An extract from the earthworm Eisenia fetida non-specifically inhibits the activity of influenza and adenoviruses

OBJECTIVE： To test the in vitro antiviral activity of a crude tissue extract （CTE/from the earthworm Eisenia fetida, determine any effective components in the CTE, andelucidate possiblemechanismsofaction. METHODS： A CTE was made by homogenizing earthworms, followed by treatment with ammoni- um sulfate, then thermal denaturation. Inhibition of virus-induced cytopathic effect （CPE） was used to assess antiviral activity. Chromatographic analy- sis was used to identify effective components in the CTE. RESULTS： The CTE inhibited viral CPE at non-cyto- toxic concentrations. Chromatography indicated that antiviral components corresponded to three active peaks indicative of proteases, nucleases and lysozymes. For adenoviruses, reduction in viral ac- tivity occurred for 100 lag/mL CTE. The reduction in adenoviral activity for four fractions was 100%, 91.8%, 86.9%, and 94.7%. For influenza viruses, re- duction in viral activity of 100%, 86.6%, 69.1% and 88.3% was observed for 37 pg/mL CTE. In addition, three active fractions mixture had stronger antiviral activity （98.7% and 96.7%） than three fractions alone.Gel electrophoresis results indicated that nu- cleases from E. fetida could degrade the genome of influenza viruses and adenoviruses. CONCLUSION： The earthworm CTE displayed non-specific antiviral properties, possibly mediated by a combination of proteases, nucleases and lyso- zymes. Nucleases likely participate in the antiviral process, and degrade the genome of the virus thereby preventing further replication.