Virology

Feces

Biology

Microbiology

Gene

Biochemistry

Virus

Antiviral protein

Sendai virus

Microbiology and Immunology

The antiviral activity of a substance (L4–1) purified from silkworm faeces was examined in an HVJ (Sendai virus)—LLC‐MK2 cell system. Its antiviral effect depended on the period of light irradiation and was inhibited by sodium sulfite and anaerobic conditions. These results indicate that the antiviral activity of L4–1 is associated with active oxygen species produced from the substance. SDS‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis showed that viral proteins were damaged by this substance under light irradiation. The results suggest that the antiviral activity is due to damage to viral protein(s) caused by active oxygen species produced from L4–1.

Antiviral Substance from Silkworm Faeces: Characterization of Its Antiviral Activity