title: Antiviral Activity of Ctn[15-34], A Cathelicidin-Derived Eicosapeptide, Against Infectious Myonecrosis Virus in Litopenaeus vannamei Primary Hemocyte Cultures.
abstract: The shrimp farming has been converted into a mature aquaculture industry dealing with over millions of metric tonnes of processed commodities. Nevertheless, the global shrimp productions are constantly threatened by disease outbreaks, mainly triggered by rapidly disseminating viruses. Infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) is one of these epizootic agents affecting shrimp production in Brazil, of which no treatment exists. Herein, the antiviral activity against IMNV of an eicosapeptide, named Ctn[15-34], derived from a member of the cathelicidin family of antimicrobial peptides, was demonstrated. Cultures of hemocytes from Litopenaeus vannamei were established that support IMNV replication and infectivity titration. The cytotoxic effect of IMNV in culture and the in vitro anti-IMNV activity of Ctn[15-34] were assessed using a high-sensitive fluorescent-based method in combination with quantitative PCR. The Ctn[15-34] (<12.5 µM) neutralized the toxic effects of IMNV at loads sufficient to kill 50% of shrimp hemocytes. This study reported for the first time the replication of IMNV in vitro and the employment of a straightforward methodology to assess cell viability and viral/antiviral activities. In addition, it provided the basis for the development of the anti-infective multi-effector Ctn[15-34] eicosapeptide and analogs as components of antiviral formulations against shrimp viral diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Institute for Marine Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Av. da Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, CE, 60165-081, Brazil.|Northeast Biotechnology Network (RENORBIO), Post-graduation program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, 60455-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: P R N
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9210-092X
authors.initials: PRN
authors.lastname: Vieira-Girão
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Institute for Marine Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Av. da Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, CE, 60165-081, Brazil.|Faculty of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing, the Federal University of Ceará, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, 60740-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Falcão
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute for Education, Science and Technology, Acaraú, CE, 62580-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: I R C B
authors.initials: IRCB
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute for Education, Science and Technology, Acaraú, CE, 62580-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: H M R
authors.initials: HMR
authors.lastname: Lucena
authors.affiliation: Department of Fishery Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, 60356-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: F H F
authors.initials: FHF
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Institute for Marine Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Av. da Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, CE, 60165-081, Brazil. gandhi.radis@ufc.br.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rádis-Baptista
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology*; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000821:virology*; D019196:Totiviridae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D054804:Cathelicidins
keywords: Anti-infective peptide; Cathelicidin-derived eicosapeptide; Fluorescence cell viability/cytotoxicity assay; Hemocyte in vitro culture; IMN virus; L. vannamei aquaculture