aptamer binding to protein targets.

Evaluation of a Surface Sampling Method for Recovery of Human Noroviruses Prior to Detection Using Reverse Transcription Quantitative PCR.

Human noroviruses are the most common cause of acute viral gastroenteritis, and the environmental persistence of these viruses contributes to their transmissibility. Environmental sampling is thus an important tool for investigating norovirus outbreaks and for assessing the effectiveness of cleaning and decontamination regimens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a sampling material (wipes) for their efficacy at recovering human norovirus from hard surfaces and foods.

Generation and characterization of nucleic acid aptamers targeting the capsid P domain of a human norovirus GII.4 strain.

Human noroviruses (NoV) are the leading cause of acute viral gastroenteritis worldwide. Significant antigenic diversity of NoV strains has limited the availability of broadly reactive ligands for design of detection assays. The purpose of this work was to produce and characterize single stranded (ss)DNA aptamers with binding specificity to human NoV using an easily produced NoV target-the P domain protein.

Selection, characterization and application of nucleic acid aptamers for the capture and detection of human norovirus strains.

Human noroviruses (HuNoV) are the leading cause of acute viral gastroenteritis and an important cause of foodborne disease. Despite their public health significance, routine detection of HuNoV in community settings, or food and environmental samples, is limited, and there is a need to develop alternative HuNoV diagnostic reagents to complement existing ones. The purpose of this study was to select and characterize single-stranded (ss)DNA aptamers with binding affinity to HuNoV.

Outbreak of norovirus infection among river rafters associated with packaged delicatessen meat, Grand Canyon, 2005.

Background: Norovirus is often transmitted by infected food handlers at the point of service, whereas reports of food contamination before wholesale distribution are rare. In September 2005, we investigated reports of gastroenteritis among rafters who went on unrelated trips on the Colorado River.

Methods: We surveyed all companies that launched rafting trips during the period from 14 August through 19 September 2005 to identify trips in which > or =3 rafters became ill.

Oxoester oxidoreductase activities in new isolates of Pichia anomala from apple, grape and cane juices.

Thirty-nine yeasts isolated from apple, grape and cane juices were screened for their oxidoreductase activity. The two strains of Pichia, one isolated from apple and one from cane juices, appear to be promising strains for oxidoreductase activity on alpha-oxoesters. They showed similar high yields in converting ethyl pyruvate to ethyl lactate as Saccharomyces spp.

Selective antimicrobial action of chitosan against spoilage yeasts in mixed culture fermentations.

The effect of chitosan on Saccharomyces cerevisiae (the yeast that carries out alcohol fermentation), Brettanomyces bruxellensis and Brettanomyces intermedius (contaminants of alcohol fermentations), was investigated. The effect of chitosan was tested on each yeast, as well as on mixed cultivations of S. cerevisiae + B.