Antiviral Activity of a Cloned Peptide RC28 Isolated from the Higher Basidiomycetes Mushroom Rozites caperata in a Mouse Model of HSV-1 Keratitis

Int J Med Mushrooms. 2015;17(9):819-28. doi: 10.1615/intjmedmushrooms.v17.i9.20.

Abstract

An Escherichia coli-expressed peptide with a molecular weight of 28.26, derived from the complementary DNA of antiviral protein RC28 isolated from the mushroom Rozites caperata (=Cortinarius caperatus), demonstrated potent antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus-1 in Vero cells and in a herpes simplex virus-1 mouse keratitis model. Plaque assays in Vero cells showed that the peptide reduced viral yields by at least 1.2 logs; in the animal model the cloned peptide delayed the occurrence of stromal keratitis and alleviated the severity of the disease. We believe this is the first report of a cloned mushroom peptide with antiviral activity for the prevention and treatment of a viral disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agaricales
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Basidiomycota / chemistry*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Corneal Diseases / virology*
  • Corneal Stroma / drug effects*
  • Corneal Stroma / virology
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Escherichia coli
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / drug effects*
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / growth & development
  • Keratitis, Herpetic / drug therapy*
  • Keratitis, Herpetic / virology
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Peptides / isolation & purification
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Peptides / therapeutic use*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Peptides