Novel Prophylactic Agent “Apogen®” for Prevention of Influenza A Infections
Session VII – Chen, Yi-Hsiang – Abstract 1 of 2
Title of Contribution: Novel Prophylactic Agent “Apogen®” for Prevention of Influenza A Infections
Author(s): Yi-Hsiang Chen1, Chun-Hsien Ma2, Yu-Lun Lo3, Shin-I Huang2, Hsiang
Ching Wang2, I-Chen Hu1, Shau-Feng Chang2, Shih SR3, and Chuang-Chun Chiueh1
Affiliation(s): 1Far East Bio-Tec Company, Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan. 2Pharmacology Research Laboratory, Biomedical Engineering Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C. 3Research Center for Emerging Viral Infections, Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, Graduate Program in Biomedical Science, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Influenza virus is fatal to human with high morbidity and mortality. In 1918 and 1997, the outbreaks of flu totally virus killed billions of people worldwide. Because of their highly diversity and variability, no ideal protective vaccine has been developed and the resistance to specific drugs (amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir, and zanamivir) grows with each passing days.
The extracts of photobacteria. are thought to have antiviral activity on different viruses. Apogen®, the partially purified fraction derived from microalgae, was tested and confirmed that Apogen® can inhibit different influenza virus subtypes in vitro and vivo. The results of neutralization test reveal the IC50 for influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1), and influenza A (H3N2), are 1.070 mg/ml, and 1.003 mg/ml, respectively. The dose of toxicity of Apogen® to MDCK cells (LC50) is more than 5.000 mg/ml. Further, the time-course and HAI (hemagglutination inhibition assay) test indicate that Apogen® significantly inhibit influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) virus at early stage of viral replication cycle. In animal test, the survival rate, body weight and clinical symptoms were used as indicators to measure the efficacy. Inoculating of Apogen® (25 or 100 mg/kg diary) from 7 days before infection by influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) virus can significantly prevent the weight loss and death of virus-infected Balb/c mice. Compared to virus control and Tamiflu, Apogen® reveals a better prevention efficacy.
Based on the broad-spectrum anti-flu activity and differed from the antiviral mechanism of M2 and neuraminidase inhibitors, Apogen® might be a promising novel prophylactic agent against influenza virus
