Antiviral activity of lauryl gallate against animal viruses.
BACKGROUND
Antiviral compounds are needed in the control of many animal and human diseases.


METHODS
We analysed the effect of the antitumoural drug lauryl gallate on the infectivity of the African swine fever virus among other DNA (herpes simplex and vaccinia) and RNA (influenza, porcine transmissible gastroenteritis and Sindbis) viruses, paying attention to its effect on the viability of the corresponding host cells.


RESULTS
Viral production was strongly inhibited in different cell lines at non-toxic concentrations of the drug (1-10 microM), reducing the titres 3->5 log units depending on the multiplicity of infection. In our model system (African swine fever virus in Vero cells), the addition of the drug 1 h before virus adsorption completely abolished virus productivity in a one-step growth virus cycle. Interestingly, no inhibitory effect was observed when lauryl gallate was added after 5-8 h post-infection. Both cellular and viral DNA synthesis and late viral transcription were inhibited by the drug; however, the early viral protein synthesis and the virus-mediated increase of p53 remained unaffected. Activation of the apoptotic effector caspase-3 was not detected after lauryl gallate treatment of Vero cells. Furthermore, the presence of the drug abrogated the activation of this protease induced by the virus infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Lauryl gallate is a powerful antiviral agent against several pathogens of clinical and veterinary importance. The overall results indicate that a cellular factor or function might be the target of the antiviral action of alkyl gallates.
Hurtado
Carolina
C
Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Bustos
Maria Jose
MJ
Sabina
Prado
P
Nogal
Maria Luisa
ML
Granja
Aitor G
AG
González
Maria Eugenia
ME
Gónzalez-Porqué
Pedro
P
Revilla
Yolanda
Y
Carrascosa
Angel L
AL
D000358:African Swine Fever Virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006224:Cricetinae; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011506:Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014709:Vero Cells; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D011506:Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C008259:lauryl gallate; D005707:Gallic Acid