Mucin biopolymers as broad-spectrum antiviral agents
Open accessAbstract
Mucus is a porous biopolymer matrix that coats all wet epithelia in the human body and serves as the first line of defense against many pathogenic bacteria and viruses. However, under certain conditions viruses are able to penetrate this infection barrier, which compromises the protective function of native mucus. Here, we find that isolated porcine gastric mucin polymers, key structural components of native mucus, can protect an underlying cell layer from infection by small viruses such as human papillomavirus (HPV), Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV), or a strain of influenza A virus. Single particle analysis of virus mobility inside the mucin barrier reveals that this shielding effect is in part based on a retardation of virus diffusion inside the biopolymer matrix. Our findings suggest that purified mucins may be used as a broad-range antiviral supplement to personal hygiene products, baby formula or lubricants to support our immune system.
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Porcine gastric mucins prevent infection of epithelial cells by human papilloma virus type 16, Merkel cell polyomavirus, and a strain of influenza A virus.
“porcine gastric mucins have been shown to prevent infection of epithelial cells by a variety of viruses including human papilloma virus type 16, Merkel cell polyoma-virus and a strain of influenza A virus (Lieleg et al., 2012).”
From Viral Infections, the Microbiome, and Probiotics (2021) · cites this paper as Lieleg et al., 2012
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- [29]Cone RA Mestecky J Mucus Mucosal Immunology 2005 3 ed. Elsevier Academic Press
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Viral Infections, the Microbiome, and Probiotics
Harper, A., Vijayakumar, V., Ouwehand, A. C., ter Haar, J., Obis, D., Espadaler, J., Binda, S., Desiraju, S., & Day, R. (2021) · Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology · doi:10.3389/fcimb.2020.596166 · Cited by 177 · see citing works
- Authors
- Lieleg, O., Lieleg, C., Bloom, J., Buck, C. B., & Ribbeck, K.
- Affiliations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
- Fred Hutch Cancer Center (US)
- National Institutes of Health (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ribbeck, Katharina
- Venue
- Biomacromolecules
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2012-05-21
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1724-1732
- ISSN
- 1525-7797 (ISSN-L)
- 1526-4602
- PMC
- PMC3597216
- OpenAlex
- W2049012206
- Cited by
- 167
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 15.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Biomacromolecules (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- Funders
- Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
- National Institutes of Health (GM068763, ES002109)
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (P50GM068763)
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (P30ES002109)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Polysaccharides Composition and Applications
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Surfaces, Coatings and Films › Polymer Surface Interaction Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Keywords
- gastric mucin, antiviral agents, mucus barrier, human papillomavirus, Merkel cell polyomavirus, influenza A virus
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Antiviral Agents, Biopolymers, Cells, Cultured, Gastric Mucins, HeLa Cells, Humans, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Influenza A virus, Polyomavirus, Structure-Activity Relationship, Surface Properties, Swine, Viscosity, Porosity, Papillomaviridae, Macromolecular Substances
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