Abstract
Effective measures are needed to prevent the spread and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. Chemical inactivation may help to prevent the spread and transmission of this and other viruses. Hence, we tested the SARS-CoV-2 antiviral activity of acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, in vitro. Inactivation and binding assays suggest that acetic acid is virucidal. We found that 6% acetic acid, a concentration typically found in white distilled vinegar, effectively inactivated SARS-CoV-2 after 15-min incubation with a complete loss of replication of competent virus as measured by TCID50. Transmission electron microscopy further demonstrated that 6% acetic acid disrupts SARS-CoV-2 virion structure. In addition, 6% acetic acid significantly inhibits and disrupts the binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding to ACE2, the primary SARS-CoV-2 cell receptor, after contact with spike protein for 5, 10, 30 and 60 minutes incubation. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that acetic acid possesses inactivating activity against SARS-CoV-2 and may represent a safe alternative to commonly used chemical disinfectants to effectively control the spread of SARS-CoV-2.