Strain-specific aggregation of enterovirus by dextran sulfate

Abstract

Dextran sulfate aggregates several enteroviruses depending not only on the pH, the ionic strength of the medium, but also on the protein content of the fluids and on strain specificities of the viruses. The aggregation effect was measured by filtration experiments, by sedimentation in the ultracentrifuge and by electron microscopy. The well known inhibiting effect of dextran sulfate on plaque formation may be due to its aggregating effect: A very strong inhibition of the release of matured virions from the infected cells is observed in medium containing dextran sulfate, whereas the adsorption process is inhibited much less compared with PBS controls. The maximal effect on virus aggregation, plaque size and virus release is observed at the same concentration of dextran sulfate.

Cell Density Effects in Different Cell Culture Media and Their Impact on the Propagation of Foot-And-Mouth Disease Virus

“…The replication of many enveloped viruses is inhibited by the attachment of dextran sulfate to the viral capsid [38,39]. We found no studies of FMDV and dextran sulfate, but other picornaviruses such as hepatitis A virus, poliovirus and coxsackievirus were inhibited, either in their attachment to the cell or during the release of mature virions [40,41,42].…”