Article: Urban particulate matter impairs airway-surface-liquid-mediated coronavirus inactivation

Authors: Emma M Stapleton, Jennifer L Welch, Erika A Ubeda, Jinhua Xiang, Joseph Zabner, Ian M Thornell, Matthew W Nonnenmann, Jack T Stapleton, Alejandro P Comellas

Journal: J Infect Dis. 2021 Nov 3;jiab545

Abstract:
Air pollution particulate matter (PM) is associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity, although mechanistic studies are lacking. We tested whether airway surface liquid (ASL) from primary human airway epithelial cells is antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 and 229E-CoV (responsible for common colds), and whether PM (urban, indoor (IAP), volcanic ash) affected ASL antiviral activity. ASL inactivated SARS-CoV-2 and 229E-CoV. Independently, urban PM also decreased SARS-CoV-2 and 229E-CoV-2 infection, and IAP decreased 229E-CoV infection. However, in combination, urban PM impaired ASL’s antiviral activity against both viruses and the same effect occurred for IAP and ash against SARS-CoV-2, suggesting PM may enhance SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Link to journal online: https://academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/infdis/jiab545/6409238