RESUMEN
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are important disease-causing agents worldwide. Currently, there are no antiviral drugs or vaccines approved to treat these viruses. However, peptides have shown great potential for new drug development. A recent study described (p-BthTX-I)2K [(KKYRYHLKPF)2K], a peptide derived from the Bothropstoxin-I toxin in the venom of the Bothrops jararacussu snake, showed antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we assessed the activity of this peptide against CHIKV and ZIKV and its antiviral action in the different stages of the viral replication cycle in vitro. We observed that (p-BthTX-I)2K impaired CHIKV infection by interfering with the early steps of the viral replication cycle, reducing CHIKV entry into BHK-21 cells specifically by reducing both the attachment and internalization steps. (p-BthTX-I)2K also inhibited the ZIKV replicative cycle in Vero cells. The peptide protected the cells against ZIKV infection and decreased the levels of the viral RNA and the NS3 protein of this virus at viral post-entry steps. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of the (p-BthTX-I)2K peptide to be a novel broad-spectrum antiviral candidate that targets different steps of the replication cycle of both CHIKV and ZIKV.
Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , Fiebre Chikungunya , Virus Chikungunya , Virus , Infección por el Virus Zika , Virus Zika , Animales , Chlorocebus aethiops , Humanos , Infección por el Virus Zika/tratamiento farmacológico , Virus Zika/genética , Células Vero , Antivirales/farmacología , Antivirales/uso terapéutico , Replicación Viral , SARS-CoV-2 , Virus Chikungunya/genética , Péptidos/farmacología , Péptidos/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
Ilhéus virus (ILHV) is a neglected mosquito-borne flavivirus. ILHV infection may lead to Ilhéus fever, an emerging febrile disease like dengue fever with the potential to evolve into a severe neurological disease characterized by meningoencephalitis; no specific treatments are available for this disease. This study assessed the antiviral properties of caffeic acid, an abundant component of plant-based food products that is also compatible with the socioeconomic limitations associated with this neglected infectious disease. The in vitro activity of caffeic acid on ILHV replication was investigated in Vero and A549 cell lines using plaque assays, quantitative RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence assays. We observed that 500 µM caffeic acid was virucidal against ILHV. Molecular docking indicated that caffeic acid might interact with an allosteric binding site on the envelope protein.
Asunto(s)
Antivirales , Animales , Humanos , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , Células A549 , Sitio Alostérico , Antivirales/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Ilheus fever is a mosquito-borne, poorly known tropical disease. We aimed to report the pooled rate of exposure to the Ilheus virus (ILHV) and clinical outcomes of infection to determine the epidemiological patterns of ILHV. We conducted a meta-analysis of 37 studies (n = 17,722 individuals) from Latin America. The common clinical characteristics of ILHV infection were fever (82.3%), headache (52.9%), and myalgia (52.9%). Encephalitis complicated the course of the infection in 29.4% cases. Monotypic serological reactions detected a pooled rate of exposure of 2% to ILHV (95% CI: 1-2). Studies were mainly conducted in Brazil, with a pooled proportion of ILHV positivity of 8% (95% CI: 3-14). Males (12%) had higher rates of seropositivity than females (7%) and had high chances of ILHV infection (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2-2.5). Seropositivity increased with age, from 2% (95% CI: 2-3) among people aged 0-14 years to 8% (95% CI: 6-10) among people aged 15-64 years. Our analysis indicated a low and relatively constant burden of ILHV in Latin America. More research is needed to evaluate and innovate serological assays for ILHV to better estimate the burden and dynamics of epidemiological changes in ILHV infection in different regions.
Asunto(s)
Culicidae , Flavivirus , Animales , Masculino , Femenino , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Lactante , Preescolar , Niño , Adolescente , Brasil/epidemiología , FilogeniaRESUMEN
The Brazilian regions are still highly endemic areas for Canine morbillivirus [canine distemper virus (CDV)]. However, little is known regarding the genetic variability of the strain circulating in several Brazilian regions. Here, we report the first full-length genome and molecular characterization of CDV isolated from domestic dogs in the Brazilian Center-West region. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses based on deduced amino acid and nucleotide sequences showed that the isolated strain is characterized as the South America-I/Europe genotype. However, it segregates into a CDV subgenotype branch. Interestingly, both H and F proteins have a gain of a potential N-glycosylation sites compared to the Onderstepoort vaccine strain. Therefore, this study provides a reference to further understand the epidemic and molecular characteristics of the CDV in Brazil.
Asunto(s)
Virus del Moquillo Canino/genética , Virus del Moquillo Canino/aislamiento & purificación , Perros/virología , Genoma Viral , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Secuencia de Bases , Brasil , Moquillo/virología , Genes Virales , Genotipo , Glicosilación , Filogenia , Recombinación Genética/genética , Selección Genética , Proteínas Virales/química , Proteínas Virales/genéticaRESUMEN
In a short time, humanity has experienced two pandemics: the influenza A virus pandemic (pH1N1) in 2009 and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. Therefore, it is likely that the general population will erroneously seek to compare the two pandemics and adopt similar attitudes in facing them. However, the two pandemics have their intrinsic characteristics that distinguish them considerably; for example, the virulence of the infectious agents and the availability of treatment and vaccine. Consequently, given this knowledge gap between the pH1N1 and COVID-19 pandemics, we conducted this review to clarify and summarize, above all, the epidemiological historical aspects of these two viruses of great importance to global public health.
Asunto(s)
COVID-19/epidemiología , Subtipo H1N1 del Virus de la Influenza A , Gripe Humana/epidemiología , SARS-CoV-2 , Epidemias , Salud Global , HumanosRESUMEN
At the beginning of the 21st century, a new deadly infectious disease known as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was recognized as a global public health threat. Subsequently, ten years after the initial SARS cases occurred in 2002, new cases of another atypical respiratory disease caused worldwide concern. This disease became known as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and was even more lethal than SARS. Currently, history has repeated itself with the emergence of a new Chinese epidemic at the end of 2019. For this respiratory disease, called COVID-19, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the etiologic agent. In sum, SARS, MERS and COVID-19 are caused by recently discovered coronaviruses that cause flu-like illnesses, but with a clinical outcome that tends to be more severe. As a result of the current importance of coronaviruses in global public health, we conducted a review to summarize and update, above all, the epidemiological historical aspects of the three major diseases in humans caused by coronaviral infection.