Viruses (Feb 2023)

Caffeic Acid Has Antiviral Activity against Ilhéus Virus In Vitro

  • Marielena Vogel Saivish,
  • Carolina Colombelli Pacca,
  • Vivaldo Gomes da Costa,
  • Gabriela de Lima Menezes,
  • Roosevelt Alves da Silva,
  • Liliane Nebo,
  • Gislaine Celestino Dutra da Silva,
  • Bruno Henrique Gonçalves de Aguiar Milhim,
  • Igor da Silva Teixeira,
  • Tiago Henrique,
  • Natalia Franco Bueno Mistrão,
  • Victor Miranda Hernandes,
  • Nathalia Zini,
  • Ana Carolina de Carvalho,
  • Marina Alves Fontoura,
  • Paula Rahal,
  • Lívia Sacchetto,
  • Rafael Elias Marques,
  • Maurício Lacerda Nogueira

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/v15020494
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 2
p. 494

Abstract

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Ilhéus virus (ILHV) is a neglected mosquito-borne flavivirus. ILHV infection may lead to Ilhéus fever, an emerging febrile disease like dengue fever with the potential to evolve into a severe neurological disease characterized by meningoencephalitis; no specific treatments are available for this disease. This study assessed the antiviral properties of caffeic acid, an abundant component of plant-based food products that is also compatible with the socioeconomic limitations associated with this neglected infectious disease. The in vitro activity of caffeic acid on ILHV replication was investigated in Vero and A549 cell lines using plaque assays, quantitative RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence assays. We observed that 500 µM caffeic acid was virucidal against ILHV. Molecular docking indicated that caffeic acid might interact with an allosteric binding site on the envelope protein.

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