Is a virus ever alive?
The following is from Irene Ken physician, whose daughter is an Asst. Prof in infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University, quite informative.
* The virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule (DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular, nasal or buccal mucosa, changes their genetic code. (mutation) and convert them into aggressor and multiplier cells.
WHETHER VIRUSES ARE LIVING OR NOT IS A PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION. THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO REPLICATE THEMSELVES. THAT IS ONE OF THE DEFINITIONS OF LIFE. VIRUSES INFECT INDIVIDUAL HOST CELLS AND TAKE OVER OR HIJACK THE CELLULAR MACHINERY IN ORDER TO REPLICATE THEMSELVES. VIRUSES DO NOT "MUTATE" THE HOST CELL. THEY HIJACK IT. JUST LIKE A CARJACKER DOESN'T TRANSFORM A VEHICLE, HE JUST USES IT FOR HIS OWN PURPOSES. VIRUSES UTILIZE NORMAL CELLULAR PROCESSES TO REPLICATE VIRAL PROTEINS AND RNA/DNA NECESSARY TO MAKE NEW VIRUSES.
* Since the virus is not a living organism but a protein molecule, it is not killed, but decays on its own. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it lies.
VIRUSES ARE NOT PROTEIN MOLECULES. THEY CONTAIN PROTEIN IN THEIR CAPSID AND AS NON STRUCTURAL PROTEINS BUT ALL VIRUSES ALSO CONTAIN DNA OR RNA. CORONAVIRUS ALSO, LIKE OTHER ENVELOPED VIRUSES, CONTAINS LIPID.
* The virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat. That is why any soap or detergent is the best remedy, because the foam CUTS the FAT (that is why you have to rub so much: for 20 seconds or more, to make a lot of foam).
CORRECT. ALCOHOL ALSO DISSOLVES THE FAT (LIPID) ENVELOPE THAT IS CRITICAL FOR VIRAL FUNCTION
By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down on its own.
AGAIN, VIRUSES ARE NOT "A PROTEIN MOLECULE", THEY ARE COMPLEX STRUCTURES WITH LIPID, PROTEIN AND NUCLEIC ACID. THINK OF THEM AS BALLOONS (THE LIPID ENVELOPE) CONTAINING PROTEINS AND RNA INSIDE. IF YOU POP THE BALLOON THE OTHER ELEMENTS ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO FUNCTION.
* HEAT melts fat; this is why it is so good to use water above 77 degrees Fahrenheit for washing hands, clothes and everything. In addition, hot water makes more foam and that makes it even more useful.
VIRUSES ARE NOT KILLED BY WATER AT 77 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THAT IS ROOM TEMPERATURE. WATER MUST BE OVER 150 DEGREES OR MORE TO DIRECTLY KILL VIRUS. HOT TAP WATER IS ONLY 110-125 DEGREES SO IT IS NOT THE HOT WATER THAT IS KILLING VIRUS, IT'S THE SOAP. ON THE OTHER HAND, HEAT ABOVE 150 OR SO CAN KILL VIRUS WHICH IS ONE REASON WHY COOKED FOOD IS RARELY A CAUSE OF VIRAL INFECTION.
* Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% DISSOLVES ANY FAT, especially the external lipid layer of the virus.
* Any mix with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaks it down from the inside.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW LIQUID BLEACH KILLS MICROBES INCLUDING VIRUSES BUT IT ISN'T BY "DISSOLVING PROTEIN". BLEACH IS A STRONG OXIDIZER SO IT PROBABLY ALTERS MULTIPLE CRITICAL MOLECULES NECESSARY FOR ANY MICROBE TO FUNCTION.
ALSO, LIQUID BLEACH IS USUALLY 5.75% HYPOCHLORITE OR 50,000 PARTS PER MILLION FREE CHLORINE. 1000-5000PPM IS RECOMMENDED TO KILL VIRUSES LIKE CORONAVIRUS. A 1:10 SOLUTION OF BLEACH IS THEREFORE MORE THAN ENOUGH AND A 1:50 DILUTION IS STILL QUITE ADEQUATE. TIME IN CONTACT IS IMPORTANT. EVEN A 1:1000 DILUTION OF BLEACH (DON'T DO THIS) WOULD BE ADEQUATE IF THE TIME IN CONTACT WAS LONG ENOUGH. STRONGER CONCENTRATIONS WORK OBVIOUSLY BUT ARE MORE IRRITATING AND CAN DAMAGE METAL. HALF A CUP OF LIQUID BLEACH PER GALLON OF WATER GIVES 1800PPM WHICH IS ADEQUATE. A CUP PER GALLON IS GETTING CLOSE TO OVERKILL.
* Oxygenated water helps long after soap, alcohol and chlorine, because peroxide dissolves the virus protein, but you have to use it pure and it hurts your skin.
NOBODY USES OXYGENATED WATER TO CLEAN HANDS
* NO BACTERICIDE OR ANTIBIOTIC SERVES. The virus is not a living organism like bacteria; antibodies cannot kill what is not alive.
YES, VIRUSES ARE NOT BACTERIA OR FUNGI THEREFORE ANTIBIOTICS DON'T WORK. HOWEVER IT IS NOT CORRECT TO SAY ANTIBODIES DON'T WORK. ANTIBODIES PREVENT THE VIRUS FROM ATTACHING TO THE HOST CELL AND THEREFORE PREVENT VIRUSES FROM INFECTING US. THAT IS THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND ALL VIRAL VACCINES. ANTIBODIES DO WORK TO PREVENT INFECTION. THE QUESTION OF WHETHER VIRUSES ARE ALIVE OR NOT IS A PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION....THEY CAN REPLICATE THEMSELVES BY INFECTING A HOST CELL....IF THEY CAN REPLICATE THEIR RNA/DNA THEN THAT WOULD, FOR MOST PEOPLE, BE EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE ALIVE. WHAT VIRUSES DO NOT DO IS GENERATE OR DIRECTLY USE ENERGY. THEY ARE THE ULTIMATE PARASITE....THEY LET THE HOST CELL TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THAT AND SIMPLY REPLICATE THEMSELVES.
* NEVER shake used or unused clothing, sheets or cloth. While it is glued to a porous surface, it is very inert and disintegrates only
-between 3 hours (fabric and porous),
-4 hours (copper and wood)
-24 hours (cardboard),
- 42 hours (metal) and
-72 hours (plastic).
WE DO NOT KNOW IF THE "VIRUS" DETECTED BY PCR TESTING ON SURFACES, CLOTHING, PAPER ETC IS ACTUALLY INFECTIOUS OR NOT FOR THE TIMES LISTED. THOSE ARE THE TIMES THAT VIRAL RNA CAN BE DETECTED BUT THAT COULD INCLUDE VIRAL PARTICLES ALREADY RENDERED UNINFECTIOUS BY DRYING OUT OR OTHER DISRUPTIONS OF THE VIRAL PARTICLE NECESSARY TO INFECT A HOST CELL. THINK OF THOSE STUDIES AS SIMILAR TO COUNTING ALL BODIES, LIVING AND DEAD, ON A BATTLEFIELD AND ANNOUNCING HOW MANY SOLDIERS WERE LEFT IN THE ARMY. WE DON'T HAVE A QUICK WAY TO DISTINGUISH THE DEAD FROM THE LIVING VIRIONS.
But if you shake it or use a feather duster, the virus molecules float in the air for up to 3 hours, and can lodge in your nose.
HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO MATTER. IF, AND THIS IS A VERY BIG IF, CORONAVIRUS PARTICLES ARE STILL INFECTIOUS IN DRY DROPLET NUCLEI, THEY WOULD ALREADY BE FLOATING IN THE AIR. ALTHOUGH CORONA MIGHT VERY RARELY BE INFECTIOUS IN DROPLET NUCLEI, AS BEST WE KNOW ONLY CHICKENPOX, SMALLPOX AND MEASLES VIRUSES ROUTINELY ARE SPREAD BY THAT MECHANISM. THERE IS VERY LIMITED EVIDENCE THAT CORONAVIRUS OR INFLUENZA VIRUS CAN RARELY BE SPREAD THAT WAY AND THE LONG EXPERIENCE WITH COMMON COLDS (CORONAVIRUS) AND INFLUENZA SHOWS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF INFECTIOUS OCCUR WITH LARGER DROPLETS (SNEEZE, COUGH, TALK WITHING 3FEET) OR DIRECT/INDIRECT CONTACT SPREAD, NOT TRUE AIRBORNE (DROPLET NUCLEI) SPREAD. DON'T LOSE SLEEP OVER CORONAVIRUS PARTICLES FLOATING IN THE AIR LIKE DUST....IF THAT HAPPENS AT ALL IT IS VERY UNUSUAL AND NOT THE REASON WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CASES RIGHT NOW. THE REASON CDC AND WHO NOW RECOMMEND 6FT FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING RATHER THAN 3 FEET AS TRADITIONALLY RECOMMENDED TO PREVENT DROPLET TRANSMISSIONS IS JUST TO PROVIDE AN EXTRA DEGREE OF CAUTION BASED ON THOSE VERY RARE SARS AND INFLUENZA CASES THAT SEEM TO SPREAD MORE THAN 3 FEET.
* The virus molecules remain very stable in external cold, or artificial as air conditioners in houses and cars.
NO EVIDENCE OF THIS. VIRUS PARTICLES ARE VERY STABLE AT MINUS 70 DEGREES CELSIUS WHICH IS WAY COLDER THAN A HOUSEHOLD FREEZER. NO EVIDENCE THAT "NORMAL" TEMPERATURES THAT HUMANS LIVE IN MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO HOW LONG THE VIRUS REMAINS INFECTIOUS.
They also need moisture to stay stable, and especially darkness. Therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade it faster.
MOISTURE MAYBE. DARKNESS???? WHO EVER CAME UP WITH THAT??? NOT SOMEONE FROM HOPKINS I HOPE. IT IS TRUE THAT UV LIGHT WILL INACTIVATE VIRUS BUT THAT IS NOT THE SAME THING AS SAYING DARKNESS HELPS THEM BE STABLE. FLUORESCENT, LED AND INCANDESCENT LIGHT DO NOT PRODUCE THE UV LIGHT THAT SUNSHINE DOES SO WOULD NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON VIRUS INFECTIVITY.
* UV LIGHT on any object that may contain it breaks down the virus protein. For example, to disinfect and reuse a mask is perfect. Be careful, it also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin.
CORRECT ALTHOUGH IT ISN'T CLEAR THAT UV DESTROYS PROTEIN, NUCLEIC ACID IS ALSO LIKELY DESTROYED BY UV LIGHT
* The virus CANNOT go through healthy skin.
TRUE BUT YOU DON'T WANT VIRUS ON YOUR "HEALTHY SKIN" BECAUSE YOU CAN TRANSFER IT TO YOUR MOUTH/EYES WHERE IT CAN CAUSE INFECTION.
* Vinegar is NOT useful because it does not break down the protective layer of fat.
VINEGAR DOES KILL INFLUENZA VIRUS SO PROBABLY ALSO KILLS CORONAVIRUS, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT EPA APPROVED AND IS NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS BLEACH OR OTHER AGENTS.
* NO SPIRITS, NOR VODKA, serve. The strongest vodka is 40% alcohol, and you need 65%.
* LISTERINE IF IT SERVES! It is 65% alcohol.
* The more confined the space, the more concentration of the virus there can be. The more open or naturally ventilated, the less.
* You have to wash your hands before and after touching mucosa, food, locks, knobs, switches, remote control, cell phone, watches, computers, desks, TV, etc. And when using the bathroom.
* You have to Moisturize dry hands from so much washing them, because the molecules can hide in the micro cracks. The thicker the moisturizer, the better.
SORRY, NO EVIDENCE THIS IS IMPORTANT. VIRUSES DON'T "HIDE IN CRACKS". SOAP WILL ENTER ANY CRACK IN YOUR SKIN AND INACTIVATE VIRUSES. THE MAIN REASON TO USE LOTIONS ETC WHEN WASHING HANDS FREQUENTLY IS TO AVOID DAMAGE THAT WILL CAUSE YOU TO HAVE PAIN WHEN WASHING HANDS (AND THEREFORE HESITATE TO DO SO).
* Also keep your NAILS SHORT so that the virus does not hide there.
VIRUSES DON'T HIDE OR MULTIPLY UNDER FINGERNAILS. WE'RE TALKING TINY PARTICLES HERE AND SURFACE CONTAMINATION OF SKIN/HANDS. LENGTH OF FINGERNAILS IS IRRELEVANT IN THIS CONTEXT. FINGERNAILS ARE KEPT SHORT FOR SURGEONS AND NURSES BECAUSE NORMAL SKIN BACTERIA (RESIDENT FLORA) CAN LIVE THERE. NOT AN ISSUE FOR VIRUSES.
-JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL
