@article{mertens_moore_jaykus_velev_2022, title={Efficacy and Mechanisms of Copper Ion-Catalyzed Inactivation of Human Norovirus br}, volume={8}, ISSN={["2373-8227"]}, DOI={10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00609}, abstractNote={The antinoroviral effect of copper ions is well known, yet most of this work has previously been conducted in copper and copper alloy surfaces, not copper ions in solution. In this work, we characterized the effects that Cu ions have on human norovirus capsids’ and surrogates’ integrity to explain empirical data, indicating virus inactivation by copper alloy surfaces, and as means of developing novel metal ion-based virucides. Comparatively high concentrations of Cu(II) ions (>10 mM) had little effect on the infectivity of human norovirus surrogates, so we used sodium ascorbate as a reducing agent to generate unstable Cu(I) ions from solutions of copper bromide. We found that significantly lower concentrations of monovalent copper ions (∼0.1 mM) compared to divalent copper ions cause capsid protein damage that prevents human norovirus capsids from binding to cell receptors in vitro and induce a greater than 4-log reduction in infectivity of Tulane virus, a human norovirus surrogate. Further, these Cu(I) solutions caused reduction of GII.4 norovirus from stool in suspension, producing about a 2-log reduction of virus as measured by a reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) data indicate substantial major capsid protein cleavage of both GI.7 and GII.4 norovirus capsids, and TEM images show the complete loss of capsid integrity of GI.7 norovirus. GII.4 virus-like particles (VLPs) were less susceptible to inactivation by copper ion treatments than GI.7 VLPs based upon receptor binding and SDS-PAGE analysis of viral capsids. The combined data demonstrate that stabilized Cu(I) ion solutions show promise as highly effective noroviral disinfectants in solution that can potentially be utilized at low concentrations for inactivation of human noroviruses.}, number={4}, journal={ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES}, author={Mertens, Brittany S. and Moore, Matthew D. and Jaykus, Lee-Ann and Velev, Orlin D.}, year={2022}, month={Apr}, pages={855–864} }
 @article{moore_bobay_mertens_jaykus_2016, title={Human Norovirus Aptamer Exhibits High Degree of Target Conformation-Dependent Binding Similar to That of Receptors and Discriminates Particle Functionality}, volume={1}, ISSN={["2379-5042"]}, DOI={10.1128/msphere.00298-16}, abstractNote={Human noroviruses impose a considerable health burden globally. However, study of their inactivation is still challenging with currently reported cell culture models, as discrimination of infectious viral particles is still difficult. Traditionally, the ability of particles to bind putative carbohydrate receptors is conducted as a proxy for infectivity, but these receptors are inconsistent, expensive, and hard to purify/modify. We report a hitherto unexplored property of a different type of ligand, a nucleic acid aptamer, to mimic receptor binding behavior and assess capsid functionality for a selected strain of norovirus. These emerging ligands are cheaper, more stable, and easily synthesized/modified. The previously unutilized characteristic reported here demonstrates the fundamental potential of aptamers to serve as valuable, accessible tools for any microorganism that is difficult to cultivate/study. Therefore, this novel concept suggests a new use for aptamers that is of great value to the microbiological community—specifically that involving fastidious microbes.}, number={6}, journal={MSPHERE}, author={Moore, Matthew D. and Bobay, Benjamin G. and Mertens, Brittany and Jaykus, Lee-Ann}, year={2016} }
 @article{mertens_velev_2015, title={Characterization and control of surfactant-mediated Norovirus interactions}, volume={11}, ISSN={["1744-6848"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84946761287&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1039/c5sm01778e}, abstractNote={Understanding of the colloidal interactions of Norovirus particles in aqueous medium could provide insights on the origins of the notorious stability and infectivity of these widespread viral agents. We characterized the effects of solution pH and surfactant type and concentration on the aggregation, dispersion, and disassembly of Norovirus virus-like particles (VLPs) using dynamic light scattering, electrophoretic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. Owing to net negative surface charge of the VLPs at neutral pH, low concentrations of cationic surfactant tend to aggregate the VLPs, whereas low concentrations of anionic surfactant tend to disperse the particles. Increasing the concentration of these surfactants beyond their critical micelle concentration leads to virus capsid disassembly and breakdown of aggregates. Non-ionic surfactants, however, had little effect on virus interactions and likely stabilized them additionally in suspension. The data were interpreted on the basis of simple models for surfactant binding and re-charging of the virus capsid. We used zeta potential data to characterize virus surface charge and interpret the mechanisms behind these demonstrated surfactant-virus interactions. The fundamental understanding and control of these interactions will aid in practical formulations for virus inactivation and removal from contaminated surfaces.}, number={44}, journal={SOFT MATTER}, author={Mertens, Brittany S. and Velev, Orlin D.}, year={2015}, pages={8621–8631} }