Propylene glycol inactivates respiratory viruses and prevents airborne transmission

Propylene glycol inactivates respiratory viruses and prevents airborne transmission

Abstract Viruses are vulnerable as they transmit between hosts, and we aimed to exploit this critical window. We found that the ubiquitous, safe, inexpensive and biodegradable small molecule propylene glycol (PG) has robust virucidal activity. Propylene glycol rapidly inactivates a broad range of vi...

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Main Authors: Christine T Styles, Jie Zhou, Katie E Flight, Jonathan C Brown, Charlotte Lewis, Xinyu Wang, Michael Vanden Oever, Thomas P Peacock, Ziyin Wang, Rosie Millns, John S O'Neill, Alexander Borodavka, Joe Grove, Wendy S Barclay, John S Tregoning, Rachel S Edgar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2023-11-01
Series:EMBO Molecular Medicine
Subjects:
airborne transmission
influenza
propylene glycol
SARS‐CoV‐2
virucide
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202317932
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Summary:Abstract Viruses are vulnerable as they transmit between hosts, and we aimed to exploit this critical window. We found that the ubiquitous, safe, inexpensive and biodegradable small molecule propylene glycol (PG) has robust virucidal activity. Propylene glycol rapidly inactivates a broad range of viruses including influenza A, SARS‐CoV‐2 and rotavirus and reduces disease burden in mice when administered intranasally at concentrations commonly found in nasal sprays. Most critically, vaporised PG efficiently abolishes influenza A virus and SARS‐CoV‐2 infectivity within airborne droplets, potently preventing infection at levels well below those tolerated by mammals. We present PG vapour as a first‐in‐class non‐toxic airborne virucide that can prevent transmission of existing and emergent viral pathogens, with clear and immediate implications for public health.
ISSN:1757-4676
1757-4684

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