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Cepharanthine suppresses LMBV replication via cell cycle arrest and immunomodulation
Bowen Liu1, Mengmeng Wang1, Zheming Zhang1
1College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
Fish & Shellfish Immunology
|July 14, 2026
Summary
Cepharanthine (CE) effectively combats largemouth bass virus (LMBV) in aquaculture. This natural compound reduces viral replication, protects fish, and modulates immune responses, offering a promising solution for LMBV infections.
Area of Science:
- Aquaculture
- Veterinary Virology
- Natural Product Chemistry
Background:
- Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) causes significant economic losses in aquaculture.
- Existing antiviral drugs and vaccines for LMBV are still under development.
- There is a critical need for novel antiviral agents to manage LMBV infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antiviral efficacy of cepharanthine (CE) against LMBV.
- To elucidate the immunopharmacological mechanisms of CE in controlling LMBV.
- To assess CE's potential as a therapeutic agent for LMBV in largemouth bass.
Main Methods:
- In vitro assays using epithelioma papulosum cyprinid (EPC) cells to determine CE's antiviral activity and cytotoxicity.
- In vivo studies involving LMBV-infected largemouth bass treated with CE.
- Analysis of viral replication, histopathology, immune gene expression, and transcriptomic profiling.
Main Results:
- CE demonstrated potent in vitro anti-LMBV activity with low cytotoxicity (IC50 = 0.2136 μM).
- CE significantly reduced viral titers, suppressed viral replication by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and decreased mortality in infected fish.
- CE treatment alleviated organ damage, reduced viral loads, modulated immune gene expression, and reversed LMBV-induced transcriptomic changes.
Conclusions:
- Cepharanthine exhibits significant multi-functional antiviral properties against LMBV.
- CE shows promise as a therapeutic agent for managing ranavirus infections in aquaculture.
- Further research into CE could lead to effective treatments for viral diseases in farmed fish.
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