Abstract
EPS-1 is a novel extracellular polysaccharide produced by a strain of thermotolerant Bacillus licheniformis, isolated from a shallow marine hot spring of Vulcano Island (Italy). In this paper, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of EPS-1 were evaluated. It was found that EPS-1 treatment impaired HSV-2 replication in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) but not in WISH cells. Since several cytokines modulate the immune response to viruses, Th1- and Th2-type cytokines were assayed in supernatants of PBMC in different experimental conditions. EPS-1 induced IL-12, IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha, TNF-alpha and IL-18, but not IL-4. Thus, the antiviral effect of EPS-1 on PBMC seems to be related to the pattern of cytokines induced.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Antiviral Agents / isolation & purification
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Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
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Bacillus / chemistry*
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Bacillus / immunology
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Bacillus / isolation & purification
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Cell Line
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Cytokines / biosynthesis
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HIV-2 / drug effects
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Humans
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Immunologic Factors / isolation & purification
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Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
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In Vitro Techniques
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
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Polysaccharides, Bacterial / isolation & purification
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Polysaccharides, Bacterial / pharmacology*
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Temperature
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Th1 Cells / drug effects
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Th1 Cells / immunology
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Th2 Cells / drug effects
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Th2 Cells / immunology
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Virus Replication / drug effects
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Water Microbiology
Substances
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Antiviral Agents
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Cytokines
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Immunologic Factors
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Polysaccharides, Bacterial