Inhibitory action of an algal derived xylomannan on glycoprotein-mediated biological properties of herpes simplex virus

C. A. PUJOL; M. C. MATULEWICZ; A. S. CEREZO; E. B. DAMONTE

PHYTOMEDICINE

Gustav Fischer Verlag

Lugar: Sttutgart, Alemania; Año: 1998 vol. 5 p. 205 - 208

0944-7113

A purified sulfated xylomannan, named F6, obtained from the red seaweed Nothogenia fastigiata, proved to be a potent inhibitor of HSV-1 in vitro without affecting cell viability. In a virus yield reduction assay, the inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) was 0.66 g/ml. The mode of action of F6 was ascribed to an inhibitory effect on virus adsorption. The glycoprotein C (gC) of HSV-1 is involved in virus binding to the cell surface heparan sulfate. Furthermore, it mediates other biological activities such as induction of hemagglutination and binding to the third component of complement C3b. The compound F6 was effective in inhibiting hemagglutination induced by HSV-1 and also causes a reduction of 50% in rosette formation between sheep and red blood cells coupled to C3b and cells infected with HSV-1, when added to the reaction mixture in a final concentration of 0.39 and 0.90 g/ml, respectively. These experiments demonstrate that F6 not only inhibits the adsorption of HSV-1 to susceptible cells but also interferes with other biological properties of the virus in which gC is involved, supporting the hypothesis of an interaction between F6 and the viral glycoprotein.