Several real-time quantitative PCR methods, including direct PCR and RT-PCR
methods, and methods based on PCR and RT-PCR integrated with tissue cell culture
(ICC-PCR and ICC-RT-PCR) were used to evaluate ultraviolet (UV) inactivation of adenovirus 41
(Ad 41). Ad 41 (TAK strain) grown on HEK293 cells were exposed to UV doses of 40,
80, 160 and 320 mJ/cm2 using a collimated beam apparatus. When compared to the
traditional cytopathic effects (CPE) based cell culture infectivity assay, direct real-time
quantitative PCR and RT-PCR assays (i.e. without cell culture) were found to be
unreliable for measuring the level inactivation of Ad41 by UV. Viruses which lost their
infectivity were still detected by the direct molecular methods. UV inactivation of Ad41
measured by ICC-RT-PCR, on the other hand, was not statistically different than
inactivation measured by the CPE assay. UV inactivation of Ad41 measured by the ICCPCR
assay was slightly lower than inactivation measured by CPE and ICC-RT-PCR.
Therefore, a cell culture assay based on viral quantification using real-time quantitative
RT-PCR was found to be a potentially attractive substitute for the CPE-based cell culture
infectivity assay for assessing virus inactivation by UV. Includes 11 references, table, figures.