Mason Delacroix
Alcohol is a well-known disinfectant that is effective against a variety of microorganisms. It is commonly used to kill microbes on surfaces and is also a popular ingredient in hand sanitizers. However, not all microorganisms are destroyed by alcohol. Alcohol is ineffective against certain types of infectious agents, and its effectiveness varies depending on the type of alcohol and its concentration. So, which organisms are not destroyed by alcohol?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Naked viruses | Do not contain an outer lipid layer |
| Enveloped viruses | Contain an outer lipid layer |
| Bacterial endospores | |
| Vegetative bacterial cells |
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Naked viruses
Alcohol is a disinfectant that kills microorganisms by breaking down cell membranes and protein structures. Specifically, alcohol breaks down the proteins in the lipid bilayer membrane, causing disruption. However, naked viruses, lacking this lipid bilayer, are not affected by alcohol in the same way.
The Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is an example of a virus that is highly resistant to alcohol-based disinfectants. HEV circulates in the environment as a naked virus and is assumed to have higher stability and resistance to chemical disinfectants compared to enveloped viruses.
In a study, ethanol was found to disrupt the quasi-envelope of HEV while leaving the infectious naked virions intact. This suggests that alcohol does not effectively destroy the HEV virus, which is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide.
It is important to note that the concentration of alcohol plays a role in its effectiveness as an antimicrobial agent. Higher concentrations of alcohol are more effective at killing microorganisms, with 100% alcohol being the most potent. However, even at high concentrations, alcohol does not destroy all types of microorganisms, including some naked viruses.
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Enveloped viruses
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, for example, is an enveloped virus that can be effectively neutralised by alcohol-based hand sanitisers with an alcohol concentration of at least 60%. The effectiveness of alcohol-based disinfectants depends on various factors, including the type and concentration of alcohol, the formulation and nature of the product, the presence of excipients, the applied volume, contact time, and viral contamination load.
The mechanism by which alcohol destroys enveloped viruses is primarily through the disruption of the lipid bilayer membrane. Alcohol breaks down the proteins present in this membrane, causing it to break apart and release the cytoplasm. This action is more effective when alcohol is mixed with a small amount of water, as protein degradation occurs faster in this mixture.
It is important to note that not all viruses are destroyed by alcohol. Non-enveloped viruses, for instance, are relatively more resistant to alcohol due to the absence of a lipid membrane. Additionally, the cidal activity of alcohol drops sharply when diluted below 50% concentration, with the optimum bactericidal concentration ranging from 60% to 90% solutions in water.
The use of alcohol as a disinfectant is common in healthcare settings, where it is valued for its rapid bactericidal properties. Alcohol-based disinfectants are also recommended for use on inanimate objects and surfaces to prevent the spread of enveloped viruses.
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Vegetative bacterial cells
Alcohol is a disinfectant that kills microorganisms by breaking down cell membranes and protein structures. The effectiveness of alcohol as an antimicrobial agent increases with higher concentrations, with 100% alcohol being the most effective.
The outer membranes of human cells, in contrast, are composed of lipids, which can be dissolved by organic solvents like ethanol. However, the human body typically only comes into contact with small amounts of diluted alcohol, which is why mouthwash, for example, does not kill the cells in our mouths.
The antimicrobial action of alcohol is most effective when it is diluted with water. This is because proteins are denatured more quickly in the presence of water. The optimum bactericidal concentration of alcohol is 60%–90% solutions in water.
While alcohol is effective against vegetative bacterial cells, it does not destroy bacterial spores.
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Bacterial endospores
Additionally, a study on the survival of Bacillus spores in alcohol found that spores of various Bacillus species showed prolonged tolerance to different alcohol levels, with some surviving for more than 12 months at certain concentrations. However, at 90% ethanol, no survival was observed beyond 2-12 months.
The resistance of bacterial endospores to alcohol and other disinfectants is a concern in healthcare settings, as it contributes to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens. Understanding the mechanisms of endospore resistance is crucial for developing effective disinfection and sterilization procedures to prevent the transmission of bacterial infections.
While bacterial endospores exhibit a high level of resistance to alcohol and other environmental stresses, their susceptibility to different concentrations of alcohol and the combination of alcohol with other agents can vary. Further research and understanding of the factors influencing endospore resistance are important for developing effective strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance.
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Prions
Prion diseases are universally fatal and cause a swift full-system shutdown, with symptoms such as uncontrolled drooling, uncoordinated movement, and convulsions. These diseases are caused by misfolded prion proteins that kill neurons in the brain, leaving the brain full of holes and producing no immune response. Famous prion diseases include mad cow disease, kuru, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.
The discovery of prions and their role in disease was first observed in the 1950s among the Fore tribe in New Guinea, where a fatal disease called kuru, meaning "trembling in fear", was identified. Victims of kuru gradually lost the ability to walk, swallow, and chew, leading to drastic weight loss and eventual death. Carleton Gajdusek, a virologist, studied this disease and its cause, which was later found to be transmissible to chimpanzees and humans through the consumption of contaminated brain tissue.
The idea that a protein alone could transmit disease has been a topic of debate since the 1960s. Stanley Prusiner, a biologist who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1997, coined the term "prion" in 1982 and provided evidence that purified prions can transmit spongiform disease. Despite ongoing skepticism, prions have been shown to be highly resistant to decontamination methods, including those using alcohol, and can remain infectious even after standard sterilisation procedures.
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Frequently asked questions
Naked viruses, bacterial endospores, and prions are not destroyed by alcohol.
Alcohol disrupts microorganisms by breaking down cell membranes and protein structures.
Enveloped viruses, vegetative bacterial cells, and fungi are all destroyed by alcohol.
The higher the concentration of alcohol, the more effective it is at destroying microorganisms, with 100% alcohol being the most effective. However, a concentration of 60%-90% alcohol is already effective at destroying most microorganisms.
