The Study of Anti Rabies Virus Effect of Shougong Powder

Rabies is a lethal infectious disease caused by rabies virus (RABV). The mortality rate is very high after the appearance of clinical symptoms, with a survival rate of almost 0%. There is presently no cure for rabies. In the present study, we investigated whether the extract of Shougong powder-a calcium powder prepared from gecko that has demonstrated immunomodulatory properties in mice-is an effective treatment for rabies. The antiviral effects of the extract were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo with the cytotoxicity and antiviral assays and by immunofluorescence analysis, quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR, and western blotting. The results showed that Shougong powder and its extract increased survival rate in RABV-infected mice is up to 60% and 50% respectively, even in 20 times of LD50. Whereas the control groups treated with Isoprinosine (IPS) or saline are only 20% and 0% survival (P=0.011). qRT-PCR and western blot analyses showed that the extract strongly inhibited viral mRNA expression and protein synthesis in vitro: expression of the N, P, M, G, and L genes of RABV was decreased by 28.8%–45.0% in the IPS group (P<0.05) and by 50.1%–59.0% in the extract group (P<0.05) relative to the control group. These results demonstrate that Shougong powder has antiviral effects against RABV and can potentially be used for the treatment for rabies.