Work

Investigation of β-Carboline Alkaloid Harmaline Against Cyvirus cyprinidallo3 Infection In Vitro and In Vivo

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) is a common pathogen of koi and common carp (Cy-prinus carpio). Infection of CyHV-3 can lead to high mortality in fry under 4 months of age. CyHV-3 can become latent in recovered fish, and latent CyHV-3 can reactivate under stress conditions and spread the virus. Reactivation of CyHV-3 can also lead to mortality and diseases in latently infected fish. No vaccine or drugs are available to prevent CyHV-3 infection or reactivation from latency. There is a need for the discovery of anti-CyHV-3 drugs. Harmine (HAR) and Harmaline (HAL) are β-carboline alkaloids found in the medicinal plant Peganum harmala with antiviral activities against many viruses, including HSV. Here, HAL was evaluated against CyHV-3 infection in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Immediately after a one-hour infection exposure, cells treated with 5, 10, and 20µM HAL for 2h can block nearly 90% plaque formation in vitro. Only Around 50% inhibition was observed in cells treated with ACV at 10 or 20 µM for 2h following 1h post-infection. Cells treated with 10µM HAL for 30min, 60 min, 2h, and 6h can reduce 60%, 65%, 85.5%, and 85% CyHV-3 replication in vitro, respectively. HAL at 20µM can reduce about 1 log of KHV DNA replication when the treatment started at 3 and 5 days post-infection for 1 or 2h, respectively. HAL under 50µM has little toxicity to cells treated for 24h. Immersion treatment with 10µM HAL for 3-4h daily within the first 5 days post-infection can increase the survival of fry by 60%. In addition, IM injection of HAL at 20µM can reduce the rate of KHV reactivation induced by heat stress in latently infected koi. This study demonstrated that HAL could potentially be used to prevent CyHV-3 infection or reactivation from latency.

Source: Viruses

DOI: 10.3390/v17050687

Authors: Clement Manes, Kristen Larson, Shelby Matsuoka, Xisheng Wang, Ruth Milston-Clements, Ling Jin

Institution: Oregon State University

Language: English

Topic: Aquaculture disease management and microbiota

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137