Viruses, Vol. 13, Pages 1437: Inhibition of Orbivirus Replication by Fluvastatin and Identification of the Key Elements of the Mevalonate Pathway Involved

Viruses, Vol. 13, Pages 1437: Inhibition of Orbivirus Replication by Fluvastatin and Identification of the Key Elements of the Mevalonate Pathway Involved Viruses doi: 10.3390/v13081437 Authors: Fauziah Mohd Jaafar Baptiste Monsion Mourad Belhouchet Peter P. C. Mertens Houssam Attoui Statin derivatives can inhibit the replication of a range of viruses, including hepatitis C virus (HCV, Hepacivirus), dengue virus (Flavivirus), African swine fever virus (Asfarviridae) and poliovirus (Picornaviridae). We assess the antiviral effect of fluvastatin in cells infected with orbiviruses (bluetongue virus (BTV) and Great Island virus (GIV)). The synthesis of orbivirus outer-capsid protein VP2 (detected by confocal immunofluorescence imaging) was used to assess levels of virus replication, showing a reduction in fluvastatin-treated cells. A reduction in virus titres of ~1.7 log (98%) in fluvastatin-treated cells was detected by a plaque assay. We have previously identified a fourth non-structural protein (NS4) of BTV and GIV, showing that it interacts with lipid droplets in infected cells. Fluvastatin, which inhibits 3-hydroxy 3-methyl glutaryl CoA reductase in the mevalonic acid pathway, disrupts these NS4 interactions. These findings highlight the role of the lipid pathways in orbivirus replication and suggest a greater role for the membrane-enveloped orbivirus particles than previously recognised. Chemical intermediates of the mevalonic acid pathway were used to asses...
Source: Viruses - Category: Virology Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research