This study describes the in vitro antiviral activity of two species of
oyster hemolymph (Crassostrea rhizophorae and C. gigas) collected on Southern Brazilian coastline. Either
the acellular and cellular fractions were tested against herpes simplex
type-1 (HSV-1), human adenovirus respiratory strain (AdV-5) and simian
rotavirus (RV-SA11) by using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl
tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The evaluation of viral inhibition was
performed using four different strategies: simultaneous, pre-infection and
post-infection treatments and virucidal assays. The cellular fraction from
Crassostrea rhizophorae showed the most prominent inhibition of HSV-1 and AdV-5 replication,
particularly in post-infection treatment assay. No inhibition of rotavirus
replication was observed. Both oyster hemolymph fractions showed virucidal
activity against all tested virus in non-cytotoxic concentrations.