[Mechanism of virus inactivation by peracids]

Peracids are a class of substances inactivating the largest spectrum of viruses in comparison to the other known disinfectants. The mode of action is unknown however. For the detection of the reaction mechanism we studied the inactivating kinetics of poliovirus and polio-RNA as well as the virus- and RNA-inactivation in dependence on the peracid concentration. In addition the sedimentation of the virus and the virus-RNA were determined. The inactivation curves of virus particles and virus-RNA respectively showed a similar, not linear course. The sedimentation of the virion and the RNA were altered after treatment with peracid and showed a disrupted capsid and a fragmented RNA as a result of incubation with the disinfectant.