title: Lactoferrin and lactoferricin inhibit Herpes simplex 1 and 2 infection and exhibit synergy when combined with acyclovir.
abstract: Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein, which plays an important role in immune regulation and defense mechanisms against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Upon peptic digestion of LF, a peptide called lactoferricin (Lfcin) is generated. Lfcin corresponds to the N-terminal part of the protein. In this study we investigated the antiviral activity of bovine and human Lfcin against Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 and HSV-2. The 50% effective concentrations (EC(50)) for LF and Lfcin against several clinical isolates of HSV-1 and HSV-2, including acyclovir (ACV)-resistant strains, were determined. We further evaluated the effect of the combination of either LF or Lfcin with ACV against HSV-1 and HSV-2. Synergy was observed between both LF or Lfcin in combination with ACV against the HSV laboratory strains. The 50% effective concentration (EC(50)) for ACV and LF or Lfcin, when combined with ACV, could be reduced by two- to sevenfold compared to the EC(50) when the drugs were used alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of North Norway, N-9038, Tromsø, Norway. jeanette.andersen@unn.no
authors.forename: Jeanette Hammer
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Håvard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jenssen
authors.forename: Tore Jarl
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gutteberg
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D004357:Drug Synergism; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D014709:Vero Cells; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; C082171:lactoferricin B; D007781:Lactoferrin; D000212:Acyclovir