%0 Journal Article
%T The antiherpetic and anti-inflammatory activity of the frog-derived peptide Hylin-a1.
%A Chianese A
%A Giugliano R
%A Palma F
%A Nastri BM
%A Monti A
%A Doti N
%A Zannella C
%A Galdiero M
%A De Filippis A
%J J Appl Microbiol
%V 135
%N 7
%D 2024 Jul 2
%M 38991986
%F 4.059
%R 10.1093/jambio/lxae165
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>The high incidence of virus-related infections and the large diffusion of drug-resistant pathogens stimulate the search and identification of new antiviral agents with a broad spectrum of action. Antivirals can be designed to act on a single target by interfering with a specific step in the viral lifecycle. On the contrary, antiviral peptides (AVPs) are known for acting on a wide range of viruses, with a diversified mechanism of action targeting virus and/or host cell. In the present study, we evaluated the antiviral potential of the peptide Hylin-a1 secreted by the frog Hypsiobas albopunctatus against members of the Herpesviridae family.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The inhibitory capacity of the peptide was evaluated in vitro by plaque assays in order to understand the possible mechanism of action. The results were also confirmed by real-time PCR and Western blot evaluating the expression of viral genes. Hylin-a1 acts to block the herpetic infection interfering at the early stages of both herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 infection. Its mechanism is mainly directed on the membrane, probably by damaging the viral envelope. The same effect was also observed against HSV-1 strains resistant to acyclovir.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The data presented in this study, such as the increased activity of the peptide when combined to acyclovir, a weak hemolytic profile, an anti-inflammatory effect, and a tolerable half-life in serum, indicates Hylin-a1 as a novel antiherpetic molecule with promising potential in the clinical setting.