OBJECTIVE: The aim is to determine the inhibitory potential of the algae Kappaphycus alvarezii (K. alvarezii) on ZIKV replication.
METHODS: Cytotoxicity experiments were performed using Vero cells to determine the CC50, and ZIKV replication inhibition assays (ATCC® VR-1839™) were conducted to determine the EC50. The mechanism of action was also studied to assess any synergistic effect with Ribavirin.
RESULTS: K. alvarezii demonstrated low toxicity with a CC50 of 423 μg/mL and a potent effect on ZIKV replication with an EC50 of 0.65 μg/mL and a Selectivity Index (SI) of 651, indicating the extract\'s safety. Virucidal effect assays were carried out to evaluate the possible mechanism of action, and the compound addition time was studied, showing the potential to delay the treatment of infected cells by up to 6 hours. A potential synergistic effect was observed when K. alvarezii extract was combined with suboptimal concentrations of Ribavirin, resulting in 99% inhibition of viral replication.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate the significant potential of K. alvarezii extract and highlight the need for further studies to investigate its mechanism of action. We propose this extract as a potential anti-Zika compound.
目的:目的是确定藻类Kappaphicusalvarezii的抑制潜力(K。alvarezii)关于ZIKV复制。
方法:使用Vero细胞进行细胞毒性实验以确定CC50,并且进行ZIKV复制抑制测定(ATCC®VR-1839™)以确定EC50。还研究了作用机制以评估与利巴韦林的任何协同作用。
结果:K.alvarezii表现出低毒性,CC50为423μg/mL,对ZIKV复制有有效作用,EC50为0.65μg/mL,选择性指数(SI)为651,表明提取物的安全性。进行了杀病毒效果测定,以评估可能的作用机制,并对化合物添加时间进行了研究,显示可能将感染细胞的治疗延迟长达6小时。当K.alvarezii提取物与次优浓度的利巴韦林组合时,观察到潜在的协同作用,导致99%的病毒复制抑制。
结论:我们的数据证明了阿尔瓦雷珠提取物的巨大潜力,并强调需要进一步研究以研究其作用机制。我们提出这种提取物作为潜在的抗寨卡化合物。