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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
An Efficient Method for Adenovirus Production
Published on: June 10, 2021
Effect of host cells on low- and medium-pressure UV inactivation of adenoviruses
Huiling Guo1, Xiaona Chu, Jiangyong Hu
1Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Republic of Singapore.
Abstract:
UV disinfection is highly effective against most pathogens, with the exception of the adenoviruses (AD). To date, many studies have focused on low-pressure (LP) UV inactivation of AD, but little is known about the effect of medium-pressure (MP) UV inactivation of AD. Despite numerous studies of LP UV inactivation of AD, extreme variabilities in the LP UV dose requirements of AD had been observed because of differing experimental conditions used, such as the types of cell lines used for AD enumeration. This study therefore investigates the effect of three different host cell lines (PLC/PRF/5, human embryonic kidney 293 [HEK293], and XP17BE) on the LP and MP UV dose requirements of AD serotype 5 (AD5), AD40, and AD41 under similar experimental settings. Results showed that for 4-log inactivation of AD, LP UV and MP UV doses needed to be in the ranges of 123 to 182 mJ/cm² and 65 to 90 mJ/cm², respectively, when HEK293 and PLC/PRF/5 cells were used for enumeration. The UV doses required for MP UV inactivation of AD were significantly lower than those required for LP UV inactivation (P value < 0.05). When different cell lines were used for enumeration, UV dose requirements for AD differed. AD were portrayed to be most susceptible to UV (LP UV doses of <57 mJ/cm² and MP UV doses of <42 mJ/cm² for 4-log AD inactivation) when the XP17BE cells were used as the host cell. The use of different cell lines for AD enumeration affected LP UV dose results more significantly than MP UV dose results (P value < 0.05). Cell line variability factors for LP UV disinfection (CL(LP)) and MP UV disinfection (CL(MP)) for AD5, AD40, and AD41 enumerated with HEK293, PLC/PRF/5, and XP17BE cells were in the ranges of 1.0 to 3.2 and 1.0 to 2.5, respectively.
Insights
Medium-pressure (MP) UV disinfection requires lower doses than low-pressure (LP) UV for adenoviruses (AD) inactivation. Host cell type significantly impacts UV dose requirements, with XP17BE cells showing higher AD susceptibility to UV disinfection.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Water Disinfection Technologies
- Virology
Background:
- Adenoviruses (AD) are resistant to UV disinfection, posing challenges for water purification.
- Low-pressure (LP) UV inactivation studies show significant variability due to experimental conditions, particularly host cell lines.
- Limited research exists on medium-pressure (MP) UV inactivation of adenoviruses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of three host cell lines (PLC/PRF/5, HEK293, XP17BE) on LP and MP UV dose requirements for adenoviruses (AD5, AD40, AD41).
- To compare the efficacy of LP and MP UV inactivation of adenoviruses under controlled experimental conditions.
- To quantify the variability introduced by different cell lines in UV dose requirements for adenovirus inactivation.
Main Methods:
- Adenovirus serotypes 5, 40, and 41 were subjected to UV disinfection using both LP and MP lamps.
- Adenovirus infectivity was enumerated using three distinct host cell lines: PLC/PRF/5, human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293), and XP17BE.
- UV doses for 4-log inactivation were determined for each virus, UV type, and cell line combination.
Main Results:
- MP UV doses (65–90 mJ/cm²) were significantly lower than LP UV doses (123–182 mJ/cm²) for 4-log adenovirus inactivation when using HEK293 and PLC/PRF/5 cells.
- XP17BE cells indicated higher adenovirus susceptibility, requiring lower LP UV doses (<57 mJ/cm²) and MP UV doses (<42 mJ/cm²).
- Cell line choice impacted LP UV dose requirements more significantly than MP UV dose requirements, with variability factors (CL(LP)) ranging from 1.0 to 3.2 and (CL(MP)) from 1.0 to 2.5.
Conclusions:
- MP UV is more effective than LP UV for adenovirus inactivation, requiring substantially lower doses.
- The choice of host cell line for adenovirus enumeration critically influences the calculated UV dose requirements for disinfection.
- Standardizing cell line usage in UV disinfection studies is crucial for consistent and reliable adenovirus inactivation data.
