The Anti-Dengue Virus Peptide DV2 Inhibits Zika Virus Both In Vitro and In Vivo.

ABSTRACT: The C-terminal portion of the E protein, known as stem, is conserved among flaviviruses and is an important target to peptide-based antiviral strategies. Since the dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses share sequences in the stem region, in this study we evaluated the cross-inhibition of ZIKV by the stem-based DV2 peptide (419-447), which was previously described to inhibit all DENV serotypes. Thus, the anti-ZIKV effects induced by treatments with the DV2 peptide were tested in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Molecular modeling approaches have demonstrated that the DV2 peptide interacts with amino acid residues exposed on the surface of pre- and postfusion forms of the ZIKA envelope (E) protein. The peptide did not have any significant cytotoxic effects on eukaryotic cells but effici

SUBMITTER: Castro-Amarante MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10143277 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature