In vitro anti-influenza activity of a protein-enriched fraction from larvae of the housefly (Musca domestica).

Context: Insects are a large, unexplored and unexploited source of potentially useful compounds for modern medicine. The larvae of the housefly (Musca domestica) have been used to study immune-induced molecules because they can survive in pathogenic environments.Objective: The antiviral activity of a protein-enriched fraction (PEF) from the larvae of the housefly was evaluated in vitro and the possible antiviral mechanism was studied.Materials and methods: PEF was isolated from the larvae of the housefly. The cytotoxicity of PEF was detected by the MTT assay. The in vitro antiviral activity of PEF against influenza virus was investigated. PEF was incubated with the virus and its target cells under various conditions, and its antiviral effects were examined by reduction in virus yield in cell cultures. Experiments with ribavirin were performed in parallel under the same conditions.Results: The results indicated that PEF had minimal cytotoxicity against MDCK cells and the CC50 value was calculated to be 284...