Nature Communications (Jul 2017)

A peptide-based viral inactivator inhibits Zika virus infection in pregnant mice and fetuses

  • Yufeng Yu,
  • Yong-Qiang Deng,
  • Peng Zou,
  • Qian Wang,
  • Yanyan Dai,
  • Fei Yu,
  • Lanying Du,
  • Na-Na Zhang,
  • Min Tian,
  • Jia-Nan Hao,
  • Yu Meng,
  • Yuan Li,
  • Xiaohui Zhou,
  • Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan,
  • Kwok-Yung Yuen,
  • Cheng-Feng Qin,
  • Shibo Jiang,
  • Lu Lu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15672
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Zika virus (ZIKV) has spread rapidly in recent years and there is a need for antiviral treatments. Here, the authors develop an antiviral peptide, based on the stem region of ZIKV envelope protein, and show that it is safe in pregnant mice and inhibits ZIKV infection in pregnant mice and fetuses.