Effect of fucoidan from the brown alga Fucus evanescens on the development of infection induced by potato virus X in Datura stramonium L. leaves.

摘要

We studied the influence of fucoidan from the brown alga Fucus evanescens on the development of infection induced by potato virus X (PVX) in Datura stramonium leaves. It is shown that 24 h after treatment of the leaves with fucoidan and following inoculation with PVX, the infectivity and amount of the virus in the leaves as well as the accumulation of viral particles in infected cells during early infection period were substantially less than those in the untreated control. Using ultrastructure-morphometric analysis, we established that the fucoidan treatment causes an increase in the protein-synthesizing capability of cells (nucleolus dimension and amount of both mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum membranes increased). At the same time, the fucoidan treatment caused some stimulation of intracellular lytic processes that lead to destruction of virus particles and, therefore, may be considered as one of fucoidan-conditioned protective mechanisms limiting the virus accumulation in cells. Stimulation by fucoidan of the formation of PVX-specific laminated structures that may bind virus particles is another antiviral cell mechanism that limits reproduction and transportation of the virus.