Antiviral activity of zinc salts against transmissible gastroenteritis virus in vitro

• Published in: Veterinary microbiology Vol. 160; no. 3-4; pp. 468 - 472
• Main Authors: Wei, Zhanyong, Burwinkel, Michael, Palissa, Christiane, Ephraim, Eden, Schmidt, Michael F.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 07.12.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Antiviral effects; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Chlorides - pharmacology; Coronavirus; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenteritis, Transmissible, of Swine - virology; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral - drug effects; Magnesium Sulfate - pharmacology; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Swine; Transmissible gastroenteritis virus; Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV); Transmissible gastroenteritis virus - drug effects; Viral Load - drug effects; Virology; Virus Attachment - drug effects; Zinc; Zinc Compounds - pharmacology; Zinc Sulfate - pharmacology; Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV); Coronavirus; Zinc; Antiviral effects; Virus; Antiviral; Coronaviridae; Veterinary; In vitro; Nidovirales; Heavy metal; Porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus
• ISSN: 0378-1135; 1873-2542
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.06.019

Zinc has been shown to mediate antiviral effects against certain viruses. However, the underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. We investigated the effects of the two zinc salts, zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), on infection of swine testicle (ST) cells with transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and compared it to the effects of a control salt, magnesium sulfate (MgSO4). Virus yield reduction experiments showed that ZnCl2 and ZnSO4 did not exhibit direct virucidal effects and did not affect adsorption of TGEV to ST cells. However, ZnCl2 and ZnSO4 markedly reduced viral titers as well as TGEV RNA and viral protein synthesis when applied during virus penetration and at different time points after viral cell entry. The results of the study suggest that zinc salts do not interfere with TGEV-cell binding but that they mediate antiviral effects through inhibition of viral penetration or egress or the intracellular phase of the viral life-cycle.