Open AccessBacillus alcalophilus peptidoglycan induces IFN‐α‐mediated inhibition of vaccinia virus replication
Author(s) -
Liu Ge,
Zhai Qingzhu,
Schaffner Dustin,
Popova Taissia,
Hayford Alice,
Bailey Charlie,
Alibek Ken
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsim.2004.05.002
Subject(s) - peptidoglycan , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , vaccinia , virus , macrophage , bacteria , interferon , viral replication , virology , cell wall , in vitro , biochemistry , gene , genetics , recombinant dna
Bacterial products such as cell walls (CW) and peptidoglycan (PGN) are known to activate macrophages and NK cells during microbial infections. In this report, we demonstrated that whole CW and PGN of four Gram‐positive bacteria are capable of enhancing the anti‐poxviral activity of murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Among the major Bacillus alcalophilus CW components, PGN contributes the most to antiviral activity and induces remarkably higher levels of IFN‐α. Anti‐IFN‐α/β antibody, but not anti‐IFN‐γ, anti‐IFN‐γ receptor, or anti‐IL‐12, reversed the PGN‐induced inhibition of vaccinia virus replication and reduced nitric oxide (NO) production. Our data thus suggest that PGN induce antiviral activity through IFN‐α and to a lesser extent, through NO production.