Innate, non-specific resistance mechanisms are important to pathogens, particularly for delaying virus replication at the onset of infection, Innate immunity constitutes the first line of defense in vertebrates and is the only one in invertebrates. Little is known about possible antiviral substances in invertebrates. The present work concerns a Study of antiviral substances in hemolymph from adult Crassostrea gigas oysters. Despite the detection of cytotoxicity in fresh filtered hemolymph for both mammalian (CC50: 750 mu g/ml) and fish cells (CC50: > 2000 mu g/ml for EPC cells and 345 mu g/ml for RTG-2 cells), an antiviral substance was detected. Fresh filtered hemolymph was capable of inhibiting the replication of herpes simplex virus type I in vitro at an EC50 of 425 mu g/ml (total proteins) and the replication of infections pancreatic necrosis virus in EPC and RTG-2 cells at 217 and 156 mu g/ml (total proteins), respectively.