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Huan C, Yan P, Yang F, Pan H, Hou Y, Jiang L, Yao J, Chen H, Li J, Gao S. The 25-kDa linear polyethylenimine exerts specific antiviral activity against pseudorabies virus through interferencing its adsorption via electrostatic interaction. J Virol 2024; 98:e0000724. [PMID: 38305153 PMCID: PMC10949462 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00007-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is the causative agent of Aujeszky's disease, which is responsible for enormous economic losses to the global pig industry. Although vaccination has been used to prevent PRV infection, the effectiveness of vaccines has been greatly diminished with the emergence of PRV variants. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop anti-PRV drugs. Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a cationic polymer and has a wide range of antibacterial and antiviral activities. This study found that a low dose of 1 µg/mL of the 25-kDa linear PEI had significantly specific anti-PRV activity, which became more intense with increasing concentrations. Mechanistic studies revealed that the viral adsorption stage was the major target of PEI without affecting viral entry, replication stages, and direct inactivation effects. Subsequently, we found that cationic polymers PEI and Polybrene interfered with the interaction between viral proteins and cell surface receptors through electrostatic interaction to exert the antiviral function. In conclusion, cationic polymers such as PEI can be a category of options for defense against PRV. Understanding the anti-PRV mechanism also deepens host-virus interactions and reveals new drug targets for anti-PRV.IMPORTANCEPolyethylenimine (PEI) is a cationic polymer that plays an essential role in the host immune response against microbial infections. However, the specific mechanisms of PEI in interfering with pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection remain unclear. Here, we found that 25-kDa linear PEI exerted mechanisms of antiviral activity and the target of its antiviral activity was mainly in the viral adsorption stage. Correspondingly, the study demonstrated that PEI interfered with the virus adsorption stage by electrostatic adsorption. In addition, we found that cationic polymers are a promising novel agent for controlling PRV, and its antiviral mechanism may provide a strategy for the development of antiviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changchao Huan
- Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Avian Bioproduct Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou, China
- Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ping Yan
- Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Avian Bioproduct Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou, China
- Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Avian Bioproduct Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou, China
- Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Haochun Pan
- Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Avian Bioproduct Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou, China
- Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yutong Hou
- Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Avian Bioproduct Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou, China
- Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Luyao Jiang
- Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Avian Bioproduct Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou, China
- Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jingting Yao
- Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Avian Bioproduct Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou, China
- Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Haozhen Chen
- Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jiarun Li
- Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Avian Bioproduct Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou, China
- Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Song Gao
- Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Avian Bioproduct Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou, China
- Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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