• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.27 no.2 s.89
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• pp.175-179
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• 1999

In order to find less toxic antiviral agents from Basidiomycetes, EA, the water soluble substance, was prepared from the carpophores of Elfvingia applanata (Pers.) Karst. Antiviral activity of EA against vesicular stomatitis virus [New Jersey serotype, VSV(NJ)] was examined in Vero cells using plaque reduction assay in vitro. And the combined antiviral effects of EA with interferon (IFN) alpha and gamma were examined on the multiplication of VSV(NJ). EA caused a concentration-dependent reduction in the plaque formation of VSV(NJ) with 50% effective concentration $(EC_{50})$ of 2.10 mg/ml. The results of combination assay were evaluated by the combination index (CI) that was analysed by the multiple drug effect analysis. The combination of EA with IFN alpha showed more potent effect with CI values of $0.87{\sim}1.59$ for 50%, 70% and 90% effective levels than that with INF gamma with CI values of $1.05{\sim}2.03$.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.451-457
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• 2005

Experimental studies have demonstrated that the triple combination of amantadine (A)/ ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, U)/ biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB, D) might have a preferential antiviral effect compared with that observed in interferon-induced antiviral signal pathways, such as those of $STAT1\alpha$ and the 6-16 genes. To confirm the results, this study examined whether th signal transduction for the antiviral activity in HepG2 2.2.15 was induced dependently or independently of interferon. To accomplish this, the correlation between the $STAT1\alpha$ and 6-16 genes, and nitric oxide, for the mediation of the antiviral activity was assessed. The increase in nitric oxide in the UDCA groups suggests that the inhibition of viral gene replication was enhanced by the amantadine combinations (AU and AUD), and might be more effective if incubated for longer periods. It was found that $STAT1\alpha$ was activated by the amantadine combination, although to a lesser extent than that of $interferon-\alpha$, and the primary endpoints examined for the inhibition of gene expression (HBsAg and HBcAg) were remarkably well regulated. This suggests that the amantadine triple, or at least the double, combination had better clinical benefits than those of $IFN-\alpha$ and the nucleoside analogue single treatment. This demonstrates that the amantadine combination might be a substitute for the existing HBV therapy if the results of in vivo and in vitro studies concur.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.242-254
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• 2018

Defensins are antimicrobial peptides that participate in the innate immunity of hosts. Humans constitutively and/or inducibly express ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-defensins, which are known for their antiviral and antibacterial activities. This review describes the application of human defensins. We discuss the extant experimental results, limited though they are, to consider the potential applicability of human defensins as antiviral agents. Given their antiviral effects, we propose that basic research be conducted on human defensins that focuses on RNA viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza A virus (IAV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and dengue virus (DENV), which are considered serious human pathogens but have posed huge challenges for vaccine development for different reasons. Concerning the prophylactic and therapeutic applications of defensins, we then discuss the applicability of human defensins as antivirals that has been demonstrated in reports using animal models. Finally, we discuss the potential adjuvant-like activity of human defensins and propose an exploration of the 'defensin vaccine' concept to prime the body with a controlled supply of human defensins. In sum, we suggest a conceptual framework to achieve the practical application of human defensins to combat viral infections.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.201-206
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• 2021

Damage to the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus(H5N1) continues to increase, but there is a lack of antiviral research. In this study, we analyze antiviral properties on H5N1 by coating Cu/TiO2 photocatalyst on polyethylene films. The specimen was manufactured a photocatalyst master batch and coated both sides of the 3-layer polyethylene fabric at 280℃ from the extrusion coating machine. The results showed a 99.9% decrease in the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In particular, H5N1 type highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, which is capable of human infection, has been found to decrease 99.9% within five minutes of contact with Cu/TiO2 films. Antibacterial effects of films coated with photocatalyst are known, but this study also confirmed the antiviral effects.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.43-54
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• 2013

Viral hepatitis is the inflammation of liver cells caused by viruses, and still one of the major health-care problems worldwide. A number of viruses to cause hepatitis are type A, B, C, D, E or G. Among these viruses leading to hepatitis, B and C are more troublesome being more prone to chronic illness which can cause the potentially fatal conditions of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and/or liver failure. If immediate treatment is not initiated, liver transplant is the only option left. Over the past few decades there has been remarkable progress in diagnose and monitor all hepatitis virus infections for treatment and prevention. Nonetheless, important challenges remain to develop more effective and safe vaccines for prevention as well as antiviral agents to reduce viremia/viral load by inhibiting viral replication. The development and evaluation of antiviral agents through carefully designed clinical trials over the last 25 years has heralded a new dawn in the treatment of patients chronically infected with the hepatitis B and C viruses, but not so for the D virus. The introduction of Direct Acting Antivirals (DDAs) for the treatment of HBV carriers has permitted the long term use of these compounds for the continuous suppression of viral replication. This review aims to summarize the current status and development approaches of antiviral drugs for the treatment of viral hepatitis and future perspectives.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.268-272
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• 2021

Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has caused more than 100 million confirmed cases of human infectious disease (COVID-19) since December 2019 to paralyze our global community. However, only limited access has been allowed to COVID-19 vaccines and antiviral treatment options. Here, we report the efficacy of the anticancer drug pralatrexate against SARS-CoV-2. In Vero and human lung epithelial Calu-3 cells, pralatrexate reduced viral RNA copies of SARS-CoV-2 without detectable cytotoxicity, and viral replication was successfully inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. In a time-to-addition assay, pralatrexate treatment at almost half a day after infection also exhibited inhibitory effects on the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in Calu-3 cells. Taken together, these results suggest the potential of pralatrexate as a drug repurposing COVID-19 remedy.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2024

Recently, due to the rapid spread and continuation of COVID-19, customer demand for health and hygiene has increased, requiring the development of new products that express antiviral and antibacterial properties. In particular, viruses are much smaller in size than bacteria and have a fast propagation speed, making it difficult to kill. POSCO has developed eco-friendly PCM color coated steel sheets with excellent antiviral properties by introducing inorganic composite materials to the color coating layer on the surface of Zn-Al-Mg alloy plated steels. The virus is not only destroyed by adsorption of metal ions released from the surface of the coating film, but is also further promoted by the generation of reactive oxygen species by the reaction of metal ions and moisture. As a result of evaluating the developed products under the International Standard Evaluation Act, the microbicidal activity was 99.9% for viruses, and 99.99% for bacteria and 0% fungi. In particular, excellent results were also shown in the durability evaluation for life cycle of the product. The developed product was applied as a wall of school classrooms and toilets and ducts for building air conditioning, resulting in excellent results. Developed products are being applied for construction and home appliances to practice POSCO's corporate citizenship.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.57-66
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• 2023

Majority of the respiratory infectious diseases that are generally prevalent in Korea from autumn to winter are caused by viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus and influenza A virus. Therefore, there is rapidly rising interest in determining the antiviral effects of probiotics against respiratory viruses and elucidating the probable mechanism behind it. Various human clinical trials as well as animal experiments have shown that some probiotics potentially have antiviral activity based on their immunomodulatory effect. Hence, this review describes in detail the various possibilities of using probiotics as antiviral agents against respiratory viruses and their potential effects. Also, it provides basic data regarding the availability of different probiotics relevant for their production by dairy and food industries.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.245-250
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• 2015

Middle East respiratory syndrome - coronavirus infection has posed substantial threat to public health with extremely high mortality rate in 2015. Although there are no approved novel medications for coronavirus, several antiviral agents such as ribavirin and interferon have been tried to MERS patients according to the in-vitro inhibitory effect, therapeutic effect on the animal model and experience from the severe acute respiratory syndrome - coronavirus infection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical evidence of the antiviral treatment for MERS-CoV infection. After systematically searching the medical literature databases, I found five studies described the clinical efficacy of antiviral treatment on MERS patients. All of them were about the combination therapy of ribavirin and interferon (IFN). Two of them were retrospective cohort studies with quality of evidence (QOE) II and the others were observational study and case reports with QOE III. As a result of critical appraisal, it is concluded that none of those studies represented confirmatory clinical evidence of the efficacy of ribavirin and interferon combination therapy on MERS patients. Although Omrani et al. represented that ribavirin and IFN treatment had significantly improved survival at 14 days, it was not enough time to conclude the effect.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.571-581
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• 2021

Towards the end of 2019, an atypical acute respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified in Wuhan, China and subsequently named Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The rapid dissemination of COVID-19 has provoked a global crisis in public health. COVID-19 has been reported to cause sepsis, severe infections in the respiratory tract, multiple organ failure, and pulmonary fibrosis, all of which might induce mortality. Although several vaccines for COVID-19 are currently being administered worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet effectively under control. Therefore, novel therapeutic agents to eradicate the cause of the disease and/or manage the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 should be developed to effectively regulate the current pandemic. In this review, we discuss the possibility of managing the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 using natural products derived from medicinal plants used for controlling pulmonary inflammatory diseases in folk medicine. Diverse natural products have been reported to exert potential antiviral effects in vitro by affecting viral replication, entry into host cells, assembly in host cells, and release. However, the in vivo antiviral effects and clinical antiviral efficacies of these natural products against SARS-CoV-2 have not been successfully proven to date. Thus, these properties need to be elucidated through further investigations, including randomized clinical trials, in order to develop optimal and ideal therapeutic candidates for COVID-19.