Abstract
The antiviral activity of Keggin heteropolyacids (HPAs) against the human influenza A/California/07/09 (H1N1) pdm09 virus is studied in MDCK cell culture. Transmission electron microscopy reveals new features of the destruction of viral particles by HPAs. A proton-anion model that considers the main biochemical processes leading to the destruction of enveloped viruses: the depletion of membrane cholesterol by HPA anions, acidification of the M1 matrix protein by protons of the medium, and anion lysis of lipid membranes, is proposed. The Arrhenius dependences of the biological properties of HPAs on temperature are predicted. The general mechanism for the formation of high biological activity HPAs is described, which is underlined by the anion depletion of cholesterol in bilipid membranes, a new effect in the biochemistry of polyoxometalates.