A peptide-based viral inactivator inhibits Zika virus infection in pregnant mice and fetuses

Yufeng Yu, Yong-Qiang Deng, Peng Zou, Qian Wang, Yanyan Dai, Fei Yu, Lanying Du, Na-Na Zhang, Min Tian, Jia-Nan Hao, Yu Meng, Yuan Li, Xiaohui Zhou, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Cheng-Feng Qin (), Shibo Jiang () and Lu Lu ()
Additional contact information
Yufeng Yu: Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University
Yong-Qiang Deng: State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology
Peng Zou: Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University
Qian Wang: Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University
Yanyan Dai: Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University
Fei Yu: Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University
Lanying Du: Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center
Na-Na Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology
Min Tian: Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University
Jia-Nan Hao: State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology
Yu Meng: Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University
Yuan Li: Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University
Xiaohui Zhou: Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University
Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan: State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong
Kwok-Yung Yuen: State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong
Cheng-Feng Qin: State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology
Shibo Jiang: Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University
Lu Lu: Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Zika virus (ZIKV), a re-emerging flavivirus associated with neurological disorders, has spread rapidly to more than 70 countries and territories. However, no specific vaccines or antiviral drugs are currently available to prevent or treat ZIKV infection. Here we report that a synthetic peptide derived from the stem region of ZIKV envelope protein, designated Z2, potently inhibits infection of ZIKV and other flaviviruses in vitro. We show that Z2 interacts with ZIKV surface protein and disrupts the integrity of the viral membrane. Z2 can penetrate the placental barrier to enter fetal tissues and is safe for use in pregnant mice. Intraperitoneal administration of Z2 inhibits vertical transmission of ZIKV in pregnant C57BL/6 mice and protects type I or type I/II interferon receptor-deficient mice against lethal ZIKV challenge. Thus, Z2 has potential to be further developed as an antiviral treatment against ZIKV infection in high-risk populations, particularly pregnant women.

Date: 2017
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15672 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms15672

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15672

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().