Inhibition of Zika virus replication by G-quadruplex-binding ligands.

ABSTRACT: Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-transmitted Flavivirus, emerged in the last decade causing serious diseases and affecting human health globally. Currently, no licensed vaccines or antivirals are available to combat ZIKV, although several vaccine candidates are in the pipeline. In recent years, the presence of non-canonical G-quadruplex (GQ) secondary structures in viral genomes has ignited significant attention as potential targets for antiviral strategy. In this study, we identified several novel conserved potential GQ structures by analyzing published ZIKV genome sequences using an in-house algorithm. Biophysical and biochemical analysis of the RNA sequences containing these potential GQ sequences suggested the existence of such structures in the ZIKV genomes. Studies with known GQ structu

SUBMITTER: Majee P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7851496 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature