Discovery of Immunologically Inspired Small Molecules That Target the Viral Envelope Protein.

ABSTRACT: Dengue virus is a major human pathogen that infects over 390 million people annually leading to approximately 500 000 hospitalizations due to severe dengue. Since the only marketed vaccine, Dengvaxia, has recently been shown to increase disease severity in those lacking natural immunity, antivirals to prevent or treat dengue  infection represent a large, unmet medical need. Small molecules that target the dengue virus envelope protein, E, on the surface of the virion could act analogously to antibodies by engaging E extracellularly to block infection; however, a shortage of target-based assays suitable for screening and medicinal chemistry studies has limited efforts in this area. Here we demonstrate that the dengue E protein offers a tractable drug target for preventing dengue infection b

SUBMITTER: Lian W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6392429 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature