Iota-Carrageenan Is a Potent Inhibitor of Influenza A Virus Infection

Abstract

The 2009 flu pandemic and the appearance of oseltamivir-resistant H1N1 influenza strains highlight the need for treatment alternatives. One such option is the creation of a protective physical barrier in the nasal cavity. In vitro tests demonstrated that iota-carrageenan is a potent inhibitor of influenza A virus infection, most importantly also of pandemic H1N1/2009 in vitro. Consequently, we tested a commercially available nasal spray containing iota-carrageenan in an influenza A mouse infection model. Treatment of mice infected with a lethal dose of influenza A PR8/34 H1N1 virus with iota-carrageenan starting up to 48 hours post infection resulted in a strong protection of mice similar to mice treated with oseltamivir. Since alternative treatment options for influenza are rare, we conclude that the nasal spray containing iota-carrageenan is an alternative to neuraminidase inhibitors and should be tested for prevention and treatment of influenza A in clinical trials in humans.

Inhibition of Influenza A Virus Infection by Fucoidan Targeting Viral Neuraminidase and Cellular EGFR Pathway

“…The cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay was performed as described previously2643. MDCK cells in 96-well plates were firstly infected with IAV (MOI = 0.1), and then treated with different compounds in triplicate after removal of the virus inoculum.…”

A review of extractions of seaweed hydrocolloids: Properties and applications

“…As an example, kappa (κ)-carrageenan is used as immobilizer for Streptomyces aureofacies and Pseudomonas dacunhae cells to improve the production of tetracycline and chlorotetracycline (antibiotic) and D-aspartic acid and L-alanine in drug production [52]. Moreover, carrageenan proved to inhibit the attachment of viruses such as the human papillomavirus, dengue virus, influenza A, and herpes virus [8,[52][53][54].…”

Properties of polysaccharides in several seaweeds from Atlantic Canada and their potential anti-influenza viral activities

“…Algal polysaccharides can interfere the adsorption of virus to host cells through binding to the cellular surface and coating cellular structures that are usually required for viral binding (Leibbrandt, Meier et al 2010). Brown algal polysaccharides have fucose, sulfate and uronic acid groups along their backbones providing a degree of ionization, which may be involved in an improved ability to inhibit the influenza A/PR/8/34 virus.…”

“…The anti-virus properties of algal polysaccharides have generated great interest with activities reported against a wide range of viruses including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Baba, Snoeck et al 1988), herpes simplex virus (HSV) (Hasui, Matsuda et al 1995), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) (Damonte, Matulewicz et al 2004), vesicular stomatitis virus (Baba, Snoeck et al 1988), papilloma virus (Pérez-Andino, Buck et al 2009) and influenza A virus (Leibbrandt, Meier et al 2010 Adamantane-based anti-virus compounds such as amantadine and rimantadine have serious side-effects on gastrointestinal and nervous system (Jefferson, Demicheli et al 2006). Using oseltamivir, a viral neuraminidase inhibitor, to treat influenza (von Itzstein 2007) is being confounded by the rise of resistant H1N1 influenza strains and emerging resistant influenza A seasonal strains (Bantia, Parker et al 2001;Matheson, Harnden et al 2008;Shun-Shin, Thompson et al 2009).…”