title: Mekabu fucoidan: structural complexity and defensive effects against avian influenza A viruses.
abstract: Fucoidan from the sporophyll (Mekabu) of brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida (wakame) is interesting due to its various biological activities. Mekabu fucoidan (Mw ∼ 9 kDa) of this study (MF) was previously isolated and characterized by chemical and separation methods including GPC and methylation analysis (Lee, Hayashi, Hashimoto, Nakano, & Hayashi, 2004). It was found that this fucoidan composed of partially sulphated (DS ∼ 0.72) fucose and galactose at approximately equal amounts. Methylation analyses revealed complex structure of MF. However, it has been still unclear about the linkages between units and substitution patterns. To solve these structural tasks, spectroscopic methods (FTIR, FT Raman and NMR) were used in the analysis of native MF and its deesterified derivatives. According to obtained results, this polysaccharide was defined as O-acetylated sulphated fucogalactan. The defensive effects of MF were evaluated on mice infected with avian influenza A viruses (H5N3 and H7N2 subtypes); its efficacy was determined in reducing viral replication and increasing antibody production. Oral administration of MF resulted in suppressing virus yields. In addition, the production of neutralizing antibodies and mucosal IgA in the animals inoculated with the avian influenza A viruses was significantly increased. These results suggested that MF could be used for the prevention of viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Carbohydrates and Cereals, Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague 6, Czech Republic. Electronic address: sinicaa@vscht.cz.
authors.forename: Andriy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Synytsya
authors.affiliation: Department of Carbohydrates and Cereals, Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bleha
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Alla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Synytsya
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry AS CR, Flemingovo sq. 2, 166 28 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Radek
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences for Research, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.affiliation: Riken Vitamin Co., Ltd., 2-9-18 Misaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8370, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshinaga
authors.affiliation: Riken Vitamin Co., Ltd., 2-9-18 Misaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8370, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Life and Health Sciences, Chubu University, 1200 Matsumoto-cho, Kasugai, Aichi 487-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshimitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004372:Ducks / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D057917:Influenza A Virus, H7N2 Subtype / Q000187:drug effects; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry; D044648:Undaria / Q000737:chemistry*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011134:Polysaccharides; C007789:fucoidan
keywords: Avian influenza A virus; Immunostimulating effect; Mekabu fucoidan; Spectroscopic methods; Sporophyll Undaria pinnatifida