Studies of inactivation of encephalomyocarditis virus, M13 bacteriophage, and Salmonella typhimurium by using a visible femtosecond laser: insight into the possible inactivation mechanisms

• Published in: Journal of biomedical optics 2011-07, Vol.16 (7), p.078003-078003
• Main Authors: Tsen, Kong T, Tsen, Shaw-Wei D, Fu, Qiang, Lindsay, Stuart M, Li, Zhe, Cope, Stephanie, Vaiana, Sara, Kiang, Juliann G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria; Bacteriophage M13 - radiation effects; Cattle; Circular Dichroism; DNA, Viral - radiation effects; Encephalomyocarditis virus; Encephalomyocarditis virus - radiation effects; Lasers, Solid-State - therapeutic use; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton; Salmonella typhimurium; Salmonella typhimurium - radiation effects; Serum Albumin, Bovine - chemistry; Serum Albumin, Bovine - radiation effects; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Virion - radiation effects
• ISSN: 1083-3668; 1560-2281; 1560-2281
• DOI: 10.1117/1.3600771

We report experimental results on the inactivation of encephalomyocarditis virus, M13 bacteriophage, and Salmonella typhimurium by a visible femtosecond laser. Our results suggest that inactivation of virus and bacterium by a visible femtosecond laser involves completely different mechanisms. Inactivation of viruses by a visible femtosecond laser involves the breaking of hydrogen∕hydrophobic bonds or the separation of the weak protein links in the protein shell of a viral particle. In contrast, inactivation of bacteria is related to the damage of their DNAs due to irradiation of a visible femtosecond laser. Possible mechanisms for the inactivation of viruses and bacteria are discussed.