Antiviral Activity of Cycloheximide Against Coxsackievirus B3 Through Autophagy Inhibition

Hwa-Jung Choi

doi:10.4167/jbv.2025.55.2.187

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2025 Vol.55, Issue 2 Preview Page

Original Article

Antiviral Activity of Cycloheximide Against Coxsackievirus B3 Through Autophagy Inhibition

30 June 2025. pp. 187-195

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Abstract

Coxsackievirus group B (CVBs) are a subset of enteroviruses that initially replicate in the gastrointestinal tract and can subsequently cause systemic infections, often leading to severe complications such as pancreatitis. In this study, we investigated the antiviral effects and autophagy-regulating function of cycloheximide, a known protein synthesis inhibitor. Experiments conducted in Vero cells demonstrated that cycloheximide significantly suppressed CVB3-induced cytopathic effects and effectively blocked viral RNA replication and VP3 protein expression. Furthermore, cycloheximide activated the mTORC1 signaling pathway, resulting in reduced LC3 expression and inhibition of autophagy, thereby contributing to its antiviral activity. This mechanism was similarly observed across other CVB serotypes, including CVB1, CVB2, CVB4, CVB5, and CVB6, indicating broad-spectrum antiviral efficacy. In conclusion, cycloheximide effectively inhibits CVB replication by suppressing autophagy through mTORC1 activation, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for CVB infections.

Keywords

Coxsackievirus B (CVB)

Cycloheximide

Autophagy

mTORC1 signaling

Antiviral activity

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Society for Microbiology and The Korean Society of Virology
Publisher(Ko) :대한미생물학회‧대한바이러스학회
Journal Title :JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY
Volume : 55
No :2
Pages :187-195
Received Date : 2025-05-01
Revised Date : 2025-06-04
Accepted Date : 2025-06-14
DOI :https://doi.org/10.4167/jbv.2025.55.2.187

JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY ISSN:1598-2467(Print) 2093-0429(Online)

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