In Vitro Anti-HIV Activity of a Chinese Fungus Extract

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of the mycelium extract from a Chinese fungus （MI） on HIV-I and its mode of action. Methods Several in vitro methods including time of action, time of addition and PCR were used to test the mode of action of M 1. Results M 1 inhibited acute HIV infection in vitro and was effective when it was added 12 h after infection. PCR analysis of infected cells demonstrated that MI delayed the appearance of late product of reverse transcription and HIV was blocked before its RNA expression. Conclusion The target of M 1 is post-integration of proviral DNA.

Identification of a novel coronavirus causing severe pneumonia in human:a descriptive study

Background:Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses(CoVs),including severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS)-CoV,have raised great public health concern globally.Here,we report a novel batorigin CoV causing severe and fatal pneumonia in humans.Methods:We collected clinical data and bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL)specimens from five patients with severe pneumonia from Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital,Hubei province,China.Nucleic acids of the BAL were extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing.Virus isolation was carried out,and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed.Results:Five patients hospitalized from December 18 to December 29,2019 presented with fever,cough,and dyspnea accompanied by complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome.Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation.One of these patients died.Sequence results revealed the presence of a previously unknownβ-CoV strain in all five patients,with 99.8%to 99.9%nucleotide identities among the isolates.These isolates showed 79.0%nucleotide identity with the sequence of SARS-CoV(GenBank NC_004718)and 51.8%identity with the sequence of MERS-CoV(GenBank NC_019843).The virus is phylogenetically closest to a bat SARS-like CoV(SL-ZC45,GenBank MG772933)with 87.6%to 87.7%nucleotide identity,but is in a separate clade.Moreover,these viruses have a single intact open reading frame gene 8,as a further indicator of bat-origin CoVs.However,the amino acid sequence of the tentative receptor-binding domain resembles that of SARS-CoV,indicating that these viruses might use the same receptor.Conclusion:A novel bat-borne CoV was identified that is associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in humans.

Screening of Fungi from Chinese Medical Plants for Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Activity

In order to Isolate anti-human Immunodeflclency virus （HIV） agents from natural products, 97 ethanollc extracts of 90 fungi were tested for their Inhibitory activity on HIV-1. Most of the extracts tested were relatively non-toxic to human lymphocytic MT-4 cells, but extracts of some fungi exhibited potent antl-HIV activity In an in vitro 3-（4, 5-dlmethyl-2 thlazoyl）-2,5-dlphenyl-2H-tetrazollum bromide assay with a selectivity Index greater than 3. Most fungi were Isolated from Dendrobium sp. and Taxus sp.