Proposal of Model for Evaluation of Viral Kinetics of African/Asian/Brazilian-Zika virus Strains (Step Growth Curve) in Trophoblastic Cell Lines.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic brought new discoveries regarding arboviruses, especially flaviviruses, as ZIKV was described as sexually and vertically transmitted. The latter shows severe consequences for the embryo/fetus, such as congenital microcephaly and deficiency of the neural system, currently known as Congenital ZIKV Syndrome (CZS). To better understand ZIKV dynamics in trophoblastic cells present in the first trimester of pregnancy (BeWo, HTR-8, and control cell HuH-7), an experiment of viral kinetics was performed for African MR766 low passage and Asian-Brazilian IEC ZIKV lineages. The results were described independently and demonstrated that the three placental cells lines are permissive and susceptible to ZIKV. We noticed cytopathic effects that are typical in in vitro viral infection in BeWo and HTR-8. Regarding kinetics, MR766lp showed peaks of viral loads in 24 and 48 hpi for all cell types tested, as well as marked cells death after peak production. On the other hand, the HTR-8 lineage inoculated with ZIKV-IEC exhibited increased viral production in 144 hpi, with a peak between 24 and 96 hpi. Furthermore, IEC had peak variations of viral production for BeWo in 144 hpi. Considering such in vitro results, the hypothesis that maternal fetal transmission is probably a way of virus transmission between the mother and the embryo/fetus is maintained.

Potencial antiviral e virucida da melitina e apamina contra herpesvírus bovino tipo 1 e vírus da diarreia viral bovina / Antiviral and virucidal potential of melittin and apamin against bovine herpesvirus type 1 and bovine viral diarrhea virus

A busca por alternativa aos fármacos sintéticos têm revelado descobertas no campo da farmacologia e, nesse sentido, melitina e apamina, dois constituintes do veneno de abelhas, foram descritas com várias ações farmacológicas. Este estudo objetivou avaliar in vitro as capacidades antiviral e virucida destes componentes. Para tanto, células MDBK (Madin Darby Bovine Kidney), após verificação das respectivas doses tóxicas por ensaio MTT ((3-(4,5 dimetiltiazol-2yl)-2-5-difenil-2H tetrazolato de bromo), foram cultivadas em microplacas e tratadas com diferentes concentrações de apamina, melitina e sua associação. Esse tratamento ocorreu antes e após a infecção com 0,1 MOI (multiplicidade de infecção) de cepas citopatogênicas de herpesvírus bovino tipo 1 (BoHV-1) cepa Los Angeles e vírus da diarreia viral bovina (BVDV) cepa NADL. Após incubação por 72 horas, 37oC, as células foram submetidas ao ensaio MTT para estimativa da viabilidade celular. Em experimento paralelo, placas que foram submetidas ao mesmo procedimento sofreram ciclo de congelamento e descongelamento das células, para rompimento das mesmas e mensuração dos títulos virais. O ensaio virucida foi realizado incubando-se suspensões de BoHV-1 e BVDV com as soluções de apamina, melitina e associação por 24 horas a 37oC e 22oC. O título viral foi avaliado às 0 horas, 1, 2, 4, 8 e 24 horas de incubação. A concentração citotóxica para 50% das células (CC50) de melitina foi 2,32 μg/ml e apamina não demonstrou toxicidade à maior concentração testada (100μg/ml). Houve efeito antiviral da melitina sobre BoHV-1, especialmente na concentração de 2μg/ml, onde observou-se 85,96% de viabilidade celular quando o tratamento foi realizado antes da infecção e 86,78% de viabilidade quando o tratamento foi realizado após a infecção. Houve ainda redução de 90% das partículas virais de BoHV-1. Em menores concentrações (1 e 1,5μg/ml) de melitina não houve atividade antiviral, pois a viabilidade celular foi baixa, demonstrando efeito citopático do vírus. Na associação das duas substâncias houve queda no título de BVDV e observou-se maior viabilidade celular quando comparados à ação isolada dos composto sobre este vírus. Isso se confirma na atividade virucida, uma vez que houve decréscimo de 90% das partículas virais de BVDV com a associação dos dois compostos do veneno de abelhas. Atuando individualmente, melitina apresentou efeito antiviral e virucida frente ao BoHV-1, zerando seu título em apenas 2 horas a 37oC. Conclui-se que melitina tem ação antiviral e virucida frente ao BoHV-1 e sua associação com apamina potencializou seus efeitos frente ao BVDV.(AU)

The search for an alternative to synthetic drugs have revealed discoveries in the field of pharmacology and, according to melittin and apamin, two components of bee venom which have been described were with various pharmacological actions.This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antiviral and virucidal capabilities of these components. Therefore, after verification of their toxic doses by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, MDBK cells (Madin Darby Bovine Kidney) have been cultivated in microplates and treated with different concentrations of apamin, melittin and its association. This treatment occurred before and after infection with MOI (multiplicity of infection) 0.1 of cytopathogenic strains of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) strain Los Angeles and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) strain NADL. After incubation for 72 hours, 37°C, the cells were submitted to MTT assay to estimate cell viability. In parallel experiments, plates were subjected to the same procedure suffered freezing and thawing cycle the cells to rupture the same and measurement of viral titers. The virucidal assay was performed by incubating suspension of bovine herpesvirus type-1 and BVDV with apamin solutions, melittin and association for 24 hours at 37°C and 22°C. The viral titer was evaluated at 0 hours, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours of incubation. The cytotoxic concentration to 50% of the cells (CC50) of melittin was 2.32g/mL and apamin did not show toxicity at the greater concentration tested (100μg/mL). There was antiviral effect of melittin on bovine herpesvirus type-1, especially at a concentration of 2μg/mL, where was observed 85.96% cell viability when treatment was performed before the infection and 86.78% viability when the treatment was carried out after infection. There was also a 90% reduction of viral particles of bovine herpesvirus type-1. In lower concentrations (1 and 1.5μg/mL) melittin no antiviral activity because cell viability was low, showing cytopathic effect of the virus. At the association two substances there were a decrease in the title of BVDV and there was higher cell viability when compared to the isolated action of the compounds of this virus. This is confirmed in the virucidal activity, since there was a decrease of 90% of the viral particles of BVDV with the combination of the two compounds of bee venom. Acting individually, melittin showed antiviral effect and virucidal against for BoHV-1, zeroing its title in just 2 hours at 37°C. It is concluded that melittin has antiviral and virucidal action against the BoHV-1 and its association with apamin potentiate its effects against BVDV.(AU)

Chemical and cytotoxic analyses of brown Brazilian propolis (Apis mellifera) and its in vitro activity against itraconazole-resistant Sporothrix brasiliensis.

This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of brown Brazilian propolis and its in vitro activity against itraconazole-resistant Sporothrix brasiliensis from animal sporotrichosis. Propolis was acquired commercially and prepared as a hydroalcoholic extract. Chemical analysis was evaluated by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry of ultra-efficiency. The cell viability was evaluated by MTT test in MDBK cells of 50 to 0.09 µg/mL. For antifungal tests, twenty isolates of Sporothrix brasiliensis from dogs (n = 11) and cats (n = 9) with sporotrichosis were tested to itraconazole (16-0.0313 µg/mL) and to propolis (3.125-0.09 mg/mL) by broth microdilution technique (CLSI M38-A2), adapted to natural products. The results were expressed in minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC). Itraconazole showed activity between MIC values of 0.25 to greater than 16 µg/mL, and 88.9% (08/09) and 72.7% (08/11) of S. brasiliensis from cats and dogs, respectively, were considered itraconazole-resistant. All Sporothrix brasiliensis were sensitive to brown propolis between MIC values of 0.19-1.56 mg/mL, including the itraconazole-resistant isolates, whereas the MFC values of propolis were from 0.78 to greater than 3.125 mg/mL. Propolis maintained a medium to high cell viability between concentration of 0.78 to 0.09 µg/mL, and p-coumaric acid was the major compound. Brown Brazilian propolis is a promising antifungal candidate against sporotrichosis and more studies need to be undertaken to evaluate its safe use to understand its efficacy.