Review of Vaccinia Virus and Baculovirus Viability Versus Virucides

摘要

There is a current need in the biological defense research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDTE) community for non-pathogenic viruses that can serve as simulants for poxviruses during phases of the development of new biological defense technologies. The need is particularly pressing in the field of decontamination sciences, where poxvirus simulants are essential for the RDTE of new virucidal treatments for equipment decontamination. This review summarizes what is known about the susceptibility to virucides of two candidate viral simulants, the baculoviruses Cydia pomonella granulovirus and Heliothis zea nuclear polyhedrosis virus and also compares this to similar information published for Vaccinia virus (VACV). In general, poxviruses and baculoviruses share similar susceptibilities to heat, extremes of pH, formaldehyde, sodium hypochiorite, germicidal UV radiation, and the effects of insect metabolism. The information reviewed supports the incorporation of baculoviruses into a viral simulant program; however, additional research is required to provide comprehensive comparisons between VACV and the candidate baculoviruses.