Surrogate Virus Assay for ASFV Inactivation in Animal Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods fail to effectively evaluate and eliminate megaviruses, such as African swine fever virus (ASFV), in animal feed and products, posing a significant risk of viral transmission through the supply chain.
Innovation Solution
A surrogate virus assay using Emiliania huxleyi virus (EhV) as a proxy for ASFV is employed to monitor and inactivate megaviruses in animal feed and products, utilizing treatments like temperature, citric acid, and salinity to ensure safety for livestock consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current methods are used to evaluate and eliminate megaviruses in animal feed, then the evaluation process can be completed, but the methods fail to effectively eliminate the viruses, posing transmission risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a surrogate virus assay where a surrogate virus serves as an intermediary to evaluate the effectiveness of virus-inactivating treatments. The surrogate virus is inoculated into animal feed, subjected to treatments (heat, citric acid, salinity), and then tested for inactivation. This intermediary approach allows indirect assessment of treatment efficacy against megaviruses without directly handling dangerous pathogens, thereby improving reliability while reducing transmission risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy model using surrogate viruses that mimic the behavior and inactivation characteristics of actual megaviruses like ASFV. By working with these surrogate copies rather than the actual dangerous viruses, the system can evaluate treatment effectiveness reliably while minimizing the harmful transmission risk associated with handling real megaviruses.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If surrogate virus assay is implemented to monitor megavirus in animal feed, then the risk of viral transmission is reduced, but the complexity of the monitoring process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the dangerous element (actual megavirus) from the monitoring process and replaces it with a surrogate virus that can be safely handled. This extraction allows the monitoring system to function effectively while reducing transmission risk, though it adds procedural steps for surrogate virus inoculation, treatment application, and detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions by inoculating the surrogate virus into animal feed before applying virus-inactivating treatments. This preliminary setup creates a controlled test environment where treatment effectiveness can be evaluated. The additional steps of surrogate virus introduction and controlled treatment application increase process complexity but enable reliable safety assessment.
3Reliability
If multiple treatments (temperature, citric acid, salinity) are applied to inactivate megavirus, then the virus inactivation effectiveness is improved, but the number of process parameters to control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multiple virus-inactivating treatments (thermal treatment at 65-85°C, citric acid exposure, and increased salinity) that can each independently inactivate the surrogate virus. This multi-functional approach ensures reliable virus inactivation through multiple mechanisms, though it increases the number of process parameters that must be controlled and monitored.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in multiple physical and chemical parameters (temperature from 65-85°C, citric acid concentration, salinity levels) to achieve virus inactivation. By varying these parameters, the system can effectively inactivate the surrogate virus and assess treatment effectiveness, though managing and controlling multiple parameters increases process complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The assay provides a risk-free, in situ method to assess the effectiveness of virus-inactivating treatments, reducing the risk of megavirus transmission and ensuring the safety of animal feed throughout the supply chain.
Implementation Method 1
exposure to a temperature of at least 65° C. for at least one minute, exposure to a temperature of at least 85° C. for at least one second
Implementation Method 2
exposure to citric acid
Implementation Method 3
exposure to increased salinity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for monitoring the presence or absence of a megavirus in animal feed, an animal feed ingredient, or an animal product uses a surrogate virus assay. The surrogate virus assay generally includes, inoculating the animal feed, animal feed ingredient, or animal product with a surrogate virus as a proxy for the megavirus, subjecting the animal feed, animal feed ingredient, or animal product to a treatment that inactivates the megavirus and the surrogate virus, waiting a predetermined period of time, and determining the presence or absence of the surrogate virus in the animal feed, animal feed ingredient, or animal product, thereby monitoring the presence or absence of the megavirus in the animal feed, animal feed ingredient, or animal product.