Browsing by Subject "havsorganismer"

There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment available for diseases caused by alphaviruses. Marine organisms have attracted interest for the past decades as unexplored sources of new pharmaceuticals and marine-derived substances might provide novel new lead molecules also for antivirals. The aim of the study was to identify marine-derived replication inhibitors acting against Chikungunya virus. Chikungunya virus is an arthropod-borne virus that belongs to the Alphavirus genus and causes a disease characterized by febrile illness and persistent arthralgia. Several epidemic disease outbreaks have occurred in recent years. A sample library of 373 marine-derived extracts, isolated compounds and synthetic molecules was screened for antiviral activity by using a genetically modified mammalian cell line. The cell line expresses viral replication proteins together with fluorescent and luminescent proteins as detection markers. Secondary evaluation including determination of cytotoxicity and dose-response was performed for samples active in the primary screening phase. Based on the primary screening results, 32 samples (8.6% of the total screened library) were found active against Chikungunya virus replication. The active samples were extracts and isolated compounds; none were synthetic molecules. False positives were excluded based on secondary assay results and finally nine non-cytotoxic samples with dose-dependent inhibitory activity against Chikungunya virus replication were identified. The used screening method is a safe and suitable choice for preliminary identification of Chikungunya virus replication inhibitors. Assays taking use of infectious viruses or other virus types are nevertheless needed for future studies to get more detailed information on action of active samples. The identified samples with antiviral activity should additionally be further studied with regards to isolation of active components, sustainable collection or cultivation and possible synthetic production and optimization.