Activity of toxins venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus in HCV replication

• Grant number: 13/03897-1
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Carolina Gomes Jardim
• Grantee: Jacqueline Farinha Shimizu
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Hepatitis C affects thousands of people worldwide and is a major cause of disease and transplant-related liver. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the current therapy do not show results for all treated patients, also presenting high costs. Many compounds extracted from animal toxins have demonstrated therapeutic potential, some with antiviral activity. Previous data showed that complexes from snake's venom presented inhibitory effect on other virus replication. In Brazil there is a diversity of venomous serpents, which the potential of its venom's complexes is unclear. New approaches for progress of future antiviral are necessary for the improvement in the response and decrease the cost of treatment. In this context, compounds from snake's venom may provide an alternative to the development of new therapies. The present work aims to study the effect of toxin extracted from the venom of C. durissus terrificus in HCV replication in vitro. Luciferase, cytotoxicity, Western Blot and Immunofluorescence assays will be performed and the results obtained may be relevant to the development of future treatments against HCV infection.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SHIMIZU, JACQUELINE FARINHA; LIMA, CAROLINE SPRENGEL; PEREIRA, CARINA MACHADO; BITTAR, CINTIA; BATISTA, MARIANA NOGUEIRA; NAZARE, ANA CAROLINA; POLAQUINI, CARLOS ROBERTO; ZOTHNER, CARSTEN; HARRIS, MARK; RAHAL, PAULA; REGASINI, LUIS OCTAVIO; GOMES JARDIM, ANA CAROLINA. Flavonoids from Pterogyne nitens Inhibit Hepatitis C Virus Entry. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 7, NOV 23 2017. Web of Science Citations: 3.

SHIMIZU, JACQUELINE FARINHA; PEREIRA, CARINA MACHADO; BITTAR, CINTIA; BATISTA, MARIANA NOGUEIRA; FERNANDES CAMPOS, GUILHERME RODRIGUES; DA SILVA, SUELY; OLIVEIRA CINTRA, ADELIA CRISTINA; ZOTHNER, CARSTEN; HARRIS, MARK; SAMPAIO, SUELY VILELA; AQUINO, VICTOR HUGO; RAHAL, PAULA; GOMES JARDIM, ANA CAROLINA. Multiple effects of toxins isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus on the hepatitis C virus life cycle. PLoS One, v. 12, n. 11 NOV 15 2017. Web of Science Citations: 4.