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Frontiers in veterinary science2023; 10; 1163780; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1163780

Berbamine, a bioactive alkaloid, suppresses equine herpesvirus type 1 in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) poses a global threat to equines. The anticancer agent berbamine (BBM), a bioactive alkaloid, has been shown to inhibit viral infection. However, whether BBM can inhibit EHV-1 infection remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of BBM treatment on EHV-1 infection. Quantitative PCR (qPCR), immunoblotting, the Reed-Muench method, and pathological examination were employed to study the ability of BBM to inhibit EHV-1 infection, viral DNA replication, viral protein production, virion secretion, and cytopathogenesis in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro studies revealed that 10 μM BBM effectively suppressed EHV-1 viral entry into cells, viral DNA replication, and virion secretion, while the in vivo studies verified the ability of BBM to suppress EHV-1-induced damage of brain and lung tissues and animal mortality. These findings strongly suggest that BBM could be a serious contender in the therapeutic control of EHV-1 infection of equines.
Copyright © 2023 Li, He, Ge, Quan, Chen, Hu, Sa, Liu, Ran, Fu and Shi.
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Publication Date: 2023-05-25 PubMed ID: 37303732PubMed Central: PMC10247970DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1163780Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article explores the impact of berbamine (BBM), a bioactive alkaloid, on equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). Findings suggest that BBM inhibits the virus’ entry into cells, prevents replication of viral DNA, limits virion secretion, and reduces EHV-1-induced damage to brain and lung tissues in equines.

Objective and Significance of the Study

  • The study was led by the necessity to discover a new method to control EHV-1, a virus harmful to horses worldwide.
  • The research focuses on berbamine (BBM), a substance already identified as having anti-viral properties. Its effects against EHV-1, however, hadn’t been thoroughly studied.
  • Understanding of BBM’s properties could offer considerable benefit in formulating a viable treatment against EHV-1.

Methodologies Employed

  • The experiment involved both and studies to evaluate BBM’s effectiveness against EHV-1 effectively.
  • Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunoblotting were used to measure how BBM can prevent the EHV-1 virus from entering equine cells and replicate its DNA inside.
  • The Reed-Muench method was utilized to assess the virion secretion – the process of releasing new virus particles from the host cell.
  • Pathological examinations confirmed the damage caused by EHV-1 on equine brain and lung tissues. They provided empirical evidence to set a baseline for assessing the impact of the BBM treatment.

Findings and Conclusion

  • The study discovered that 10 µM BBM substantially impedes the entry of EHV-1 into equine cells, the replication of its DNA, and the secretion of virion.
  • Additional studies validated BBM’s potential to reduce EHV-1-related damage to brain and lung tissues and to decrease animal mortality.
  • The findings strongly indicate that BBM could be a strong candidate in the development of an effective EHV-1 treatment for horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Li Z, He Y, Ge L, Quan R, Chen J, Hu Y, Sa R, Liu J, Ran D, Fu Q, Shi H. (2023). Berbamine, a bioactive alkaloid, suppresses equine herpesvirus type 1 in vitro and in vivo. Front Vet Sci, 10, 1163780. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1163780

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Pages: 1163780

Researcher Affiliations

Li, Zeyu
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
He, Yuanxiu
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Ge, Lijuan
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Quan, Ran
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Chen, Junzhen
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Hu, Yue
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Sa, Ruixue
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Liu, Jianhua
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Ran, Duoliang
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Fu, Qiang
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Shi, Huijun
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
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