ABSTRACT
Abstract Despite the success in development of antiviral drugs, a need continues to exist for effective therapies for viral infections. Proteinase inhibitors of microbial origin could be used successfully as antiviral agents.
The virus-inhibitory activity of a fermentation product, produced by Streptomyces sp. 225b (SS 225) was studied with respect to the specificity and selectivity of inhibition. The growth of representative influenza viruses was repressed considerably; virus-induced cytopathogenic effect, virus infectious titres and the production of hemagglutinin were all reduced significantly. By time of addition studies it was found that SS 225 affects adsorption and some intracellular stages of the replication of influenza virus A/Germany/34 (H7N1) (A/Rostock) in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The presented results are in accordance with the findings that proteinase inhibitors of microbial origin could be used successfully as antiviral agents.