Anti-Zika Activity of a Library of Synthetic Carbohydrate Receptors

J Med Chem. 2019 Apr 25;62(8):4110-4119. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00142. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is a global health concern because of its association with severe neurological disorders. Currently, there are no antiviral therapies that have been specifically approved to treat ZIKV, and there is an urgent need to develop effective anti-ZIKV agents. Here, we report anti-ZIKV activity of 16 synthetic carbohydrate receptors (SCRs) that inhibit ZIKV infection in Vero and HeLa cells. Using a ZIKV reporter virus particle-based infection assay, our data demonstrates these SCRs are highly potent with IC50s as low as 0.16 μM and negligible toxicity at several-fold higher concentrations. Time-of-addition studies showed that these SCRs inhibit the early stages of the virus infection, which is consistent with the proposed mode of action, where the SCRs likely inhibit binding between the virus and cell-surface glycans, thereby preventing viral entry into the cells and, as such, this study demonstrates a potential new strategy against ZIKV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry*
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Carbohydrates / chemistry*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Receptors, Artificial / chemical synthesis
  • Receptors, Artificial / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Artificial / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Suramin / chemistry
  • Suramin / pharmacology
  • Vero Cells
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects
  • Zika Virus / physiology*
  • Zika Virus Infection / drug therapy
  • Zika Virus Infection / pathology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Carbohydrates
  • Receptors, Artificial
  • Suramin