Bacterial Exopolysaccharide of Shallow Marine Vent Origin as Agent in Counteracting Immune Disorders Induced by Herpes Virus

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is responsible of the continuously increasing viral infections in humans. In a previous study we demonstrated that the exopolysaccharide produced by Bacillus licheniformis strain B3-15 (EPS-B3-15), was able to hinder the HSV-2 replication in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and this antiviral activity appear to be related to a significant stimulation of the Th1-cytokines. In this study we analyse the role of EPS-B3-15 on Th2 cytokine production by PBMC infected or not with HSV-2. EPS-B3-15 demonstrate the ability to induce a particular cytokine network with consequent effects on the immune cells during HSV-2 infection.