Zinc: A Potential Antiviral Against Hepatitis E Virus Infection?
DNA Cell Biol
; 37(7): 593-599, 2018 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29897788
ABSTRACT
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of viral hepatitis worldwide. Owing to its feco oral transmission route, sporadic as well as epidemic outbreaks recurrently occur. No specific antiviral therapy is available against the disease caused by HEV. Broad spectrum antivirals such as ribavirin and interferon alfa are prescribed in severe and chronic HEV cases. However, the side effects, cost, and limitations of usage render the available treatment unsuitable for several categories of patients. We recently reported the ability of zinc to inhibit viral replication in mammalian cell culture models of HEV infection. Zinc will be a safe and economical antiviral therapy option if it inhibits HEV replication during the natural course of infection. This essay discusses the putative mechanism(s) by which zinc inhibits HEV replication and provides an overview of the possible therapeutic potential of zinc in HEV patients.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Antivirais
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Replicação Viral
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Vírus da Hepatite E
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Hepatite E
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Compostos de Zinco
Limite:
Animals
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article