article · Journal of Medical Virology
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging pathogen capable of causing fatal disease, yet few studies have identified effective antiviral agents against it. Dendrimers, which are highly branched macromolecules, can serve as delivery vehicles and exhibit direct antiviral activity. In laboratory evaluations using plaque inhibition assays, various polyanionic and polycationic dendrimer formulations were tested against MERS-CoV. Polyanionic dendrimers with hydroxyl terminal groups reduced viral plaque formation by 17.36% to 29.75%. The strongest antiviral activity occurred with a sodium carboxylate terminated dendrimer, which inhibited plaque formation by 40.5%, followed closely by a succinamic acid terminated formulation achieving 39.77% inhibition. Conversely, polycationic dendrimers bearing primary amine groups caused toxic effects in Vero cell cultures. Polyanionic dendrimers offer potential utility in antiviral formulations to support both drug delivery and viral inhibition.
MERS-CoV remains a dangerous respiratory threat with limited medical treatments. Demonstrating that specific polyanionic dendrimer structures can impede viral plaque formation in cell models provides an experimental basis for improving treatment strategies. These molecular structures can potentially enhance drug delivery while exerting their own viral suppression against high-consequence coronaviruses.
This work is at an early experimental stage, evaluated through in vitro cell assays. It could inform pharmaceutical developers formulating therapeutic preparations against MERS-CoV by utilising polyanionic dendrimers as functional excipients or delivery carriers. Extensive further research, including in vivo safety and efficacy testing, will be required before any commercial or clinical application is feasible.
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The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging virus that causes infection with a potentially fatal outcome. Dendrimers are highly branched molecules that can be added to antiviral preparations to improve their delivery, as well as their intrinsic antiviral activity. Studies on identifying anti-MERS-CoV agents are few. Three types of polyanionic dendrimers comprising the terminal groups sodium carboxylate (generations 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5), hydroxyl (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5), and succinamic acid (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5) and polycationic dendrimers containing primary amine (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5) were used to assess their antiviral activity with the MERS-CoV plaque inhibition assay. The hydroxyl polyanionic set showed a 17.36% to 29.75% decrease in MERS-CoV plaque formation. The most potent inhibition of MERS-CoV plaque formation was seen by G(1.5)-16COONa (40.5% inhibition), followed by G(5)-128SA (39.77% inhibition). In contrast, the cationic dendrimers were cytotoxic to Vero cells. Polyanionic dendrimers can be added to antiviral preparations to improve the delivery of antivirals, as well as the intrinsic antiviral activity.
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DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25928
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