Lentinan Reduces Transmission Efficiency of COVID-19 by Changing Aerodynamic Characteristic of Exhaled SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols in Golden Hamsters

Lentinan (LNT) was found to reduce the aerosol transmission rate between golden hamsters from 100% (9/9) to 44.4% (4/9). The viral loads in the respiratory system, including the nasal turbinate, trachea, and lung, were significantly reduced in the infected golden hamsters that received LNT treatment...

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Main Authors: Cheng Zhang, Jiaming Li, Huan Cui, Yifei Jin, Zhaoliang Chen, Lei Zhang, Sihui Song, Bing Lu, Zhongyi Wang, Zhendong Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/597
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author Cheng Zhang
Jiaming Li
Huan Cui
Yifei Jin
Zhaoliang Chen
Lei Zhang
Sihui Song
Bing Lu
Zhongyi Wang
Zhendong Guo
author_facet Cheng Zhang
Jiaming Li
Huan Cui
Yifei Jin
Zhaoliang Chen
Lei Zhang
Sihui Song
Bing Lu
Zhongyi Wang
Zhendong Guo
author_sort Cheng Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Lentinan (LNT) was found to reduce the aerosol transmission rate between golden hamsters from 100% (9/9) to 44.4% (4/9). The viral loads in the respiratory system, including the nasal turbinate, trachea, and lung, were significantly reduced in the infected golden hamsters that received LNT treatment. Furthermore, the amount of exhaled virus aerosols in hamsters treated with LNT was significantly lower than that in untreated hamsters throughout the entire disease progression. In detail, the amounts of virus-laden particles with aerodynamic diameters less than 5 µm exhibited a significant decreasing trend following LNT treatment. Moreover, the detection rate of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in each stage of the Anderson-6 sampler exhibited a decreasing trend following LNT treatment post-infection. In summary, our findings indicate that LNT therapy represents a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Meanwhile, during the course of treatment, LNT has the potential to reduce viral infectivity in affected individuals.
format Article
id doaj-art-211cbef59f934f88922829398ad73c78
institution Kabale University
issn 2076-2607
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Microorganisms
spelling doaj-art-211cbef59f934f88922829398ad73c782025-08-20T03:43:20ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-03-0113359710.3390/microorganisms13030597Lentinan Reduces Transmission Efficiency of COVID-19 by Changing Aerodynamic Characteristic of Exhaled SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols in Golden HamstersCheng Zhang0Jiaming Li1Huan Cui2Yifei Jin3Zhaoliang Chen4Lei Zhang5Sihui Song6Bing Lu7Zhongyi Wang8Zhendong Guo9Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 573 Tulip Street, Changchun 130122, ChinaBeijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Road, Beijing 100071, ChinaChangchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 573 Tulip Street, Changchun 130122, ChinaBeijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Road, Beijing 100071, ChinaChangchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 573 Tulip Street, Changchun 130122, ChinaChangchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 573 Tulip Street, Changchun 130122, ChinaChangchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 573 Tulip Street, Changchun 130122, ChinaBeijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Road, Beijing 100071, ChinaBeijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Road, Beijing 100071, ChinaChangchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 573 Tulip Street, Changchun 130122, ChinaLentinan (LNT) was found to reduce the aerosol transmission rate between golden hamsters from 100% (9/9) to 44.4% (4/9). The viral loads in the respiratory system, including the nasal turbinate, trachea, and lung, were significantly reduced in the infected golden hamsters that received LNT treatment. Furthermore, the amount of exhaled virus aerosols in hamsters treated with LNT was significantly lower than that in untreated hamsters throughout the entire disease progression. In detail, the amounts of virus-laden particles with aerodynamic diameters less than 5 µm exhibited a significant decreasing trend following LNT treatment. Moreover, the detection rate of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in each stage of the Anderson-6 sampler exhibited a decreasing trend following LNT treatment post-infection. In summary, our findings indicate that LNT therapy represents a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Meanwhile, during the course of treatment, LNT has the potential to reduce viral infectivity in affected individuals.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/597lentinanaerosol transmissibilityexhaled virus aerosolsaerodynamic diameters
spellingShingle Cheng Zhang
Jiaming Li
Huan Cui
Yifei Jin
Zhaoliang Chen
Lei Zhang
Sihui Song
Bing Lu
Zhongyi Wang
Zhendong Guo
Lentinan Reduces Transmission Efficiency of COVID-19 by Changing Aerodynamic Characteristic of Exhaled SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols in Golden Hamsters
Microorganisms
lentinan
aerosol transmissibility
exhaled virus aerosols
aerodynamic diameters
title Lentinan Reduces Transmission Efficiency of COVID-19 by Changing Aerodynamic Characteristic of Exhaled SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols in Golden Hamsters
title_full Lentinan Reduces Transmission Efficiency of COVID-19 by Changing Aerodynamic Characteristic of Exhaled SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols in Golden Hamsters
title_fullStr Lentinan Reduces Transmission Efficiency of COVID-19 by Changing Aerodynamic Characteristic of Exhaled SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols in Golden Hamsters
title_full_unstemmed Lentinan Reduces Transmission Efficiency of COVID-19 by Changing Aerodynamic Characteristic of Exhaled SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols in Golden Hamsters
title_short Lentinan Reduces Transmission Efficiency of COVID-19 by Changing Aerodynamic Characteristic of Exhaled SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols in Golden Hamsters
title_sort lentinan reduces transmission efficiency of covid 19 by changing aerodynamic characteristic of exhaled sars cov 2 aerosols in golden hamsters
topic lentinan
aerosol transmissibility
exhaled virus aerosols
aerodynamic diameters
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/597
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