First, many chems do generally make quick work of viruses. A quick swipe of an alcohol pad and a site is prepped for injection or IV. Chems are used to prepare a site for surgical incision. Walls, floors, and other surfaces are wiped with chlorine or other disinfectants. Must be something to it. Were it not so, why would hospitals use them as a disinfectant? Ethylene gas (a chemical) [or steam autoclaving] is often used to sterilize rolls containing surgical instruments or gauze and bandages.
There is so much evidence that chems erradicate viruses that it is ludicrous to think otherwise. Some viruses are a bit more resistant but still can be inactivated by chems.
A virus particle basically consists of either a RNA or DNA (not both) central core surrounded by a protein sheath. It is correct that viruses (or virii if you prefer – both are correct) are not living organsims (they don’t respire, they don’t metabolize, they don’t respond to stimuli, and they can’t reproduce without the aid of a host).
However, this does not mean that they cannot be inactivated. Their encapsulating protein structure is easily denatured, making them incapable of attaching to the virus receptor sites on potential host cells. Think of it sort of like two pieces of a Jig-saw puzzle. The two pieces must “fit” together in order for a virus to infect a host cell (though in the case of a virus and a human cell, the “jig-saw” aspect is really more related to “charges”, i.e. pluses and minuses, of the proteins – not so much that they are ions, but all chemicals have these physical properties associated with them. Some areas are more positive than others, and some are more negative. These portions of the proteins and biochemicals/biostructure must “fit” together. Take this illustration “with a grain of salt” – it is NOT precise, but rather a simplification.
Other than nerve cells (which is why rabies can easily cause an infection in both animals and humans) the virus receptor sites generally differ greatly from plant-to-plant and animal-to-animal, sometimes even within a species (e.g. in some cases unrelated humans may not become infected by another’s virus – though there are other reasons for this also). These differences in virus receptor sites make viruses in many cases very specific for a particular organism. Mutation of the virus being required for infection of another species (e.g., currently in the news relative to this matter is the “bird flu” virus).
Chemical reactions with disinfections (and also heat – see below) changes the structure of the protein sheath, making infection by that affected virus particle unlikely or impossible due to the change to the protein’s structure. Chems can also affect the RNA/DNA core of a virus particle.
As far as the “bullet”. I’m very skeptical that such is possible. In fact, i simply don’t believe that it is possible. Why? The quaternary structure of protein generally denatures (basically unravels or “cooks”) at or below 140 deg F. The heat generated by firing a bullet, not to mention its impact and resultant rapid decceleration, which once again produces heat by converting kinetic energy to thermal energy due to friction, is much more than sufficient to “cook” the little buggers, but good. The G-forces AREN’T the issue; the temperature/heat IS the issue. Out of billions of viruses on a bullet could one make it through? I don’t know; i haven’t personally conducted an experiment of this nature. However, even if one could, one viral particle probably isn’t sufficient to cause an infection – a larger viral load is often required.
In fact, think about a thermally attenuated vaccine for a viral disease. Heat clearly can do the job to prevent a full blown infection from a vaccine. A bullet being fired and strking an object – both events produce heat.
I can readily understand one’s reluctance to accept certain things as true. I too fall into this error from time to time. For example, having been taught otherwise about Permethrins in an advanced “Entomological Pests” course over 30yrs ago, i was very reluctant to believe that it is safe to treat clothing with Permethrins in many (most???) cases – some people do have bad reactions if inhaled; this is well documented. However, the bottom line in this case was I WAS WRONG. “Buzz Off” clothing has been using Permethrins for some time now, and other experienced Posters to these Forums were patient enough to educate me about my error – for which I thank them. Goes to show, one is never too old to learn – even in my case. I only mention this to try to show that i can understand the other Poster’s reluctance to believe certain things.
As for Bacillus anthracis (a relatively large/long gram-positive rod shaped bacterium, not a virus), which is the etiological agent of the disease Anthrax, forms endospores which resist heat (5min boiling should kill them, but perhaps not 1-2minutes), desiccation, chems, and UV light to some extent.
I was unaware of an 8hr time limit for MIOX to inactivate B. anthracis (its endospores, no doubt; not the unprotected bacterial cells). I wonder what the half-life of the mixed oxidants are? That is, are they still effective after 8hrs? I don’t know. I would like to see other confirmation of this 8hr contact time.
Not all viruses are found inside of bacterial cells. These are particular types of viruses, often termed bacteriophages. Even E. coli has a particular bacteriophage which infects it – the T5 bacteriophage. IIRC, the “burst size”, that is the number of replicated virus particles that can fit inside of an E. coli bacterium before it ruptures or bursts is about 200. This give us an idea of how tiny viruses are and why they can’t be filtered by mechanical barrier filters. Some viruses are larger than the T5 bacteriophage, however, but still much smaller than bacteria. The “burst size” concept is also mentioned since this is part of the infection process and infection/disease progession inside of a human also.
Some viruses are found in nasal secretions, mucus, saliva, and droplet nuclei (those tiny drops that spray out of our partially closed mouth and lips at ~200mph when we forcefully sneeze and spread our “germs” – some are too small to be seen by the naked eye and can be easily inhaled, thus spreading the infection). Viruses are also found independent of bacterial cells and also independent of human cells in our blood and lymph, and other body fluids as mentioned above.
Baceteria are not necessary for the spread of a viral illness. Touching contaminated inanimate objects, like door knobs, etc. and then transferring the viral particles to our mucus membranes, lips, eyes, nose, or into “broken” skin can produce infection. No need for a bacterial vector here. Maybe, i’m just forgetting, but i don’t know of a bacterial vector for a human viral illness. Arthropod vectors for human bacterial / rickettsial diseases, yes, but i can’t recall a bacterial vector for a human viral illness – maybe my “old-timers” is just acting up, but i don’t think that there is one.
Anyways, i hope this post helps to clear up some confusion.
