F1000Research (Jun 2023)

Effect of elevated temperature on SARS-CoV-2 viability [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 not approved]

  • Muhammad Iqhrammullah,
  • Sarwo Edhy Sofyan,
  • Irwansyah Irwansyah,
  • Harapan Harapan,
  • Khin Saw Myint,
  • Hamdani Hamdani,
  • Samsul Rizal,
  • Rudi Kurniawan,
  • T.M. Indra Mahlia,
  • Ida Yus Sriyani,
  • Chairin Nisa Maroef,
  • Maimun Syukri,
  • Razali Razali,
  • Hendrix Indra Kusuma,
  • Edison Johar

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a worldwide disruption of global health putting healthcare workers at high risk. To reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, in particular during treating the patients, our team aims to develop an optimized isolation chamber. The present study was conducted to evaluate the role of temperature elevation against SARS-CoV-2 viability, where the information would be used to build the isolation chamber. 0.6 mL of the Indonesian isolate of SARS-CoV-2 strain 20201012747 (approximately 1013 PFU/mL) was incubated for one hour with a variation of temperatures: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, and 65°C in digital block heater as well as at room temperature (21-23°C) before used to infect Vero E6 cells. The viability was determined using a plaque assay. Our data found a significant reduction of the viral viability from 1013 PFU/mL to 109 PFU/mL after the room temperature was increase to 40°C. Further elevation revealed that 55°C and above resulted in the total elimination of the viral viability. Increasing the temperature 40°C to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 survival could create mild hyperthermia conditions in a patient which could act as a thermotherapy. In addition, according to our findings, thermal sterilization of the vacant isolation chamber could be conducted by increasing the temperature to 55°C. In conclusion, elevating the temperature of the isolation chamber could be one of the main variables for developing an optimized isolation chamber for COVID-19 patients.

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