title: Lactoferrin inhibits early steps of human BK polyomavirus infection.
abstract: Lactoferrin, a member of the transferrin family, is a bi-globular iron binding glycoprotein, found in milk, exocrine secretions of mammals, and in secondary granules of polymorphonuclear neutrophiles that plays an important role in the defence against various pathogenic microorganisms. Previous studies in different virus-cell systems showed that lactoferrin is a potent inhibitor of different enveloped and naked virus infection. In this research we studied the effect of lactoferrin on BK polyomavirus, a human naked double-stranded DNA virus responsible for productive, persistent, and latent infections of the urinary tract. Results obtained demonstrate that lactoferrin treatment prevents early steps of BK virus infection in Vero cells, at the level of the adsorption phase, probably through the interaction with capsidic structures, although a lactoferrin-BK virus competition for cell plasma-membrane receptors cannot be ruled out.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Longhi
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pietropaolo
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mischitelli
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longhi
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tinari
authors.forename: Piera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: Anna Marta
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Degener
authors.forename: Lucilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seganti
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Superti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001739:BK Virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D014709:Vero Cells; D053585:Virus Attachment / Q000187:drug effects; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007781:Lactoferrin