Three anti-influenza compounds displayed efficacy in prohibiting Zika growth at the cellular level, according to a new study published in the journal Antiviral Research. The findings provide the groundwork for the future development of antivirals for the treatment of Zika.
For the study, a team of researchers applied the antiviral treatment approach for influenza to Zika-infected cells. Influenza antivirals are designed to target host cells, which are less prone to mutations and therefore make more effective treatment targets since viruses mutate frequently.
The research team infected isolated fetal brain retinal pigment epithelial cells with Zika. Individual treatment with nontoxic quantities of three influenza antivirals — obatoclax, saliphenylhalamide and gemcitabine — prevented synthesis of new Zika viral building blocks in the cells.
"Importantly, the findings of the study demonstrate that repurposing commercially available, approved drugs or drug candidates may accelerate development of treatment against Zika and can provide a toolbox to target also other emerging viral diseases," said Olli Vapalahti, PhD, one of the study's authors and a professor in the departments of virology and veterinary biosciences at the University of Helsinki in Finland.
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