An Antiviral Agent (46NW-04A) Produced by Pseudomonas sp. and Its Activity against Fish Viruses

Abstract The antiviral agent 46NW-04A was isolated and characterized from cell-free culture fluid of Pseudomonas sp. 46NW-04 isolated from the aquatic environment. Production of the antiviral substance was maximal at 25°C during days 2–3 of bacterial incubation. Extraction from 30 L of culture fluid by ethyl acetate and purification by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel resulted in 709 mg of the purified antiviral material. Molecular weight of this substance was 1,126 by secondary ionization mass spectrometry, and chemical properties suggested that 46NW-04A was a peptide. Its antiviral activity, measured as the concentration causing 100% plaque reduction, was 25 μg/mL against Oncorhynchus masou virus and infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus. However, no antiviral activity was observed against infectious pancreatic necrosis virus at the concentrations tested. Pseudomonas sp. 46NW-04 was identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens biovar I.