Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and its Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences have made a significant discovery in destroying a strain of feline coronavirus.
Doing their part to develop and test scientific responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MSU CVM microbiology faculty members’ research reveals that the substance studied effectively kills the coronavirus that causes Feline Infectious Peritonitis. FIP is an incurable viral disease occurring in wild and domestic cats.
MSU Associate Professor Dr. Keun Seo led the preliminary testing on FIP that involved a 100% all-natural chitosan material (brand name BacShield RTU) being applied to surfaces contaminated with the FIP virus. Within 30 minutes, 99.9% of the virus was destroyed, and within 60 minutes, the virus was 100% destroyed.
“The hope is, of course, that the substance will be found equally as effective on the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), enabling schools, universities and businesses to reopen safely nationwide and helping life get back to somewhat normal,” said Seo of working to increase confidence in eradicating COVID-19.
Seo and his research team have had years of experience with testing the antimicrobial effect of chitosan. His team demonstrated that the chitosan, applied to surfaces to form an invisible clear film, not only destroys “superbugs”—including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other drug resistant pathogens—but also provides a window of lasting protection for days and months after application.
“MSU CVM is extremely proud of this dedicated research team that has worked diligently to develop and test a substance that could help the country safely return to work and once again feel comfortable spending time with others,” said Dean Kent Hoblet.
For more information about this study, see the upcoming issue of Pegasus Press, the MSU CVM’s semi-annual magazine. For more information about BacShield RTU, visit https://bacshield.siltanium.com/.
Details of study: One hundred microliter of feline coronavirus (1×105 pfu /ml) suspension was inoculated onto the sterile 6-well tissue culture plates. Chitosan* or vehicle control (1% acetic acid) was sprayed using an electrospray gun. After incubating for 30 and 60 minutes, the wells were rinsed with EMEM media which were transferred to monolayer of CRFK cells grown in the 6-well tissue culture plate. After viral absorption for 1 hour, EMEM was removed and then 0.5% soft agar in EMEM was overlaid. After incubating for 72 hours, viral plaque indicated by a clear circle was determined by 0.3% crystal violet staining. A treatment with chitosan* for 30 minutes decreased feline coronavirus from 1×104 pfu to 1×101 pfu and a treatment for 60 minutes completely killed feline coronavirus, while a treatment with vehicle control (1% acetic acid) did not affect the viability of feline coronavirus.
*Brand name BacShield RTU.
BacShield RTU is patented and an EPA registered product.
