ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF CULTURED BLUE-GREEN ALGAE (CYANOPHYTA)1

Lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts from approximately 600 strains of cultured mcyanophytes, representing some 300 species, were examined for antiviral activity against three pathogenic viruses. Approximately 10% of the cultures produced substances that caused significant reduction in cytopathic effect normally associated with viral infection. The screening program identified the order Chroococcales as commonly producing antiviral agnets.