Abstract The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) is an emerging virus that causes infection with a potentially fatal outcome. Dendrimers are highly branched molecules that can be added to antiviral preparations to improve their delivery, as well as their intrinsic antiviral activity. Studies on identifying anti‐MERS‐CoV agents are few. Three types of polyanionic dendrimers comprising the terminal groups sodium carboxylate (generations 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5), hydroxyl (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5), and succinamic acid (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5) and polycationic dendrimers containing primary amine (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5) were used to assess their antiviral activity with the MERS‐CoV plaque inhibition assay. The hydroxyl polyanionic set showed a 17.36% to 29.75% decrease in MERS‐CoV plaque formation. The most potent inhibition of MERS‐CoV plaque formation was seen by G(1.5)‐16COONa (40.5% inhibition), followed by G(5)‐128SA (39.77% inhibition). In contrast, the cationic dendrimers were cytotoxic to Vero cells. Polyanionic dendrimers can be added to antiviral preparations to improve the delivery of antivirals, as well as the intrinsic antiviral activity. Highlights MERS CoV is an emerging viral disease with fatal consequences. Anti‐MERS CoV studies are very limited. The anti‐MERS CoV activity of several generations polyvalent charge dendrimers was investigated. PAMAM dendrimers bears intrinsic anti‐MESR CoV activity. Polyanionic carboxylate PAMAM dendrimers were the most effective agents.
【저자키워드】 coronavirus, Antiviral agents, virus classification, research and analysis methods, cell cultures, 【초록키워드】 Antiviral, antivirals, sodium, Infection, dendrimer, antiviral activity, outcome, MERS, virus, Consequences, CoV, viral disease, group, Middle East, Vero cells, respiratory syndrome coronavirus, effective, decrease, IMPROVE, intrinsic, investigated, were used, added, cause, cationic, 【제목키워드】 antiviral activity, Middle East, pilot study, respiratory syndrome coronavirus, anionic, cationic,