What is it about?
This work describes the inhibitory effect on rotavirus replication of a small molecule initially reported as an RNA polymerase III inhibitor (ML-60218). The molecule is the first chemical compound identified that is able to disrupt viroplasms, the viral replication machinery, and to interfere with virus particle stability by targeting the viral protein VP6.
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Why is it important?
Rotavirus gastroenteritis is responsible for a large number of infant deaths (about 215,000/year) in developing countries, where the efficacy of the available vaccines is particularly low. Therefore, the development of antivirals is an important goal, as they might complement the available vaccines or represent an alternative option. Moreover, they may be decisive in fighting the acute phase of infection.
Perspectives
The chemical structure of ML-60218 is particularly appealing for further studies in the field of antivirals. As such, ML-60218 could not be used as an antiviral drug because of its cytotoxicity. However, future research and structural analyses might lead to the development of more potent and selective inhibitors as potential drugs against rotavirus infections.
Francesca Arnoldi
University of Trieste - Italy
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Identification of a Small Molecule That Compromises the Structural Integrity of Viroplasms and Rotavirus Double-Layered Particles, Journal of Virology, November 2017, ASM Journals,
DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01943-17.
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