Abstract

Rotavirus (RV) is a major agent of acute gastroenteritis in human worldwide. Currently no efficient drugto inhibitRV gastroenteritis and vaccines remains the only available strategy to prevent and control RV infections. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Enterobacter cloacae on RV infections in vitro. For this purpose, the cytotoxic effect of this bacterium on cell culture was tested then the antiviral assay was conducted using different concentrations of E. cloacae andstrategies to understand the mechanism by which E. cloacaecan inhibit RV infections. Our results demonstrated thatE. cloacae was safe to cells at concentration up to 1.00E+0⁶CFU/ml. The Highest antiviral activity was observed from E. cloacae atconcentration 1.00E+0⁶ CFU/mlwhen the cell lines were treated with the E. cloacae plus RV together at the same time (competition assay) and when the cell lines treated with E. cloacae before RV infection (pre-treatment assay), protecting 62% and 55% of cell line, respectively, with reduction in virus titers by 1.5 log₁₀TCID₅₀/ml and 1.3 log₁₀TCID₅₀/ml, respectively. Our findings revealed the potential of E. cloacae in inhibition of rotavirus infections.

Keywords

Enterobacter cloacae, rotavirus, gastroenteritis, in vitro