Antiviral activity of exopolysaccharides from Arthrospira platensis against koi herpesvirus

Abstract

Although koi herpesvirus (KHV) has a history of causing severe economic losses in common carp and koi farms, there are still no treatments available on the market. Thus, the aim of this study was to test exopolysaccharides (EPS) for its antiviral activity against KHV, by monitoring inhibition and cytotoxic effects in common carp brain cells. These substances can be easily extracted from extracellular algae supernatant and were identified as groups of sulphated polysaccharides. In order to reach this aim, Arthrospira platensis, which is well known for its antiviral activity of intra- and extracellular compounds towards mammalian herpesviruses, was investigated as standard organism and compared to commercial antiviral drug, ganciclovir, which inhibits the viral DNA polymerization. The antiviral activity of polysaccharides of A. platensis against KHV was confirmed in vitro using qualitative assessment of KHV life cycle genes, and it was found by RT-PCR that EPS, applied at a concentration of >18 μg mL and a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.45 of KHV, suppressed the viral replication in common carp brain (CCB) cells even after 22 days post-infection, entirely. Further, this study presents first data indicating an enormous potential using polysaccharides as an additive for aquacultures to lower or hinder the spread of the KHV and koi herpesvirus disease (KHVD) in future.

Anti-CyHV-3 effect of fluorescent, tricyclic derivative of acyclovir 6-(4-MeOPh)-TACV in vitro

“…Recently it was discovered that extract from Clinacanthus nutans L. is active against CyHV-3 in experiments in vivo (12). Exopolysaccharide from Arthrospira platensis L. also indicated anti-CyHV-3 activity in experiments in vitro (18). In addition, our recent study proved that acyclovir inhibits CyHV-3 replication in experiments in vitro (24).…”

“…Although ACV and T-ACV were not examined in the same experiment, a similar effect would have been expected because the antiviral activities of ACV and T-ACV against HSV-1 and HSV-2 were similar in a mammalian system (9,10). On the other hand, ganciclovir, another nucleoside analogue that differs from ACV by the presence of an additional CH2OH moiety, was also inactive against CyHV-3 virus (18). Based on these findings, it seems probable that there might be very narrow specificity of CyHV-3-encoded DNA polymerase for ACV-based molecules.…”

Acyclovir inhibits Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 multiplication in vitro

“…The anti‐CyHV‐3 activity of both nucleoside analogues was not described. Previously, Reichert, Bergmann, Hwang, Buchholz, and Lindenberger () demonstrated that another nucleoside analogue, ganciclovir (GCV), had no effect on CyHV‐3 replication in vitro. However, the GCV is different from the ACV because of the presence of an additional CH 2 OH moiety on the side chain (Marcier & Mertz, ).…”

Effect of Spirulina platensis Biomass with High Polysaccharides Content on Quality Attributes of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Common Barbel (Barbus barbus) Fish Burgers

“…This cyanobacterium contains a very potent naturally occurring antioxidant and free radical scavenging agents such as pigments (phycocyanin and Beta-carotene) [10] and polysaccharides [11], that are well-known products to protect against various diseases, such as renal failure [12], hypertension [13] and cancers [11,14]. Besides their antioxidant effects, pigments and polysaccharides of Spirulina platensis have been found to show antibacterial and antiviral activities [15,16].…”