Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group
Back to OMIG Main Page

2017 Agenda and Abstracts | < Previous Next>

2017 OMIG Abstract 3

Antiviral Activity of Methylene Blue against Corneal Cell Infection by Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis Viruses
Marlyn P. Langford, Maxwell Burch, and Thomas B. Redens
  Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana

Background:  Outbreaks of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) caused by Enterovirus type 70 (E70) and Coxsackievirus A24v (CA24v) have occurred more often in Central and South America than the USA since the mid-1980’s. According to the Pan American Health Organization, AHC outbreaks have occurred in the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Brazil, Guadeloupe, and Martinique between May and June, 2017. There is no vaccine or antiviral drug approved for treatment of AHC.

Purpose: To evaluate the anti-viral effect of methylene blue (MB) on the infectivity of viruses that cause AHC (E70 and CA24v). In addition, the inhibition of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and adenovirus (AV) infection by MB was tested.

Methods: Human corneal epithelial cell (HCoC) cultures were treated with different concentrations of Lӧffler’s MB solution and then infected with a low multiplicity of AHC viruses (2 E70 and 2 CA24v strains), 2 HSV-1 and 1 HSV-2 strains, echovirus 30, and adenovirus 3 (AV 3). The inhibition of virus production was determined by virus quantification by micro-plaque assay in 96-well HCoC or monkey kidney cell cultures. 

Results: MB did not inhibit viral infection, but inhibited virus production when applied prior to virus challenge. AHC viruses (EV70 strains J670/71, KW97, 1604; CA24v strains SEC146/74, 75308, and Brunei 75), HSV-1 (strains McRae and KOS) and HSV-2 186, echovirus 30 and AdV 3 were inhibited in a dose dependent manner (1:40 to 1:1280) up to 7 Log10 infectious units (100%). While the relative levels of inhibition varied between strains, the overall inhibition by MB was HSV > AdV3 > AHC viruses.

Conclusions:  MB (a WHO essential medicine) was shown to possess broad spectrum antiviral activity against enteroviruses (and DNA viruses that commonly infect the eye) and thus may prove useful as treatment to inhibit AHC virus infection among family members during epidemics.

Disclosure: N

2017 Agenda and Abstracts | < Previous Next>