title: Antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of a novel bacterial exopolysaccharide of shallow marine vent origin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a novel exopolysaccharide (EPS1) from the recently described haloalkaliphilic, thermophilic Bacillus licheniformis strain T14, isolated from a shallow hydrothermal vent of Panarea Island (Italy), for its antiviral and immunomodulatory effects against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  EPS1-T14 hindered the HSV-2 replication in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) but not in WISH cells, indicating that cell-mediated immunity was involved in the antiviral activity. High levels of Th1-type cytokines were detected in supernatants of EPS1-treated PBMC, while Th2-type cytokines were not induced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The novel EPS1-T14 is a water-soluble, noncytotoxic exopolymer able to stimulate the immune response and thus contribute to the antiviral immune defence, acting as immunomodulator.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The exopolysaccharide produced by B. licheniformis strain T14, stimulator of Th1 cell-mediated immunity, could be used as therapy in immunocompromised host.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gugliandolo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spanò
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lentini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Maugeri
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001407:Bacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D060086:Hydrothermal Vents / Q000382:microbiology; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007558:Italy; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C085953:exopolysaccharide, Bacillus
keywords: Bacillus; exopolysaccharide; viruses