title: Antiviral activity of natural and semisynthetic polysaccharides on the early steps of rubella virus infection.
abstract: The natural and semisynthetic carbohydrates scleroglucan, locust bean gum, tamarind gum (glyloid) and its three sulphate derivatives (GP4311, GP4327 and GP4324), glycogen and its two sulphate derivatives (GP4427 and GP4435), alginic acid and dextran sulphate, were investigated for their inhibitory effect on rubella virus (RV) infection of Vero cells. The neutral polymer scleroglucan and two highly negatively charged compounds, glyloid sulphate 4324 and dextran sulphate, had the highest inhibitory effect on RV antigen synthesis. The antiviral properties of active molecules appears to be dependent on the shape of the macromolecule and/or on the electric charge, while saccharide units play a minor role. The results indicated that polysaccharides blocked a step in virus replication subsequent to virus attachment, such as internalization and/or uncoating. Confirmation that the inhibitory activity of the compounds was directed at the early steps of RV multiplication, was that none of the polysaccharides had any effect on infection initiated by transfection of cells with RVRNA.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. mastromarino@axrma.uniroma1.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mastromarino
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petruzziello
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Macchia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rieti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Orsi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005685:Galactans; D005936:Glucans / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006003:Glycogen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008351:Mannans; D053149:Plant Gums; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012409:Rubella / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014162:Transfection; D014709:Vero Cells; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005685:Galactans; D005936:Glucans; D008351:Mannans; D053149:Plant Gums; D011134:Polysaccharides; D012367:RNA, Viral; C018558:glyloid; C045938:scleroglucan; D006003:Glycogen; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; C017471:locust bean gum