Mitochondrial electron transport chain complex III sustains hepatitis E virus replication and represents an antiviral target

What is it about?

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has emerged as a global health issue. However, no approved medication is available and the infection biology is still not well-understood. Electron transport chain (ETC) is the key component of the mitochondria, a powerhouse of the cells. By profiling the role of different components of the mitochondrial ETC, we found that pharmacological inhibition of complex III, a well-defined drug target for the treatment of malaria and pneumocystis pneumonia, potently inhibits HEV replication. This effect is as potent as the widely used off-label anti-HEV drug ribavirin, which is used for treating chronic hepatitis E patients. Because therapeutic targeting of complex III has been widely explored for treating different diseases, repurposing or optimizing these existing FDA-approved or upcoming drugs represents a viable option for therapeutic development against HEV infection.

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