| First Author | Jang Y | Year | 2021 |
| Journal | Sci Rep | Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 821 |
| PubMed ID | 33436985 | Mgi Jnum | J:300269 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6502288 | Doi | 10.1038/s41598-020-80896-9 |
| Citation | Jang Y, et al. (2021) Antiviral activity of lambda-carrageenan against influenza viruses and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Sci Rep 11(1):821 |
| abstractText | 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 mug/ml, as well as currently circulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with an EC50 value of 0.9 +/- 1.1 mug/ml. No toxicity to the host cells was observed at concentrations up to 300 mug/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. |
