Evaluation of the Antiviral Potential of Gallic Acid against Mayaro Virus

• Grant number: 25/05989-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Marilia de Freitas Calmon
• Grantee: Guilherme Henrique Malerba
• Host 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

Mayaro Virus (MAYV) is a neglected tropical arbovirus that, in recent years, has emerged as a potential threat to global health. Transmitted by mosquitoes of the Haemagogus genus, the virus has been detected outside forested areas, suggesting a possible adaptation to the urban cycle. In Brazil, several outbreaks have been reported, and, to date, no specific therapies are available for the infection, with treatment being solely palliative. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the antiviral activity of gallic acid (GA) in the MAYV replication cycle. To achieve this, the following experiments will be conducted: (1) assessment of GA cytotoxicity in BHK-21 cells using the MTT cell viability assay, with concentrations ranging from 0.8 to 100 ¿M; (2) evaluation of the antiviral effect of the GA, at its maximum non-toxic concentration (MNTC) established in the previous assay, against the virus (MOI 0.1); (3) dose-dependence assay, with the GA tested at the same concentrations used in the MTT assay and the virus at MOI 0.1; (4) time-of-addition assay, in which the compound will be administered at different time points (pre-, during, or post-infection) to determine at which stage of the viral cycle the GA exerts its antiviral effect. The results will be analyzed using GraphPad Prism 5.0 software. The experiments will be performed in triplicate and in three independent events, except for the time-of-addition assay, which will be conducted in quadruplicate. Therefore, this proposal aims to determine the antiviral potential of GA for future applications in the development of anti-MAYV drugs.