Is the ADP ribose site of the Chikungunya virus NSP3 Macro domain a target for antiviral approaches?

In this study, 48,750 small molecules were screened in silico for their ability to bind to the ADP-ribose binding site of the CHIKV nsP3 macro domain. From this in silico analysis, 12 molecules were selected for in vitro analysis using a CHIKV subgenomic replicon in Huh-7 cells. Cell viability and CHIKV replication were evaluated and molecules C5 and C13 demonstrated 53 and 66% inhibition of CHIKV replication, respectively. By using a CHIKV-Dual luciferase replicon contain two reporter genes, we also demonstrated that the treatment with either compounds are probably interfering in the early replication rather than after RNA replication has occurred. PMID: 32333884 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Acta Tropica - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Acta Trop Source Type: research