Antiviral activity of lambda-carrageenan against influenza viruses and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
- Authors
- Jang, Yejin; Shin, Heegwon; Lee, Myoung Kyu; Kwon, Oh Seung; Shin, Jin Soo; Kim, Yong-il; Kim, Chan Woo; Lee, Hye-Ra; Kim, Meehyein
- Issue Date
- 12-Jan-2021
- Publisher
- NATURE RESEARCH
- Citation
- SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v.11, no.1
- Indexed
- SCIE
SCOPUS
- Journal Title
- SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
- Volume
- 11
- Number
- 1
- URI
- https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/50124
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41598-020-80896-9
- ISSN
- 2045-2322
- Abstract
- Influenza virus and coronavirus, belonging to enveloped RNA viruses, are major causes of human respiratory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the broad spectrum antiviral activity of a naturally existing sulfated polysaccharide, lambda-carrageenan (lambda-CGN), purified from marine red algae. Cell culture-based assays revealed that the macromolecule efficiently inhibited both influenza A and B viruses with EC50 values ranging from 0.3 to 1.4 mu g/ml, as well as currently circulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with an EC50 value of 0.9 +/- 1.1 mu g/ml. No toxicity to the host cells was observed at concentrations up to 300 mu g/ml. Plaque titration and western blot analysis verified that lambda-CGN reduced expression of viral proteins in cell lysates and suppressed progeny virus production in culture supernatants in a dose-dependent manner. This polyanionic compound exerts antiviral activity by targeting viral attachment to cell surface receptors and preventing virus entry. Moreover, its intranasal administration to mice during influenza A viral challenge not only alleviated infection-mediated reductions in body weight but also protected 60% of mice from virus-induced mortality. Thus, lambda-CGN could be a promising antiviral agent for preventing infection with several respiratory viruses.
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Collections - Graduate School > Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics > 1. Journal Articles
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