Ho, Wing Shan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-137). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Abstract (Chinese Version) --- p.v / Table of Contents --- p.vii / List of Figures --- p.x / List of Tables --- p.xi / List of Abbreviations --- p.xii / Chapter Chapter One: --- General Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- RSV biology --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- RSV strains --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- RSV pathogenesis and host antiviral responses --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5 --- Prevention of RSV infection --- p.13 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Vaccines --- p.13 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Passive anti-RSV antibodies --- p.17 / Chapter 1.6 --- Treatment for RSV infections --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Ribavirin (Virasole®) --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Other antiviral strategies --- p.21 / Chapter 1.6.2.1 --- Attachment inhibitors --- p.22 / Chapter 1.6.2.2 --- Fusion inhibitors --- p.23 / Chapter 1.6.2.3 --- Replication inhibitors --- p.25 / Chapter 1.6.2.4 --- Ethnobotanic medicines --- p.28 / Chapter 1.6.2.4.1 --- Anti-RSV medicinal plant components --- p.31 / Chapter 1.6.2.4.1.1 --- Phenolics and polyphenols --- p.31 / Chapter 1.6.2.4.1.2 --- Flavonoids --- p.32 / Chapter 1.6.2.4.1.3 --- Terpenoids and essential oils --- p.34 / Chapter 1.6.2.4.1.4 --- Lectins --- p.34 / Chapter 1.6.2.4.1.4.1 --- General introduction to lectins --- p.34 / Chapter 1.6.2.4.1.4.2 --- Historical aspects of lectins --- p.35 / Chapter 1.6.2.4.1.4.3 --- Applications of lectins --- p.36 / Chapter 1.7 --- Objectives of the project --- p.37 / Chapter Chapter Two: --- Screening of medicinal plants and phytochemicals for antiviral activity against RSV / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Medicinal plants and phytochemicals --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Plant extracts preparation --- p.48 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Aqueous extracts --- p.48 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Ethanol extracts --- p.48 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Cell and virus --- p.49 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Endpoint titration of RSV infectivity --- p.50 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Cytotoxicity test --- p.50 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Antiviral assay --- p.52 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.53 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.58 / Chapter Chapter Three: --- "Mechanistic studies of anti-RSV actions of various fractions of Adina pilulifera, and daphnoretin, a purified compound from Wikstroemia indica" / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.65 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Fractionation of A. pilulifera ethanol extract --- p.65 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Cell and virus --- p.65 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Cytotoxicity test --- p.65 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Endpoint titration of RSV by TCID50 method --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Antiviral study by CPE reduction assay --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Endpoint titration of RSV by plaque assay --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Antiviral study by plaque reduction assay --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Mode of antiviral action study --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.70 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.76 / Chapter Chapter Four: --- Antiviral activity of Narcissus tazetta proteins / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.88 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Crude proteins extraction from Narcissus tazetta cultivar --- p.88 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Separation of proteins with affinity column --- p.88 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Gel filtration of protein fractions on Superose column --- p.89 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) --- p.89 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Electroblotting and N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis --- p.90 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Protein concentration determination --- p.90 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Isolation and purification of N. tazetta lectin (NTL) --- p.91 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Antiviral activities of N. tazetta proteins and NTL --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2.8.1 --- Cell and virus --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2.8.2 --- Cytotoxicity test --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2.8.3 --- Endpoint titration of RSV by TCID50 method --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2.8.4 --- Antiviral study by CPE reduction assay --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2.8.5 --- Endpoint titration of RSV by plaque assay --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2.8.6 --- Antiviral study by plaque reduction assay --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2.8.7 --- Mode of antiviral action study --- p.93 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.94 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.107 / Chapter Chapter Five: --- General Discussion and Conclusions --- p.111 / References --- p.116