In vitro efficacy of bovine lactoferrin against bovine viral diarrhea virus

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection represents a significant economic challenge to the global cattle industry, leading to considerable losses in productivity and increased management costs. This underscores the urgent need for effective antiviral strategies to combat BVDV infection. In this study, we demonstrated that bovine lactoferrin (bLF), a multifunctional glycoprotein with known antimicrobial properties, exhibited potent inhibitory activity against BVDV infection. Importantly, the antiviral effect of bLF was not mediated by cytotoxicity towards host cells, indicating its safety for potential applications. Mechanistic investigations revealed that bLF did not interfere with viral RNA translation or replication, nor did it impair viral assembly or release. Instead, bLF effectively blocked BVDV infection during the early stages of the viral lifecycle, likely by competitively binding to cellular receptor molecules involved in viral entry. These findings identify bLF as a promising candidate for the development of antivirals targeting BVDV infection, offering a novel and effective approach to managing BVDV-associated diseases.