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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Rescue and Characterization of Recombinant Virus from a New World Zika Virus Infectious Clone
Published on: June 7, 2017
HSP70 Copurifies with Zika Virus Particles.
Ronik Khachatoorian1, Whitaker Cohn2, Anthony Buzzanco1
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Researchers found that Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) interacts with Zika virus (ZIKV) particles, significantly reducing viral infectivity and production. This discovery highlights HSP70 as a potential therapeutic target for ZIKV infection.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Zika virus (ZIKV) causes severe neurologic diseases, including Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
- No approved vaccines or therapeutics are currently available for ZIKV infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify host proteins interacting with ZIKV particles.
- To understand the role of host-pathogen interactions in ZIKV infectivity.
- To explore potential therapeutic targets for ZIKV.
Main Methods:
- Purification of ZIKV particles using density-gradient centrifugation and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC).
- Mass spectrometric analysis to identify interacting proteins.
- Neutralization assays, recombinant protein incubation, gene knockdown, and inhibition studies.
Main Results:
- Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) was identified as a protein that comigrates with ZIKV particles.
- Antibody against HSP70 significantly reduced ZIKV infectivity.
- HSP70 knockdown and inhibition diminished ZIKV production.
Conclusions:
- HSP70 plays a crucial role in ZIKV pathogenesis.
- HSP70 represents a potential host-targeted therapeutic strategy against ZIKV infection.
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