Multiple effects of toxins isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus on the hepatitis C virus life cycle

Author(s):Show less -

Shimizu, Jacqueline Farinha ^{[1, 2]} ; Pereira, Carina Machado ^[1] ; Bittar, Cintia ^[1] ; Batista, Mariana Nogueira ^[1] ; Fernandes Campos, Guilherme Rodrigues ^[1] ; da Silva, Suely ^{[1, 2]} ; Oliveira Cintra, Adelia Cristina ^[3] ; Zothner, Carsten ^{[4, 5]} ; Harris, Mark ^{[4, 5]} ; Sampaio, Suely Vilela ^[3] ; Aquino, Victor Hugo ^[2] ; Rahal, Paula ^[1] ; Gomes Jardim, Ana Carolina ^{[6, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ, IBILCE, Genom Study Lab, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Pharmaceut Sci Ribeirao Preto, Lab Virol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Pharmaceut Sci Ribeirao Preto, Lab Toxinol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Leeds, Astbury Ctr Struct Mol Biol, Leeds, W Yorkshire - England

^[5] Univ Leeds, Fac Biol Sci, Sch Mol & Cellular Biol, Leeds, W Yorkshire - England

^[6] Univ Fed Uberlandia, ICBIM, Inst Biomed Sci, Lab Virol, Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 12, n. 11 NOV 15 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the main causes of liver disease and transplantation worldwide. Current therapy is expensive, presents additional side effects and viral resistance has been described. Therefore, studies for developing more efficient antivirals against HCV are needed. Compounds isolated from animal venoms have shown antiviral activity against some viruses such as Dengue virus, Yellow fever virus and Measles virus. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the complex crotoxin (CX) and its subunits crotapotin (CP) and phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)-CB) isolated from the venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus on HCV life cycle. Huh 7.5 cells were infected with HCVcc JFH-1 strain in the presence or absence of these toxins and virus was titrated by focus formation units assay or by qPCR. Toxins were added to the cells at different time points depending on the stage of virus life cycle to be evaluated. The results showed that treatment with PLA(2)-CB inhibited HCV entry and replication but no effect on HCV release was observed. CX reduced virus entry and release but not replication. By treating cells with CP, an antiviral effect was observed on HCV release, the only stage inhibited by this compound. Our data demonstrated the multiple antiviral effects of toxins from animal venoms on HCV life cycle. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/01403-9 - Study of the role of Hepatitis C virus proteins in the development of hepatocarcinoma
• Grantee: Cintia Bittar Oliva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 11/00313-3 - Analysis of the effects of brazilian natural compounds on Hepatitis C virus infection
• Grantee: Ana Carolina Gomes Jardim
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 13/03897-1 - Activity of toxins venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus in HCV replication
• Grantee: Jacqueline Farinha Shimizu
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation