Antiviral activity of the hemolymph of Lonomia obliqua (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Abstract

Potent antiviral activity against measles, influenza and polio viruses was observed in the hemolymph of Lonomia obliqua. The antiviral protein responsible for this activity was isolated, purified by gel filtration chromatography using a gel filtration column system (Superdex 75) and further fractionated using a Resource-Q ion exchange column system. Experiments with the purified protein led to a 157-fold reduction (from 3.3+/-1.25 x 10(7) to 2.1+/-1.5 x 10(5) TCID(50)mL(-1)) in measles virus production and a 61-fold reduction (from 2.8+/-1.08 x 10(9) to 4.58+/-1.42 x 10(7)mL(-1)) in polio virus production. Heating and freezing seem to have no influence over its antiviral activity. Also, the protein does not display virucidal activity and does not act on receptors on the cell membrane. The observations suggest an intracellular mechanism of action and that the protein may act as a constitutive agent that affects the innate antiviral immune response.

Antiviral effect of the egg wax of Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae)

“…On the other hand, extracts of egg wax of A cajennense led to a 256-fold reduction in picornavirus production by L929 cells. These results are in conformity to those obtained with hemolymph of Lonomia obliqua (Greco et al 2009). The present data suggest that the eggs wax of A. cajennense can be an important source to obtain products with antiviral or antimicrobial activity.…”

“…In special, the control of viral infections is of great interest in Public Health, and for this reason the development of new and better antiviral compounds is vital and desirable. The presence of a potent antiviral activity against measles, influenza and polioviruses in the hemolymph of caterpillar Lonomia obliqua has been previously shown (Greco et al 2009). Experiments with the purified protein led to a 157-fold reduction in measles virus production and a 61-fold reduction in polio virus production.…”

New Insight into the Mechanism of <i>Lonomia obliqua</i> Envenoming: Toxin Involvement and Molecular Approach

“…Furthermore, Souza et al [88] purified an anti-apoptotic protein from L. obliqua hemolymph of about 51 kDa. This protein was able to prevent apoptosis in Sf-9 cell culture induced by nutrient deprivation and by actinomycin D. Recently, Greco et al [89] reported the presence in hemolymph of a potent antiviral activity against human virus in vitro. Apparently, this molecule has a molecular mass of approximately 20 kDa.…”

Improvement of recombinant protein production by an anti-apoptotic protein from hemolymph of Lonomia obliqua

“…However, baculovirus infection induces oxidative stress and cell death, which limits recombinant protein production (Vieira et al 2006). Recently some studies have demonstrated the presence of pharmacologically active substances in hemolymph of Lonomia obliqua, which can enhance Sf-9 insect cell growth and culture longevity (Maranga et al 2003;Raffoul et al 2005;Souza et al 2005;Mendonça et al 2008;Greco et al 2009). In the present work, hemolymph (whole extract or a semi-purified fraction) was applied to improve BEVS/IC system by increasing rotavirus recombinant protein.…”