The study of anti-rabies virus effect of Shougong powder

Abstract

Rabies is a lethal infectious disease caused by rabies virus (RABV). The mortality rate is very high after the appearance of clinical symptoms, with a survival rate of almost 0%. There is presently no cure for rabies. In the present study, we investigated whether the extract of Shougong powder—a calcium powder prepared from gecko that has demonstrated immunomodulatory properties in mice—is an effective treatment for rabies. The antiviral effects of the extract were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo with the cytotoxicity and antiviral assays and by immunofluorescence analysis, quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR, and western blotting. The results showed that Shougong powder and its extract increased survival rate in RABV-infected mice is up to 60% and 50%, respectively, even in 20 times of LD₅₀, whereas the control groups treated with isoprinosine (IPS) or saline are only 20% and 0% survival (p = .011). qRT-PCR and western blotting analyses showed that the extract strongly inhibited viral mRNA expression and protein synthesis in vitro: expression of the N, P, M, G, and L genes of RABV was decreased by 28.8%-45.0% in the IPS group (p < .05) and by 50.1%-59.0% in the extract group (p < .05) relative to the control group. These results demonstrate that Shougong powder has certain antiviral effects against RABV and can potentially be used for the treatment for rabies.

Keywords

Shougong powder / powder extract / rabies / treatment / survival rate

References

[1] C. Huang, Y. Wang, X. Li, L. Ren, J. Zhao, Y. Hu, L. Zhang, G. Fan, J. Xu, X. Gu, Lancet 2020, 395, 497.

[2] E. K. Kawaya, T. Marcotty, L. M Mfumu-Kazadi, S. Van Gucht, N. Kirschvink, Prev. Vet. Med. 2020, 176, 104928.

[3] S. Thumbi, L. Blumberg, K. Le Roux, N. Salahuddin, B. Abela, Lancet 2022, 400, 2261.

[4] D. Malvy, A. K. McElroy, H. de Clerck, S. Günther, J. van Griensven, Lancet 2019, 393, 936.

[5] S. S. Tazerji, R. Nardini, M. Safdar, A. A. Shehata, P. M. Duarte, Pathogens 2022, 11, 1376.

[6] R. Singh, K. P. Singh, S. Cherian, M. Saminathan, S. Kapoor, G. Manjunatha Reddy, S. Panda, K. Dhama, Vet. Q. 2017, 37, 212.

[7] X.-X. Lu, W.-Y. Zhu, G.-Z. Wu, Infect. Dis. Poverty 2018, 7, 1.

[8] C. Li, J. Ma, H. Shi, X. Li, B. Li, J. Med. Pest Control 2020, 36, 3.

[9] R. E. Willoughby Jr, K. S. Tieves, G. M. Hoffman, N. S. Ghanayem, C. M Amlie-Lefond, M. J. Schwabe, M. J. Chusid, C. E. Rupprecht, N. Engl. J. Med. 2005, 352, 2508.

[10] C. Dolman, K. Charlton, Can. J. Neurol. Sci. 1987, 14, 162.

[11] Y. Bai, P. Huang, N. Feng, Y. Li, J. Huang, H. Jin, M. Zhang, J. Sun, N. Li, H. Zhang, Adv. Sci. 2023, 10, 2205461.

[12] B. Zhang, D. Zhang, Animal Medicine, China Medical Sciences, Beijing 2003.

[13] G. Jiang, C. Wang, D. Geng, China J. Tradit. Chin. Med. Pharm. 2013, 28, 1037.

[14] G. Chen, W. Li, Acta Pharm. Sin. B 2018, 8, 501.

[15] Y. Cui, Beijing J. Tradit. Chin. Med. 2005, 24, 269.

[16] M. Xu, Z. Li, Shaanxi J. Trad. Chin. Med. 2003, 24, 612.

[17] H. Luo, J. Sichuan Trad. Chin. Med. 2001, 19, 2.

[18] Z. Tu, W. Gong, Y. Zhang, Y. Feng, Y. Liu, C. Tu, Viruses 2018, 10, 201.

[19] F.-Y. Liu, M.-M. Zhang, P. Zeng, W.-W. Liu, J.-L. Wang, B. Yang, Q. Dai, J. Wei, Peptides 2016, 83, 1.

[20] C. M. Appolinario, A. C. Jackson, Antiviral Ther. 2015, 20, 1.

[21] N. J. Gogtay, R. Munshi, D. Ashwath Narayana, B. Mahendra, V. Kshirsagar, B. Gunale, S. Moore, P. Cheslock, S. Thaker, S. Deshpande, Clin. Infect. Dis. 2018, 66, 387.

[22] K. Kansagra, D. Parmar, S. K. Mendiratta, J. Patel, S. Joshi, N. Sharma, A. Parihar, S. Bhoge, H. Patel, P. Kalita, Clin. Infect. Dis. 2021, 73, e2722.

[23] G. D. de Melo, F. Sonthonnax, G. Lepousez, G. Jouvion, A. Minola, F. Zatta, F. Larrous, L. Kergoat, C. Mazo, C. Moigneu, EMBO Mol. Med. 2020, 12, e12628.

[24] D. L. Knobel, A. C. Jackson, J. Bingham, H. C. Ertl, A. D. Gibson, D. Hughes, K. Joubert, R. S. Mani, B. J. Mohr, S. M. Moore, Front. Vet. Sci. 2022, 9, 867382.

[25] M. B. Mechlia, A. Belaid, G. Castel, C. Jallet, K. L. Mansfield, A. R. Fooks, K. Hani, N. Tordo, Vaccine 2019, 37, 4694.

[26] M. Leroy, G. Pire, E. Baise, D. Desmecht, Neurobiol. Dis. 2006, 21, 515.

[27] K. McLean, M. Vickaryous, BMC Dev. Biol. 2011, 11, 1.

[28] E. G. Wever, J. Morphol. 1974, 143, 121.

[29] X. Luo, S. Li, Compendium of Material Medica, People’s Medical Publishing House, Beijing 2003.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2024 The Authors. View published by Shanghai Fuji Technology Consulting Co., Ltd, authorized by Professional Community of Experimental Medicine, National Association of Health Industry and Enterprise Management (PCEM) and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.