Surface texture limits transfer of S. aureus, T4 Bacteriophage, Influenza B virus and Human coronavirus.

Liu, Q.; Brookbank, L.; Ho, A.; Coffey, J.; Brennan, A.; Jones, C. J.

Spread of pathogens on contaminated surfaces plays a key role in disease transmission. Surface technologies that control pathogen transfer can help control fomite transmission and are of great interest to public health. Here, we report a novel bead transfer method for evaluating fomite transmission in common laboratory settings. We show that this method meets several important criteria for quantitative test methods, including reasonableness, relevancy, resemblance, responsiveness, and repeatability, and therefore may be adaptable for standardization. In addition, this method can be applied to a wide variety of pathogens including bacteria, phage, and human viruses. Using the bead transfer method, we demonstrate that an engineered micropattern limits transfer of Staphylococcus aureus by 97.8% and T4 bacteriophage by 93.0% on silicone surfaces. Furthermore, the micropattern significantly reduces transfer of influenza B virus and human coronavirus on silicone and polypropylene surfaces. Our results highlight the potential of using surface texture as a valuable new strategy in combating infectious diseases. Disease transmission often occurs through contact with contaminated surfaces, called fomites. Efforts to reduce this method of fomite transmission include surface cleaning, personal hygiene, alteration of habits, and novel technologies to reduce pathogen spread. This manuscript presents a novel method for the consistent contamination of surfaces to mimic the transmission of pathogens via fomites. Using this method, we present a surface texture modeled on shark skin that significantly reduces the transfer of a variety of pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, influenza B virus, and human coronavirus 229E. Utilization of novel technologies to limit pathogen spread can enhance existing methods of disease mitigation.