When A549 were infected with VSV, a 48h pre-treatment with VLPs-M8 conferred to these cells an antiviral state that dramatically reduced the levels of infection (≈<90%) as compared to A549 transduced with VLPs incorporating the inactive form of M8 (CIAP-M8) or with VLPs defective of packaging (MD2.G-M8) or envelope (PAX2-M8). The gene discussed is PRNT; the disease is infection.