Comparison of antiviral activity of extracts from transgenic chicory, lactuca and marshmallow plants

Abstract

Aim. Comparison of antiviral activity effectiveness (suppression of vesicular stomatitis virus Indiana strain in bovine kidney cell line MDBK) by extracts from transgenic roots of lettuce, chicory and marshmallow with ifn-α2b gene was done. Methods. The transgenic plants were obtained by Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation. The presence of transgenes and their transcription were determined by PCR and RT-PCR respectively. Antiviral activity was investigated be suppression of vesicular stomatitis virus
(Indiana strain) in bovine kidney cell line MDBK. Results. There were significant differences in antiviral activity of extracts from different root strains and also differences of antiviral activity of extracts from different species. The extracts from marshmallow transgenic roots had highest activity against vesicular stomatitis virus – up to16378,8 MU/mg of total soluble protein. So, marshmallow plants are suitable object for
Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation using vectors with human interferon α2b gene.
Conclusions. The extracts from transgenic lettuce, chicory and marshmallow have antiviral activity against vesicular stomatitis virus. The Althaea officinalis is a most suitable plant species for obtaining transgenic plant with high antiviral activity.

Key words: Agrobacterium rhizogenes, transformation, Lactuca sativa L., Althaea officinalis L., Cichorium intybus L.