Antiviral Activity of a Cloned Peptide RC28 Isolated from the Higher Basidiomycetes Mushroom Rozites caperata in a Mouse Model of HSV-1 Keratitis

An Escherichia coli−expressed peptide with a molecular weight of 28.26, derived from the complementary DNA of antiviral protein RC28 isolated from the mushroom Rozites caperata (=Cortinarius caperatus), demonstrated potent antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus-1 in Vero cells and in a herpes simplex virus-1 mouse keratitis model. Plaque assays in Vero cells showed that the peptide reduced viral yields by at least 1.2 logs; in the animal model the cloned peptide delayed the occurrence of stromal keratitis and alleviated the severity of the disease. We believe this is the first report of a cloned mushroom peptide with antiviral activity for the prevention and treatment of a viral disease.