RESUMO
Toll-like receptors [TLRs] are innate immune receptors that mediate the inflammatory response during HCV infections. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association of TLR9 gene polymorphism [rs5743836] in Pakistani patients infected with genotype 3a of HCV. Total 500 subjects were recruited, 400 HCV patients and 100 healthy individuals. Genotyping of TLR9 [-1237T/C, rs5743836] was carried out in 400 HCV patients [323 interferon responders and 77 interferon nonresponder] and control group by applying High resolution melting [HRM] curve assay. No remarkable differences in distribution of genotype between HCV [p<0.0001; OR= 3.21, 95% CI= [2.514.12] and control groups [p<0.0001; OR=0.092, 95%CI= [0.0580.14] were observed. In conclusion TLR9-1237T/C gene polymorphism may not be considered as a molecular risk for patients with HCV in Pakistan
RESUMO
Hepatitis C Virus [HCV] infection is a worldwide serious health issue which contributes towards most of the hepatic morbidities. So far no prophylaxis is available to prevent this virus; therefore, development of antiviral compounds to fight HCV infection is the need of time. Chemically synthesized peptides that are potent immunogenic antigens are being pursued as candidate vaccines against HCV. The present study was planned to identify peptide inhibitors having potential to block the activity of NS3 protein of HCV that will ultimately arrest HCV multiplication. Docking of NS3 with peptides revealed that the majority of the peptides have strong binding affinity for active sites of NS3. Peptide 1, 2, 3 and 6 were found interactive with NS3 active residues while the active sites of NS3 had hydrophobic contact with the rest of peptides. Thus, these peptides bear therapeutic potential of a candidate drug for the prevention of HCV replication. Post docking analysis revealed important binding abilities of peptides with the active sites of NS3 protein, showing the efficiency of peptides as potential peptide inhibitors against HCV. The study revealed that HCV replication can be inhibited by these peptides. HCV replication inhibition potential of these peptides can contribute in reducing the burden of HCV infection and its associated complications worldwide
RESUMO
Dengue infection is prevailing among the people not only from the developing countries but also from the developed countries due to its high morbidity rate around the globe. Hence, due to the unavailability of any suitable vaccine for rigorous dengue virus [DENY], the only mode of its treatment is prevention. The circumstances require an urgent development of efficient and practical treatment to deal with these serotypes. The severe effects and cost of synthetic vaccines simulated researchers to find anti-viral agents from medicinal plants. Flavonoids present in medicinal plants, holds anti-viral activity and can be used as vaccine against viruses. Therefore, present study was planned to find anti-viral potential of 2500 flavonoids inhibitors against the DENVNS2B/NS3 protease through computational screening which can hinder the viral replication within the host cell. By using molecular docking, it was revealed that flavonoids showed strong and stable bonding in the binding pocket of DENY NS2B/NS3 protease and had strong interactions with catalytic triad. Drug capability and anti-dengue potential of the flavonoids was also evaluated by using different bioinformatics tools. Some flavonoids effectively blocked the catalytic triad of DENY NS2B/NS3 protease and also passed through drug ability evaluation. It can be concluded from this study that these flavonoids could act as potential inhibitors to stop the replication of DENY and there is a need to study the action of these molecules in-vitro to confirm their action and other properties