title: Ceragenins: a class of antiviral compounds to treat orthopox infections.
abstract: Eczema vaccinatum is a potentially fatal, disseminated viral skin infection that develops in individuals with atopic dermatitis after exposure to the vaccinia virus (VV). Despite advances in modern medicine, there are few options for those suffering from disseminated VV infections. Ceragenins (CSAs) are synthetic antimicrobial compounds designed to mimic the structure and function of endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We show that CSA-13 exhibits potent antiviral activity against VV by (1) direct antiviral effects against VV; and (2) stimulating the expression of endogenous AMPs with known antiviral activity against VV. In addition, we show that a topical application of CSA-13 penetrates the skin and reduces subsequent satellite lesion formation. This suggests that treatment with CSA-13 may be an intervention for individuals with a disseminated VV skin infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA. howellm@njc.org
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Joanne E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Streib
authors.forename: Byung Eui
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Leighann J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Lesley
authors.forename: Annegret P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Dunlap
authors.forename: Dianliang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Yanshu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: Donald Y M
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D016513:Mice, SCID; D012867:Skin / Q000821:virology; D013256:Steroids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014615:Vaccinia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014709:Vero Cells; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D013256:Steroids; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C521528:ceragenin CSA-13