Identification of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate as a potential agent for blocking infection by grass carp reovirus

Grass carp reovirus (GCRV), the representative strain of the species Aquareovirus C, serves as a model for studying the pathogenesis of aquareoviruses. Previously, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was shown to inhibit orthoreovirus infection. The aim of this study was to test its potential in blocking infection by GCRV. We show that adhesion to the CIK (Ctenopharyngodon idellus kidney) cell surface by GCRV particles is inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by EGCG, as well as by a crude extract of green tea. We also evaluated the safety of EGCG and green tea extract using CIK cells, and the results suggest that EGCG is a promising compound that may be developed as a plant-derived small molecular therapeutic agent against grass carp hemorrhagic disease caused by GCRV infection. As the ligand for the 37/67-kDa laminin receptor (LamR), EGCG's blocking effect on GCRV attachment was associated with the binding potential of GCRV particles to LamR, which was inferred from a VOPBA assay.