Capsid Assembly Modulators Have a Dual Mechanism of Action in Primary Human Hepatocytes Infected with Hepatitis B Virus.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid assembly is a critical step in the propagation of the virus and is mediated by the core protein. Due to its multiple functions in the viral life cycle, core became an attractive target for new antiviral therapies. Capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) accelerate the kinetics of capsid assembly and prevent encapsidation of the polymerase-pregenomic RNA (Pol-pgRNA) complex, thereby blocking viral replication. CAM JNJ-632 is a novel and potent inhibitor of HBV replication in vitro across genotypes A to D. It induces the formation of morphologically intact viral capsids, as demonstrated by size exclusion chromatography and electron microscopy studies. Antiviral profiling in primary human hepatocytes revealed that CAMs prevented formation of covalently closed c

SUBMITTER: Berke JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5527576 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature