Abstract

Potent antiviral activity against measles, influenza, picornavirus and herpès simplex viruses was observed in the hemolymph of Podalia sp and M. Albicolis (Lepidoptera: Megalopigydae). The antiviral proteins responsible for this activity were isolated by gel filtration chromatography using à gel filtration column system (Superdex 75) and further fractionated using a Resource-Q ion exchange column system. Experiments with the semi-purified protein led to a 128-fold reduction in picornavirus production, 64-fold reduction in measles virus production and a 32-fold reduction in influenza virus replication. qPCR showed a significantly lower level of herpes virus transcription. In addition no citotoxicity and genotoxicity effect was observed for Vero cells, suggesting a very interesting potential antiviral activity.

Keywords: Antiviral activity, Lepidoptera: Megalopigydae, Measles, Influenza, Picornavirus, Herpès simplex virus