Characterization of a highly evolved vaccine-derived poliovirus type 3 isolated from sewage in Estonia

Two types of vaccine-derived polioviruses have been recently designated to emphasize the different origins of the evolved viruses: circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV) associated with outbreaks of paralytic disease and strains isolated from chronically infected immunodeficient individuals (iVDPV). We describe here a type 3 VDPV (PV3/EST/02/E252; later E252) isolated from sewage collected in Tallinn, Estonia, in October 2002. Due to aberrant properties in subtyping, the virus was subjected to detailed characterization. Partial genomic sequencing suggested that the closest relative was the oral vaccine strain PV3/Sabin, but the two virus strains shared only 86.7% of the 900 nucleotides (nt) coding for the capsid protein VP1. Phylogenetic analysis of the nearly complete genome [nt 19 to poly(A)] revealed multiple nucleotide substitutions throughout the genome and a possible Sabin 3/Sabin 1-recombination junction site in the 2C coding region. A calculation based on the estimated mutation frequency of the P1 region of polioviruses suggested that the E252 virus might have replicated in one or more individuals for approximately 10 years. No persons chronically excreting poliovirus are known in Estonia. Amino acid substitutions were seen in all known antigenic sites, which was consistent with the observed aberrant antigenic properties of the virus demonstrated by both monoclonal antibodies and human sera from vaccinated children. In spite of the apparent transmission potential, no evidence was obtained for circulation of the virus in the Estonian population.     

Antiviral activity of Basidiomycete mycelia against influenza type A(serotype H1N1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 in cell culture

In this study, we investigated the in vitro antiviral activity of the mycelia of higher mushrooms against influenza virus type A(serotype H1N1) and herpes simplex virus type 2(HSV-2), strain BH. All 10 investigated mushroom species inhibited the reproduction of influenza virus strain A/FM/1/47(H1N1) in MDCK cells reducing the infectious titer by 2.0–6.0 lg ID50. Four species, Pleurotus ostreatus, Fomes fomentarius, Auriporia aurea, and Trametes versicolor, were also determined to be effective against HSV-2 strain BH in RK-13 cells, with similar levels of inhibition as for influenza. For some of the investigated mushroom species—Pleurotus eryngii, Lyophyllum shimeji, and Flammulina velutipes—this is the first report of an anti-influenza effect. This study also reports the first data on the medicinal properties of A. aurea, including anti-influenza and antiherpetic activities. T. versicolor 353 mycelium was found to have a high therapeutic index(324.67), and may be a promising material for the pharmaceutical industry as an anti-influenza and antiherpetic agent with low toxicity. Mycelia with antiviral activity were obtained in our investigation by bioconversion of agricultural wastes(amaranth flour after CO2 extraction), which would reduce the cost of the final product and solve some ecological problems.     

Antiviral activity of Basidiomycete mycelia against influenza type A (serotype H1N1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 in cell culture

In this study, we investigated the in vitro antiviral activity of the mycelia of higher mushrooms against influenza virus type A(serotype H1N1) and herpes simplex virus type 2(HSV-2), strain BH. All 10 investigated mushroom species inhibited the reproduction of influenza virus strain A/FM/1/47(H1N1) in MDCK cells reducing the infectious titer by 2.0–6.0 lg ID50. Four species, Pleurotus ostreatus, Fomes fomentarius, Auriporia aurea, and Trametes versicolor, were also determined to be effective against HSV-2 strain BH in RK-13 cells, with similar levels of inhibition as for influenza. For some of the investigated mushroom species—Pleurotus eryngii, Lyophyllum shimeji, and Flammulina velutipes—this is the first report of an anti-influenza effect. This study also reports the first data on the medicinal properties of A. aurea, including anti-influenza and antiherpetic activities. T. versicolor 353 mycelium was found to have a high therapeutic index(324.67), and may be a promising material for the pharmaceutical industry as an anti-influenza and antiherpetic agent with low toxicity. Mycelia with antiviral activity were obtained in our investigation by bioconversion of agricultural wastes(amaranth flour after CO2 extraction), which would reduce the cost of the final product and solve some ecological problems.     

Antiviral activity of the 3''-amino derivative of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2''-deoxyuridine.

3'-NH2-BV-dUrd, the 3'-amino derivative of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine, was found to be a potent and selective inhibitor of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) replication. 3'-NH2-BV-dUrd was about 4-12 times less potent but equally selective in its anti-herpes activity as BV-dUrd. Akin to BV-dUrd, 3'-NH2-BV-dUrd was much less inhibitory to herpes simplex virus type 2 than type 1. It was totally inactive against a thymidine kinase-deficient mutant of HSV-1. The 5'-triphosphate of 3'-NH2-BV-dUrd (3'-NH2-BV-dUTP) was evaluated for its inhibitory effects on purified herpes viral and cellular DNA polymerases. Among the DNA polymerases tested, HSV-1 DNA polymerase and DNA polymerase alpha were the most sensitive to inhibition by 3'-NH2-BV-dUTP (Ki values 0.13 and 0.10 microM, respectively). The Km/Ki ratio for DNA polymerase alpha was 47, as compared with 4.6 for HSV-1 DNA polymerase. Thus, the selectivity of 3'-NH2-BV-dUrd as an anti-herpes agent cannot be ascribed to a discriminative effect of its 5'-triphosphate at the DNA polymerase level. This selectivity most probably resides at the thymidine kinase level. 3'-NH2-BV-dUrd would be phosphorylated preferentially by the HSV-1-induced thymidine kinase (Ki 1.9 microM, as compared with greater than 200 microM for the cellular thymidine kinase), and this preferential phosphorylation would confine the further action of the compound to the virus-infected cell.     

Antiviral activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts and of an isolated polysaccharide from Agaricus brasiliensis against poliovirus type 1

AIMS: Agaricus brasiliensis (previously named Agaricus blazei ss. Heinem), also known as the sun mushroom is native of Southeast Brazil, and is widely consumed, mainly in the form of tea, due to its nutritional and pharmacological properties. In this study, we tested aqueous (AqE) and ethanol (EtOHE) extracts and an isolated polysaccharide (PLS) from the fruiting body of A. brasiliensis, for antiviral activity against poliovirus type 1 in HEp-2 cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: The evaluation of the time of addition by plaque assay showed that when AqE, PLS and EtOHE were added, just after the virus inoculation (time 0 h), there was a concentration-dependent reduction in the number of plaques up to 50%, 67% and 88%, respectively, with a selectivity index (SI) of 5.4, 9.9 and 12.3, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The test substances showed antiviral activity and were more effective when added during the poliovirus infection. As they had little effect on reducing viral adsorption and did not show any virucidal effect, we suggest that they act at the initial stage of the replication of poliovirus. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results corroborate that basidiomycetes can be a rich source of potential antiviral compounds.     

Production and characterization of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against poliovirus type 1, 2, and 3

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies were produced against a reference vaccine or a reference wild strain of poliovirus type 1, 2, and 3. After 26 fusions, 55 monoclonal antibodies were obtained with serotype 1 as the immunizing antigen, 180 with serotype 2, and 115 with serotype 3. The neutralizing activity of these monoclonal antibodies was tested first with the two reference strains and then if reactive, against a panel of 10 well-characterized strains of each serotype, 5 vaccinelike (VL) and 5 nonvaccinelike (NVL). All monoclonal antibodies were type specific without reactivity with any of the heterologous strains. There was a wide range of reactivity within the strains of each serotype. Several monoclonal antibodies to serotype 1 reacted with all type 1 strains, while several neutralized strongly all VL strains and weakly one or more of the NVL strains. Most of the 180 monoclonal antibodies to serotype 2 neutralized to various degrees all strains of this serotype and about half reacted very strongly with all homologous strains whether VL or NVL. None could differentiate all VL and NVL homologous strains. Of the 115 monoclonal antibodies to serotype 3, several monoclonal antibodies neutralize to various levels all homologous strains and some can differentiate VL and NVL strains.     

Enzymatic and chemical preparation of 5-amino-4-chloro-2-(2,3-dihydroxyphen-1-yl)-3(2H)-pyridazinone

A hypothetical intermediate of the microbial degradation of pyrazon, 5-amino-4-chloro-2(2,3-dihydroxyphen-1-yl)-3(2H)-pyridazinone, was prepared by enzymatic and chemical treatment of 5-amino-4-chloro-2(2,3-dihydroxy-cyclohexa-4,6-dien-1-yl)-pyridazinone. The properties of the metabolite are described.     

Enhancement in antimicrobial activity of 2-(phenyl)-3-(2-butyl-4-chloro-1H-imidazolyl)-5-butylate isoxazolidine

The trans rich isomer, 2-(phenyl)-3-(2-butyl-4-chloro-1H-imidazolyl)-5-butylate isoxazolidine A (>96% ee) was synthesized by the condensation of E isomer rich nitrone 4 (>98% ee) with butyl acrylate in an inert solvent. Obtained isoxazolidine was screened for its antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Cephalosporium acremonium, Fusarium moniliforme by using Nystatin as positive control. It was also tested for its antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus by using Streptomycin as positive control. Enhanced antifungal activity was observed in isoxazolidine of >96% ee compared to the isoxazolidine of >69% ee (B), and enhancement was not observed in antibacterial activity.     

Antiviral activity of a bile pigment, biliverdin, against human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) in vitro.

Biliverdin (BV), a bile pigment, was examined for its antiviral activity against human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) in vitro. BV (10 micrograms/ml) markedly inhibited HHV-6 replication in MT-4 cells when the cells were treated during a virus adsorption period. Its antiviral effect was weakened when cells were treated after adsorption. Treatment of cells with BV (40 micrograms/ml) 3 hr after virus infection had no inhibitory effect on virus replication. Virus replication was also significantly inhibited by treatment of MT-4 cells with BV (10 micrograms/ml) before infection, while the virions were not inactivated by BV (20 micrograms/ml). Bilirubin and urobilin, metabolic derivatives of BV, showed slight inhibitory effects on virus replication in the cells. On the other hand, BV had no potent inhibitory activity in the replication of herpes simplex virus-1 or human cytomegalovirus. These observations suggest that BV could interact with MT-4 cells to inhibit an early stage of HHV-6 infection in a virus-specific manner.     

(2R,3S)-(+)- and (2S,3R)-(-)-Halofuginone lactate: synthesis, absolute configuration, and activity against Cryptosporidium parvum

The trans-enantiomers of the commercially important anti-protozoal compound Halofuginone have been prepared and characterized, and the absolute configuration was assigned by X-ray crystallography. The activity of both enantiomers against Cryptosporidium parvum was determined in vitro and related to acute toxicity in vivo. It was shown that both the activity and the toxicity are properties of the (2R,3S)-enantiomer. We conclude that with respect to broadening the therapeutic window there is no advantage in application of one enantiomer over the application of the racemic mixture in the treatment of C. parvum infections.     

Synthesis, antibacterial activity, and quantitative structure-activity relationships of new (Z)-2-(nitroimidazolylmethylene)-3(2H)-benzofuranone derivatives

A new series of (Z)-2-(1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole-2-ylmethylene)-3(2H)-benzofuranones (11a-p) and (Z)-2-(1-methyl-4-nitroimidazole-5-ylmethylene)-3(2H)-benzofuranones (12a-m) were synthesized and assayed for their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Most of the 5-nitroimidazole analogues (11a-p) showed a remarkable inhibition of a wide spectrum of Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus epidermidis, MRSA, and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae, whereas 4-nitroimidazole analogues (12a-m) were not effective against selected bacteria. The quantitative structure-activity relationship investigations were applied to find out the correlation between the experimentally evaluated activities with various parameters of the compounds studied. The QSAR models built in this work had reasonable predictive power and could be explained by the observed trends in activities.     

Antiviral activity of crude extracts of Eugenia jambolana Lam. against highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus

Crude extracts of leaves and bark of E. jambolana were tested for antiviral activity against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) by CPE reduction assay in three different layouts to elucidate virucidal, post-exposure and preexposure antiviral activity of the extracts. The cold and hot aqueous extracts of bark and hot aqueous extract of leaves of E. jambolana showed significant virucidal activity (100% inhibition) which was further confirmed in virus yield reduction assay (-98 to 99% reduction) and by egg based in ovo assay. The selective index (CC50/EC50) of hot aqueous extract (248) and cold aqueous extract (43.5) of bark of E. jambolana showed their antiviral potential against H5N1 virus. The significant virucidal activity of leaves and bark of E. jambolana merits further investigation as it may provide alternative antiviral agent for managing avian influenza infections in poultry farms and potential avian-human transmission.     

Ames mutagenicity and concentration of the strong mutagen 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone and of its geometric isomer E-2-chloro-3-(dichloromethyl)-4-oxo-butenoic acid in chlorine-treated tap waters

The Ames mutagenicity and the concentration of the strong Ames mutagen 3-chloro-4-(dichloro-methyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) and its geometric isomer E-2-chloro-3-(dichloromethyl)-4-oxobutenoic acid (E-MX), derived from chlorination of humus, were determined in XAD extracts of tap water collected from 26 localities in Finland. The 23 tap waters treated with disinfectants gave a positive response in strain TA100. MX and E-MX were detected in all extracts exhibiting mutagenicity with the exception of 3 extracts of marginal activity. MX accounted for 15-57% (average 33%) of the observed mutagenicity. The concentration of E-MX was slightly lower than the corresponding concentration of MX. Linear correlations were observed between mutagenicity and concentration of MX and E-MX, with correlation coefficients of 0.894 for MX and 0.910 for E-MX.     

In Vitro antifungal activity of 2-(4-substituted phenyl)-3(2H)-isothiazolones

The in vitro antifungal activity of several N2-phenyl-3(2H)-isothiazolones substituted at C4 of the phenyl moiety with heterocyclic nucleus or groups of different physico-chemical properties against four human pathogenic fungi was determined by broth macrodilution method; results were compared with those obtained with itraconazole and ketoconazole. These isothiazolones showed moderate to high activity against some or all tested strains and in comparison with the reference drugs, 5-chloro-2-(4-nitrophenyl)isothiazol-3-one (1g), 5-chloro-2-phenylisothiazol-3-one (1c), 4-[4-(5-chloro-3-oxo-3H-isothiazol-2-yl)phenyl]-1,4-dihydrotriazol-5-one (1s) and 2-(4-nitrophenyl)isothiazol-3-one (2g) against Aspergillus niger, 5-chloro-2-(4-nitrophenyl)isothiazol-3-one (1g) and 4-[4-(5-chloro-3-oxo-3H-isothiazol-2-yl)phenyl]piperazine-1-carboxamide (1q) against Trichophyton mentagrophytes had comparable activity, compounds 1g and 2g showing higher activity against Microsporum canis. Antifungal activity was favored by the presence of chlorine at C5 of the isothiazolone and/or the presence of nitro group or heterocyclic nucleus at C4 of the phenyl ring and proper hydrophilicity of the molecule.     

Synthesis, cytostatic, and antiviral activity of novel 6-[2-(dialkylamino)ethyl]-, 6-(2-alkoxyethyl)-, 6-[2-(alkylsulfanyl)ethyl]-, and 6-[2-(dialkylamino)vinyl]purine nucleosides

An efficient and facile synthesis of a large series of diverse 6-[2-(dialkylamino)vinyl]-, 6-[2-(dialkylamino)ethyl]-, 6-(2-alkoxyethyl)-, and 6-[2-(alkylsulfanyl)ethyl]purine nucleosides (35 examples of both ribo- and 2'-deoxyribonucleosides) was developed. The key transformations involved conjugate nucleophilic additions of amines, alcoholates, or thiolates to Tol-protected 6-alkylylpurine or 6-vinylpurine nucleosides. 6-[(2-Dialkylamino)vinyl]- and some 6-[(2-dialkylamino)ethyl]purine ribonucleosides exerted significant cytostatic effects and some anti-HCV activity with low selectivity.     

Synthesis,cytotoxic activity,and tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity of new pyrrol-2(3H)-ones and pyridazin-3(2H)-ones

A series of new pyrrol-2(3H)-ones 4a-f and pyridazin-3(2H)-ones 7a-f were synthesized and characterized using different spectroscopic tools. Some of the tested compounds revealed moderate activity against 60 cell lines. The E form of the pyrrolones 4 showed good cytotoxic activity than both the Z form and the corresponding open amide form. Furthermore, the in vitro cytotoxic activity against HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines revealed that compounds (E)4b, 6f and 7f showed good cytotoxic activity against HepG2 with IC₅₀ values of 11.47, 7.11 and 14.80 μM, respectively. Compounds (E)4b, 6f, 7d and 7f showed a pronounced inhibitory effect against cellular localization of tubulin. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that HepG2 cells treated with (E)4b showed a predominated growth arrest at the S-phase compared to that of G2/M-phase. Molecular modeling study using MOE® program indicated that most of the target compounds showed good binding of β-subunit of tubulin with the binding free energy (dG) values about −10 kcal/mole.