lactoferrin and Adenovirus-Infections--Human

Topics: A549 Cells; Adenovirus Infections, Human; Adenoviruses, Human; Capsid Proteins; Epithelial Cells; Humans; Lactoferrin; Respiratory Mucosa

We recently demonstrated that lactoferrin, an antimicrobial glycoprotein, can inhibit adenovirus infection by competing for common glycosaminoglycan receptors. This study further characterizes the antiadenovirus activity of the protein, thus demonstrating that lactoferrin neutralizes infection by binding to adenovirus particles and that its targets are viral III and IIIa structural polypeptides.

Topics: Adenoviridae; Adenovirus Infections, Human; Animals; Antigens, Viral; Biotin; Cattle; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Enterovirus; Lactoferrin; Microscopy, Electron; Peptides; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Different milk proteins were analysed for their inhibitory effect on adenovirus infection in vitro. Proteins investigated were mucin, alpha-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, bovine lactoferrin, and human lactoferrin. Results obtained demonstrated that mucin, alpha-lactalbumin, and beta-lactoglobulin did not prevent the viral cytopathic effect, whereas lactoferrin was able to inhibit adenovirus replication in a dose-dependent manner. Further experiments were carried out in which lactoferrin was added to the cells during different phases of viral infection. Results obtained showed that lactoferrin was able to prevent viral replication when added both before, or during the viral adsorption step, or when present during the entire replicative cycle of adenovirus, demonstrating that its action takes place on an early phase of viral replication.

Topics: Adenovirus Infections, Human; Adenoviruses, Human; Animals; Antiviral Agents; Cattle; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Lactoferrin; Milk Proteins; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Virus Replication