Effect of EGCG Extracted from Green Tea against Largemouth Bass Virus Infection
Yuan Cheng,
Mingzhu Liu,
Qing Yu,
Shuaishuai Huang,
Shuyu Han,
Jingu Shi,
Hongling Wei,
Jianwei Zou,
Pengfei Li
Affiliations
Yuan Cheng
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biotechnology and Modern Ecological Aquaculture, Guangxi Engineering Research Center for Fishery Major Diseases Control and Efficient Healthy Breeding Industrial Technology (GERCFT), Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530000, China
Mingzhu Liu
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biotechnology and Modern Ecological Aquaculture, Guangxi Engineering Research Center for Fishery Major Diseases Control and Efficient Healthy Breeding Industrial Technology (GERCFT), Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530000, China
Qing Yu
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biotechnology and Modern Ecological Aquaculture, Guangxi Engineering Research Center for Fishery Major Diseases Control and Efficient Healthy Breeding Industrial Technology (GERCFT), Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530000, China
Shuaishuai Huang
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biotechnology and Modern Ecological Aquaculture, Guangxi Engineering Research Center for Fishery Major Diseases Control and Efficient Healthy Breeding Industrial Technology (GERCFT), Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530000, China
Shuyu Han
Guangxi Fisheries Technology Extension Station, Nanning 530000, China
Jingu Shi
Beihai Fisheries Technology Extension Station, Beihai 536001, China
Hongling Wei
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biotechnology and Modern Ecological Aquaculture, Guangxi Engineering Research Center for Fishery Major Diseases Control and Efficient Healthy Breeding Industrial Technology (GERCFT), Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530000, China
Jianwei Zou
Beihai Fisheries Technology Extension Station, Beihai 536001, China
Pengfei Li
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biotechnology and Modern Ecological Aquaculture, Guangxi Engineering Research Center for Fishery Major Diseases Control and Efficient Healthy Breeding Industrial Technology (GERCFT), Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530000, China
(1) Background: Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) is a major viral pathogen in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) aquaculture that often causes high mortality and heavy economic losses, thus developing treatments to combat this pathogen is of great commercial importance. Green tea is a well-known medicinal plant that contains active ingredients with antiviral, antibacterial, and other biological activities. The goals of this study were to explore the effect and mechanism of green tea source compounds on LMBV and provide data to serve as the basis for the screening of targeted drugs in the future. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the main component of green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), against LMBV infection. (2) Methods: The safe working concentration of EGCG was identified by cell viability detection and light microscopy. The antiviral activity and mechanism of action of EGCG against LMBV infection were evaluated with light microscopy, an aptamer 6-carboxy-fluorescein-based fluorescent molecular probe, and reverse transcription quantitative PCR. (3) Results: The safe working concentration of EGCG was ≤10 μg/mL. EGCG showed significant anti-LMBV infection activity in a concentration-dependent manner, and it also destroyed the structure of virus particles. EGCG impacted the binding of virus particles to cell receptors and virus invasion into the host cells. Inhibitory effects of EGCG on LMBV particles, LMBV binding to the host-cell membrane, and LMBV invasion were 84.89%, 98.99%, and 95.23%, respectively. Meanwhile, the effects of EGCG subsequently were verified in vivo. The fatality rate of the LMBV + EGCG group was significantly lower than that of the LMBV group. (4) Conclusions: Our results suggest that EGCG has effective antiviral properties against LMBV and may be a candidate for the effective treatment and control of LMBV infections in largemouth bass aquaculture.