Prions are impressively listed. It is powerful because of its tolerance and evolution. The answer combs the means by which human beings "destroy" prions. "Under 360 is still contagious; High pressure sterilization of surgical instruments is invalid; Formaldehyde and strong alkali cannot be inactivated; Ultraviolet rays and rays encounter resistance; Protease can't work ... "I feel that this virus has cultivated a" indestructible body ".
In fact, prion is the familiar "mad cow disease virus", which can destroy the nervous system, lead to spongy cavities in the brain and spread across species. Its safety level is biosafety level 3, and its risk is equivalent to that of SARS virus and rabies virus.
Since inactivation is difficult, how are large animals infected with mad cow disease treated? Can you guarantee safety?
"Traditionally, disposal methods such as burying, burning and refining are generally adopted," said Qi Jun 1 16, director of the Institute of Medical Support Technology, Institute of Systems Engineering, Academy of Military Sciences, in an interview with the Science and Technology Daily reporter. "It is not only infected animals that need treatment, but also infected experimental animals and vaccine-producing animals that humans need in the research process. Therefore, in the research work, completely strangled equipment is essential. "
In the traditional way, burying only plays the role of isolation, but can not really inactivate the virus. The virus is still a "time bomb". However, incineration and refining are pungent, limited by the site, damaging the environment, incomplete sterilization and many residues.
"The Cuban government is also deeply disturbed by the treatment of infected animals. 20 14 years, I hope China can support the technology and equipment for large-scale high-temperature alkali hydrolysis of infected animals. " Qi said that the harmless treatment equipment for large-scale infected animals by high-temperature alkaline hydrolysis designed as required has recently passed the acceptance of the Cuban expert group.
Previously, with the support of the National 863 Program, the Institute of Medical Support Technology, Institute of Systems Engineering, Academy of Military Sciences, developed a harmless treatment equipment for small infected animals by high-temperature alkaline hydrolysis, and obtained the only national invention patent of this kind of equipment in China. Qi Chengjian introduced: "High-temperature alkaline hydrolysis combines the effects of high temperature and strong alkali to hydrolyze protein, lipids, nucleic acids and carbohydrates into water-soluble small molecular fragments."
After receiving the technical assistance from Cuba, the institute organized its strength on the basis of the previous technical reserves to urgently carry out the work of engineering technical scheme design, equipment production, system joint debugging and testing, etc. Large animals are huge with dense bones, hooves and horns. It is very difficult to completely inactivate viruses in these tissues and cells. "Qi Chengjian said.
An environment in which high temperature and strong alkali can "closely cooperate" and "play well" is essential. Qi Chengjian said: "We have designed a continuous lye internal circulation system in a high-temperature and high-pressure container to accelerate the hydrolysis process of lye and animal tissues."
"Killing the virus is a violent chemical reaction, which puts strict requirements on the container that carries the reaction." Qi Chengjian said that it is not only reflected in the selection of materials and the technology of equipment manufacturing, but also must start from the design of the source.
In order to reduce stress concentration and make the deformation of each part of the tank as uniform as possible, the research group optimized the length-diameter ratio and welding process of the high-pressure hydrolysis container through rigorous calculation and simulation design.
In addition, "according to the requirements of high temperature, high pressure, high corrosion and biological safety of alkali hydrolysis equipment, the process parameters and processes such as design temperature, alkali concentration and waste gas are optimized to realize automatic monitoring, effectively shortening the treatment period and ensuring safe operation." Qi Chengjian said.