Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 3, 2026

High-throughput Antiviral Assays to Screen for Inhibitors of Zika Virus Replication
10:16

High-throughput Antiviral Assays to Screen for Inhibitors of Zika Virus Replication

Published on: October 30, 2021

4.1K

A diarylamine derived from anthranilic acid inhibits ZIKV replication

Suely Silva1,2, Jacqueline Farinha Shimizu1,2, Débora Moraes de Oliveira1

  • 1Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biomedical Science, ICBIM, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.

Scientific Reports
|November 29, 2019
PubMed

Insights

A novel diarylamine compound (FAM E3) shows significant antiviral activity against Zika virus (ZIKV), reducing viral replication. This compound targets the ZIKV NS3 helicase, offering a potential new therapeutic avenue.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne Flavivirus, poses a significant public health threat with no approved antiviral treatments.
  • Recent ZIKV outbreaks highlight the urgent need for effective therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize novel antiviral compounds against ZIKV.
  • To investigate the mechanism of action of diarylamine compounds, specifically FAM E3, against ZIKV.

Main Methods:

  • Antiviral screening of diarylamines derived from anthranilic acid (FAMs) against ZIKV.
  • In vitro assays to evaluate viral replication inhibition by FAM E3.
  • In silico analysis to predict potential drug targets.
  • In vitro biophysical assays (thermal stability, ATPase activity) to assess FAM E3 interaction with ZIKV NS3 helicase domain (NS3Hel).

Main Results:

  • A synthetic FAM, E3, demonstrated significant anti-ZIKV activity, reducing viral replication by up to 86%.
  • FAM E3 did not appear to act by intercalating into viral dsRNA or interacting with SP6 RNA polymerase.
  • In silico studies predicted FAM E3 binding to the ZIKV NS3 helicase.
  • In vitro experiments confirmed that FAM E3 binds to and stabilizes the ZIKV NS3 helicase domain (NS3Hel).

Conclusions:

  • Diarylamine FAM E3 exhibits potent antiviral activity against Zika virus.
  • The ZIKV NS3 helicase is identified as a potential molecular target for FAM E3.
  • FAM E3 represents a promising lead compound for developing new ZIKV antiviral therapies.

More Related Videos

Quantification of Antibody-dependent Enhancement of the Zika Virus in Primary Human Cells07:53

Quantification of Antibody-dependent Enhancement of the Zika Virus in Primary Human Cells

Published on: January 18, 2019

9.2K
Evaluation of Zika Virus-specific T-cell Responses in Immunoprivileged Organs of Infected Ifnar1-/- Mice10:01

Evaluation of Zika Virus-specific T-cell Responses in Immunoprivileged Organs of Infected Ifnar1-/- Mice

Published on: October 17, 2018

8.4K

Related Concept Videos

Aryldiazonium Salts to Azo Dyes: Diazo Coupling01:11

Aryldiazonium Salts to Azo Dyes: Diazo Coupling

The reaction of weakly electrophilic aryldiazonium (also called arenediazonium) salts with highly activated aromatic compounds leads to the formation of products with an —N=N— link, called an azo linkage. This reaction, presented in Figure 1, is known as diazo coupling and occurs without the loss of the nitrogen atoms of the aryldiazonium salt. Highly activated aromatic compounds such as phenols or arylamines favor the diazo coupling reaction. The coupling generally occurs at the para...
3.5K
Diazonium Group Substitution: –OH and –H01:19

Diazonium Group Substitution: –OH and –H

Nitrous acid, a weak acid, is prepared in situ via the reaction of sodium nitrite with a strong acid under cold conditions. This nitrous acid prepared in situ reacts with primary arylamines to form arenediazonium salts. Such reactions are known as diazotization reactions. As shown in Figure 1, the formation of arenediazonium salts begins with the decomposition of nitrous acid in an acidic solution to give nitrosonium ions.
3.2K