Low cost antiviral against Zika virus infection

• Grant number: 17/08425-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Rita de Toledo Piza
• Grantee: Ana Rita de Toledo Piza
• Company: Ana Rita de Toledo Piza Biotecnologia - ME
• CNAE: Fabricação de medicamentos para uso humano
• City: São Paulo
• Associated researchers: Cristina Adelaide Figueiredo
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/05236-6 - Zika virus: maintenance of cultures and antiviral tests, BP.TT; 18/05158-5 - Low cost antiviral against Zika Virus infection, BP.PIPE

Abstract

Terrestrial gastropods secrete mucus from the body surface, when they move, to protect the body against mechanical injury, desiccation or contact with harmful substances. Mollusk mucus has been studied as a source of new natural compounds with biological properties, including their antiviral capacity. Studies involving P. boraceiensis mucus have elucidated the presence of carboxylic acids capable of inhibiting the growth of Measles, Influenza, Rubella and Herpes viruses. These acids act in the disintegration of the viral envelope of the measles factor that confer them the antiviral activity. Following this premise, it will be determined whether these carboxylic acids also act to disintegrate the viral envelope of the Zika virus, since all viruses have the same type of viral envelope. The objective of this project is to optimize the process of obtaining the fractions containing active carboxylic acids and other potentially active fractions present in the mucosa of the P. boraceiensis slug that present antiviral action in cultures of Zika virus, using chromatographic and spectrometric processes and Techniques for assessing the activity potential. Antiviral action will be determined "in vitro" on Vero-type cells infected with the Zika virus. (AU)