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- Title
Hot, humid air decontamination of a C-130 aircraft contaminated with spores of two acrystalliferous Bacillus thuringiensis strains, surrogates for Bacillus anthracis.
- Authors
Buhr, T.L.; Young, A.A.; Bensman, M.; Minter, Z.A.; Kennihan, N.L.; Johnson, C.A.; Bohmke, M.D.; Borgers ‐ Klonkowski, E.; Osborn, E.B.; Avila, S.D.; Theys, A.M.G.; Jackson, P.J.
- Abstract
Aim To develop test methods and evaluate survival of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki cry− HD-1 and B. thuringiensis Al Hakam spores after exposure to hot, humid air inside of a C-130 aircraft. Methods and Results Bacillus thuringiensis spores were either pre-inoculated on 1 × 2 or 2 × 2 cm substrates or aerosolized inside the cargo hold of a C-130 and allowed to dry. Dirty, complex surfaces (10 × 10 cm) swabbed after spore dispersal showed a deposition of 8-10 log10 m−2 through the entire cargo hold. After hot, humid air decontamination at 75-80°C, 70-90% relative humidity for 7 days, 87 of 98 test swabs covering 0·98 m2, showed complete spore inactivation. There was a total of 1·67 log10 live CFU detected in 11 of the test swabs. Spore inactivation in the 98 test swabs was measured at 7·06 log10 m−2. Conclusions Laboratory test methods for hot, humid air decontamination were scaled for a large-scale aircraft field test. The C-130 field test demonstrated that hot, humid air can be successfully used to decontaminate an aircraft. Significance and Impact of the Study Transition of a new technology from research and development to acquisition at a Technology Readiness Level 7 is unprecedented.
- Subjects
BIOLOGICAL decontamination; BACILLUS thuringiensis; BACILLUS anthracis; BACTERIAL spores; PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of humidity; HERCULES (Turboprop transports); HOT-air heating
- Publication
Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2016, Vol 120, Issue 4, p1074
- ISSN
1364-5072
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/jam.13055