title: Bovine lactoferrin: involvement of metal saturation and carbohydrates in the inhibition of influenza virus infection.
abstract: Influenza is a highly contagious, acute respiratory illness, which represents one of the main plagues worldwide. Even though some antiviral drugs are available, the alarming increase of virus strains resistant to them highlights the need to find new antiviral compounds. As we have recently demonstrated that bovine lactoferrin (bLf) prevents influenza virus-induced apoptosis, in the present wor,k we have attempted to investigate in depth the mechanism of the anti-influenza virus effect of this protein. To this aim, experiments have been carried out whereby different forms of bLf were added to the cells during different phases of viral infection. Results obtained showed that bLf was able to prevent influenza virus cytopathic effects when incubated with the cells after the adsorption step, independently from ion saturation or carbohydrate content. Moreover, the influence of iron saturations or sialic acid/carbohydrates removal on bLf activity on the early phases of infection has been observed. Our results provide further insights on the antiviral activity of bLf and suggest novel strategies for treatment of influenza virus infection.
authors.affiliation: Ultrastructural Infectious Pathology Section, Department of Technology and Health, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Agostina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietrantoni
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ammendolia
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Superti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001059:Apoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D048430:Cell Shape; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006031:Glycosylation; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008345:Manganese / Q000737:chemistry; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000821:virology*; D011485:Protein Binding; D053585:Virus Attachment / Q000187:drug effects; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001059:Apoproteins; D008345:Manganese; D007501:Iron; D007781:Lactoferrin; D015032:Zinc