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The infection of mammalian cells by enveloped viruses is triggered by the interaction of viral envelope glycoproteins with the glycosaminoglycan, heparan sulfate. By mimicking this carbohydrate, some anionic polysaccharides can block this interaction and inhibit viral entry and infection. As heparan sulfate carries both carboxyl and sulfate groups, this work focused on the derivatization of a (1→3)(1→6)-ß-D-glucan, botryosphaeran, with these negatively-charged groups in an attempt to improve its antiviral activity. Carboxyl and sulfonate groups were introduced by carboxymethylation and sulfonylation reactions, respectively. Three derivatives with the same degree of carboxymethylation (0.9) and different degrees of sulfonation (0.1; 0.2; 0.4) were obtained. All derivatives were chemically characterized and evaluated for their antiviral activity against herpes (HSV-1, strains KOS and AR) and dengue (DENV-2) viruses. Carboxymethylated botryosphaeran did not inhibit the viruses, while all sulfonated-carboxymethylated derivatives were able to inhibit HSV-1. DENV-2 was inhibited only by one of these derivatives with an intermediate degree of sulfonation (0.2), demonstrating that the dengue virus is more resistant to anionic ß-D-glucans than the Herpes simplex virus. By comparison with a previous study on the antiviral activity of sulfonated botryosphaerans, we conclude that the presence of carboxymethyl groups might have a detrimental effect on antiviral activity.

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Administration of ß-glucans through various routes, including immersion, dietary inclusion, or injection, have been found to stimulate various facets of immune responses, such as resistance to infections and resistance to environmental stress. ß-Glucans used as an immunomodulatory food supplement have been found beneficial in eliciting immunity in commercial aquaculture. Despite extensive research involving more than 3000 published studies, knowledge of the receptors involved in recognition of ß-glucans, their downstream signaling, and overall mechanisms of action is still lacking. The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss what is currently known about of the use of ß-glucans in fish.

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ß-Glucans are biomacromolecules well known, among other biological activities, for their immunomodulatory potential. Similarly, extracts of Baccharis dracunculifolia also possess biological properties and are used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, ulcers, and hepatic diseases. Microparticles containing (1→6)-ß-d-glucan (lasiodiplodan) and B. dracunculifolia extract were produced and characterized. A 23 factorial design was employed to define the conditions of production of microparticles by atomization. Lasiodiplodan associated with maltodextrin and gum arabic was studied as a matrix material. Microparticles of 0.4 µm mean size and high phenolics content (3157.9 µg GAE/g) were obtained under the optimized conditions. The microparticle size ranged from 0.23 to 1.21 µm, and the mathematical model that best represented the release kinetics of the extract was the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Diffusional exponent (n) values of 0.64 at pH 7.7 and 1.15 at pH 2.61 were found, indicating particles with a non-Fickian or anomalous transport system, and Super Case II transport, respectively. Thermal analysis indicated that the microparticles demonstrated high thermal stability. The X-ray diffraction analyses revealed an amorphous structure, and HPLC-DAD analysis showed microparticles rich in phenolic compounds: caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, and catechin. The microparticles obtained comprise a new biomaterial with biological potential for applications in different fields.

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Exocellular (1→6)-ß-d-glucan (lasiodiplodan) produced by the fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae MMPI was derivatized by carboxymethylation using different concentrations of a derivatizing agent. Lasiodiplodan was derivatized by carboxymethylation in an attempt to increase its solubility and enhance its biological activities. Carboxymethylglucans with degrees of substitution (DS) of 0.32, 0.47, 0.51, 0.58, and 0.68 were produced and characterized. FTIR analysis showed a band of strong intensity at 1600 cm-1 and an absorption band at 1421 cm-1, resulting from asymmetric and symmetrical stretching vibrations, respectively, of the carboxymethyl group COO- in the carboxymethylated samples. Thermal analysis showed that native lasiodiplodan (LN) and carboxymethylated derivatives (LC) exhibited thermal stability up to 200-210 °C. X-ray diffractometry demonstrated that both native and carboxymethylated lasiodiplodan presented predominantly an amorphous nature. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that carboxymethylation promoted morphological changes in the biopolymer and increased porosity, and alveolar structures were observed along the surface. The introduction of carboxymethyl groups in the macromolecule promoted increased solubility and potentiated the hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity, suggesting a correlation between degree of substitution and antioxidant activity.

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Several reports have shown the positive effects of ß-glucans on the immune. Howeverthese studies have a broad experimental design including ß-glucans compounds. Consequently, a study using the same ß-glucan molecule, administration route and experimental design is needed to compare the effects of ß-glucan across vertebrate species. For this end, during 28 days we fed four different vertebrate species: mice, dogs, piglets and chicks, with two ß-glucan molecules (BG01 and BG02). We measured the serum interleukin 2 as an indicator of innate immune response, the neutrophils and monocytes phagocytosis index as a cellular response and antibody formation as an adaptive response. The results clearly showed that the different ß-glucan molecules exhibited biologically differently behaviors, but both molecules stimulate the immune system in a similar pattern in these four species. This finding suggests that vertebrates shared similar mechanisms/patterns in recognizing the ß-glucans and confirms the benefits of ß-glucans across different vertebrate species.

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BACKGROUND: In face of the challenge of the emergent diseases and the current efforts of the governments to create conditions to ban growth-promoting antibiotics and to improve efficiency of the commercial farming, new opportunities are created for natural, highly effective and cost affordable immunomodulators; able to induce and enhance resistance against diseases and to reduce farming-related stress. Supplementation of animal feed with ß(1-3)(1-6)-D-glucans has been repeatedly shown to modulate the immune system ant to influence growth characteristics of farmed animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our study we focused on evaluation of effects of an insoluble, fungi-derived ß(1-3)(1-6)-D-glucan as dietary supplement in piglets. We measured the growth, phagocytosis of peripheral blood cells and interleukin 2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production after feeding with 15 mg of glucan/kg/day. CONCLUSIONS: Following supplementation, ß(1-3)(1-6)-D-glucan has been shown to stimulate growth, phagocytic activity, and IL-2 production. In addition, it significantly lowered the cortisol and TNF-α levels after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge.

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