Chikungunya virus has caused two recent massive outbreaks sickening millions of people. Chikungunya is a mosquito-born, largely tropical disease which can cause fever, severe joint pain, headaches, nausea, and fatigue. A team of researchers has shown that several existing compounds have potent activity against the critical CHIKV protease enzyme. The research is published inĀ Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, published by the American Society for Microbiology.
‘With new and mutant viruses emerging, it is imperative to identify fast and reliable compounds which are capable of inhibiting their replication.’
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"Here we exploited an approach that should, at least in theory, be a fast track for the development of compounds useful both for studies of the virus and as leads for development of antivirals," said corresponding author Andres Merits, PhD, Professor of Applied Virology, University of Tartu, Estonia."The 3D-structures of conserved virus proteins are currently second--after the genome sequence--to be resolved for new, medically important viruses," said Merits. Theoretical chemists from among this team used that information to predict in silico what already existing chemicals might bind and inhibit the enzyme.
The virologists then tested the compounds' abilities to inhibit the CHIKV protease' activity in biochemical systems, and then in cultures of infected cells.
Several of the compounds proved to be potent inhibitors of both RNA synthesis and virus replication. Interestingly, it appeared that some compounds used more than one mechanism to inhibit CHIKV replication. "While none of these compounds is ready to be used as an antiviral drug, they represent promising leads and excellent tools for follow-up studies," said Merits.
The researchers were also able to use their initial findings on which compounds worked to refine the predictive model, said Merits. After that, the success rate rose to 50% of the compounds selected by the model that were active against the virus.
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The scientifically selected compounds are good leads for drug development, and reduce the possibility of subsequent failure. "They are equally important as tools to study and understand the details of virus infection."
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Source-Medindia