Flavivirus envelope proteins (E proteins) have been shown to play a pivotal role in virus assembly, morphogenesis, and infection of host cells. Inhibition of flavivirus infection of a host cell by means of a small molecule envelope protein antagonist is an attractive strategy for the development of antiviral agents. Virtual screening of the NCI chemical database using the dengue virus envelope ...

The double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) is induced in mouse and human cells on treatment with interferon. In this study, we have cloned and determined the nucleotide sequences of chicken PKR cDNA in various chicken breeds. Chicken PKR was a 550-amino-acid protein as deduced from the cDNA open reading frame (ORF), and there were specific domains (two double-stranded RNA binding do...

Zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is an interferon-inducible host antiviral factor that specifically inhibits the replication of certain viruses, including HIV-1 and Ebola virus. ZAP functions as a dimer formed through intermolecular interactions of its N-terminal tails. ZAP binds directly to specific viral mRNAs and inhibits their expression by repressing translation and/or promoting degrada...

APOBEC3G (A3G) is an innate antiviral restriction factor that strongly inhibits the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). An HIV-1 accessory protein, Vif, hijacks the host ubiquitin-proteasome system to execute A3G degradation. Identification of the host pathways that obstruct the action of Vif could provide a new strategy for blocking viral replication. We demonstrate her...

Type I and type II interferons (IFNs) are cytokines that establish the cellular antiviral state through the induction of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). We sought to understand the basis of the antiviral activity induced by type I and II IFNs in relation to the functions of their ISGs. Based on gene expression studies, we systematically identified antiviral ISGs by performing blinded, functional s...

The emergence of viral escape mutants is usually a highly undesirable phenomenon. This phenomenon is frequently observed in antiviral drug applications for the treatment of viral infections and can undermine long-term therapeutic success. Here, we propose a strategy for evaluating a given antiviral approach in terms of its potential to provoke the appearance of resistant virus mutants. By use o...

Viral infection activates danger signals that are transmitted via the retinoic acid-inducible gene 1-like receptor (RLR), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) protein signaling cascades. This places host cells in an antiviral posture by up-regulating antiviral cytokines including type-I interferon (IFN-I). Ubiquitin modifications and cross-...

Mx proteins form a family of interferon (IFN)-induced GTPases with potent antiviral activity against various single-stranded RNA viruses in mammals and chickens. In fish, alpha/beta IFN has been reported to inhibit the replication of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), but the mode of action has not been elucidated. A correlation between the inhibition of IPNV and Mx protein expression...

Human tetherin is a host restriction factor that inhibits replication of enveloped viruses by blocking viral release. Tetherin has an unusual topology that includes an N-terminal cytoplasmic tail, a single transmembrane domain, an extracellular domain, and a C-terminal glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. Tetherin is not well conserved across species, so it inhibits viral replication in a speci...

background and objectives: essential oils are complex mixtures containing compounds of several different functional- group classes. depending on the structure, we can distinguish monoterpenes, phenylpropanes, and other components. here in this study two monoterpene compounds of essential oils, i.e. β-pinene and limonene were examined for their antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus typ...