Antiviral, Immunomodulatory, and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of a Protein-Enriched Fraction from the Larvae of the Housefly, Musca domestica

• Published in: Journal of Insect Science Vol. 13; no. 112; pp. 1 - 16
• Main Authors: Ai, Hui, Wang, Furong, Zhang, Na, Zhang, Lingyao, Lei, Chaoliang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States University of Wisconsin Library 2013; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; Animals; antioxidant; Antiviral Agents - metabolism; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; antiviral properties; ascorbic acid; Autographa californica; Avian influenza virus; Bombyx mori; breeding; Diptera; disease control; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; free radical scavengers; Free Radical Scavengers - metabolism; Free Radical Scavengers - pharmacology; Free radicals (Chemistry); Health aspects; hepatoprotective effect; Houseflies - growth & development; Houseflies - immunology; Houseflies - virology; Immunomodulation; Influenza A virus; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype - drug effects; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype - physiology; Insect Proteins - metabolism; Insect Proteins - pharmacology; insect viruses; Larva - growth & development; Larva - immunology; Larva - virology; larvae; Larval development; Lepidoptera; liver diseases; Mice; mortality; Musca domestica; Muscidae; Noctuidae; Nuclear polyhedrosis virus; Nucleopolyhedrovirus; Nucleopolyhedrovirus - drug effects; Nucleopolyhedrovirus - physiology; silkworms; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; superoxide anion; therapeutics; Tissue Extracts - metabolism; Tissue Extracts - pharmacology; Zoological research; China
• ISSN: 1536-2442; 1536-2442
• DOI: 10.1673/031.013.11201

In our previous study, protein-enriched fraction (PEF) that was isolated from the larvae of the housefly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), showed excellent hepatoprotective activity as well as the potential for clinical application in therapy for liver diseases. In this study, antiviral, immunomodulatory, and free radical scavenging activities of PEF were evaluated. The antiviral results demonstrated that PEF inhibited the infection of avian influenza virus H9N2 and had a virucidal effect against the multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus of the alfalfa looper, Autographa californica Speyer (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in vitro. The mortality of silkworm larve in a PEF treatment group decreased significantly compared with a negative control. PEF showed excellent scavenging activity for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and superoxide anion radicals, which were similar to those of ascorbic acid. The imunomodulatory results suggested that PEF could effectively improve immune function in experimental mice. Our results indicated that PEF could possibly be used for the prophylaxis and treatment of diseases caused by avian influenza virus infection. In addition, PEF with virucidal activity against insect viruses might provide useful for the development of antimicrobial breeding technology for economically important insects. As a natural product from insects, PEF could be a potential source for the discovery of potent antioxidant and immunomodulatory agents.