Broad-spectrum antiviral agents: secreted phospholipase A₂ targets viral envelope lipid bilayers derived from the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), dengue virus (DENV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) belong to the family Flaviviridae. Their viral particles have the envelope composed of viral proteins and a lipid bilayer acquired from budding through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The phospholipid content of the ER membrane differs from that of the plasma membrane (PM). The phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) superfamily consists of a large number of members that specifically catalyse the hydrolysis of phospholipids at a particular position. Here we show that the CM-II isoform of secreted PLA₂ obtained from Naja mossambica mossambica snake venom (CM-II-sPLA₂) possesses potent virucidal (neutralising) activity against HCV, DENV and JEV, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (I

SUBMITTER: Chen M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5698466 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature