THE INHIBITORY EFFECT OF DESTRUXIN-A ON THE REPLICATION OF ARBOVIRUSES IN AEDES-ALBOPICTUS C6/36 CELL-LINE

1. Destruxin A (DxA) is a cyclic depsipeptide produced by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. Its effect on the replication of different arboviruses in Aedes albopictus C6/36 cell line was investigated. 2. DxA was effective against Chikungunya, West Nile, Tahyna, and Tribec viruses. The lowest estimated virostatic concentration was 0.1 mug DxA/ml. 3. The best inhibitory effect was achieved in cells pretreated with DxA before the virus application. However, an inhibitory effect was still apparent in cultures in which DxA was introduced 6 hr after virus inoculation. 4. The DxA-induced virostatic effect was reversible, and the presence of the metabolite in the cultivation medium during the whole experiment was obligatory. 5. The difference between the cytostatic and virostatic activities was about 500 times.