Novel Discovery of antiviral agent against VHSV (viral hemorrhagic sepsis virus) through Mass screening analysis technology

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) is a viral disease affecting many marine fishes worldwide, causing significant losses to aquaculture. VHS is caused by the viral hemorrhagic sepsis virus (VHSV), which belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family. In this study, we developed a mass screening system to search for antiviral agents against VHSV. We screened antiviral activity for VHSV in 11,742 chemical compounds and 1,700 plant extracts. Antiviral activity was confirmed by mixing Epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) and eGFP-expressing recombinant VHSV (rVHSV) at a MOI (Multiplicity of infection of 0.01 and dispensing to the material, followed by the generation of cytopathic effect (CPE). Antiviral material compound (AMC), selected as an antiviral agent, is a sulfamide-based substance that inhibits the in vitro infectivity of the rVHSV. When AMC was treated at a concentration of 1 μM, rVHSV infection was inhibited by 100%. In addition, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) can be measured by treating at a concentration lower than 1 μM, and the AMC appeared to be a new compound that had not been previously studied. Finally, we suggest that AMC-containing sulfamide can be used as an antiviral agent against fish viruses and can also be utilized to control VHSV in fish farms.2

Optimization of capture system for RNA virus analysis in marine environments

Marine RNA viruses have primarily been studied in terms of their pathogenicity, as they infect a wide range of hosts. However, their diversity and ecological roles remain largely unexplored. In particular, they are generally smaller than DNA viruses, making them more challenging to capture, and their inherent instability leads to rapid degradation. Therefore, optimizing an efficient RNA virus capture system is crucial. This study conducted a total of 121 experiments with seawater volumes ranging from 60 L to 300 L to evaluate the capture efficiency of RNA viruses using three concentration methods: membrane filtration, filter tubes, and ultracentrifugation. The optimal method for capturing marine RNA viruses involved filtering 100 L of seawater through a 0.2 μm membrane, followed by an initial concentration using a 30 kDa tangential flow filtration system, and a final concentration step via ultracentrifugation. This approach demonstrated high reproducibility. Our results present an effective method for capturing and analyzing RNA viruses in marine environments, providing a valuable tool for investigating their diversity and ecological roles.2

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연구목표 거대바이러스 vs. 일차생산자 (식물플랑크톤)의 감염 기작 및 일차생산자 조절 기작 연구를 통한 해양 생태계에서 거대바이러스의 중심 역할 규명 연구필요성 ○ 기존의 해양 미소생태계의 관련 연구는 DOM/무기영양염-박테리아-식물플랑크톤-동물플랑크톤의 상호작용을 중심으로 보고되고 있었으나, 최근의 연구는 해양 생태계에서의 바이러스, 특히 거대바이러스의 역할에 대한 중요성이 대두되고 있음. ○ 따라서 일차생산자 및 거대바이러스의 모니터링 및 연구를 통해 전지구적인 기후변화 및 영양염 순환을 이해할 수 있는 매우 좋은 단서를 제공해 줄 수 있을 것으로 기대되고 있음. 연구 내용 ○ 전략 1: Omics 기반 거대바이러스의 해양일차생산자 감염 및 일차생산자 세포반응 분석 ○ 전략 2: 우리나라 연안해역의 거대바이러스 vs. 일차생산자 모니터링을 통한 주요 일차생산자 및 거대바이러스 인벤토리 구축 ○ 전략 3: 메조코즘을 이용한 거대바이러스 vs. 일차생산자 감염 및 일차생산자 조절 기작 증명재단법인 한국연구재