Effect of sialidase fusion protein (DAS 181) on human metapneumovirus infection of Hep-2 cells.
METHODS
Hep-2 cells were preincubated with DAS181 or control DAS185 (a mutated sialidase) prior to inoculation with human metapneumovirus strains. Infectivity was assessed by a cell-based ELISA quantitating human metapneumovirus matrix protein. The effect of DAS181 on binding of recombinant G attachment protein was also determined.


RESULTS
DAS181 blocked infection of human metapneumovirus strains A2, B1, and B2 at low concentrations. No effect of DAS185 was observed. Binding of MPV G protein to Hep-2 cells was also markedly inhibited by preincubation of cells with DAS181.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that human metapneumovirus may utilize sialic acids as an entry cofactor. DAS181 may thus represent a new therapeutic agent useful for the treatment of human metapneumovirus.
1 Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, Australia.|2 Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, Thailand.
Sutthiwan
S
Thammawat
1 Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, Australia.
Tania A
TA
Sadlon
1 Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, Australia.
Penelope
P
Adamson
1 Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, Australia.
David L
DL
Gordon
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D006023:Glycoproteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C525612:oplunofusp
DAS181; Human metapneumovirus; attachment; infectivity; sialic acids; sialidase fusion protein