Journal of Virology & Antiviral ResearchISSN: 2324-8955

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Research Article, J Virol Antivir Res Vol: 3 Issue: 1

Phospholipase A2 Crotoxin B Isolated from the Venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus Exert Antiviral Effect against Dengue Virus and Yellow Fever Virus through Its Catalytic Activity

Raquel Rinaldi Russo1, Vanessa Danielle Menjon Müller1, Adelia Cristina Oliveira Cintra2, Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo3, Suely Vilela Sampaio2 and Victor Hugo Aquino1*
1Laboratório de Virologia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café S/N, CEP 14040-903, Brazil
2Laboratório de Toxinologia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café S/N, CEP 14040-903, Brazil
3Centro de Pesquisa em Virologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900 CEP 14049-900, Brazil
Corresponding author : Dr. Victor Hugo Aquino
Avenida do Café, S/N – Monte Alegre - Ribeirão Preto– SP – postal code 14040-903, Brazil
Tel: +55 (16) 3602-4510; Fax: +55 (16) 3602-3376
E-mail: vhugo@fcfrp.usp.br
Received: April 01, 2014 Accepted: June 03, 2014 Published: June 05, 2014
Citation: Russo RR, Müller VDM, Cintra ACO, Figueiredo LTM, Sampaio SV, et al. (2014) Phospholipase A2 Crotoxin B Isolated from the Venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus Exert Antiviral Effect against Dengue Virus and Yellow Fever Virus through Its Catalytic Activity. J Virol Antivir Res 3:1. doi:10.4172/2324-8955.1000121

Abstract

Phospholipase A2 Crotoxin B Isolated from the Venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus Exert Antiviral Effect against Dengue Virus and Yellow Fever Virus through Its Catalytic Activity

Dengue virus and Yellow fever virus, which belong to the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, represent important arboviruses that cause diseases in humans. Although vaccine exists for Yellow fever virus, many cases of yellow fever are still reported in endemic regions of the Americas and, mainly, Africa. There is no therapeutic agent to treat infection with Dengue virus or Yellow fever virus; therefore, studies to identify drugs to combat these viruses are of great importance. Recently, we have found that phospholipase A2 crotoxin subunit B and phospholipase A2 “inter-cro” isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus had an antiviral activity against Dengue virus serotype 2 and Yellow fever virus. However, Bothropstoxin-I, a PLA2-like isolated from Bothrops jararacussu, which has no phospholipase activity, showed no antiviral effect, suggesting that antiviral action was related to the enzymatic activity of phospholipases A2. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the catalytic activity of the phospholipase A2 crotoxin subunit B on the antiviral effect. The antiviral effect was abolished by the use of a chemically inhibited phospholipase A2 crotoxin subunit B, a Ca+2 (co-factor of the phospholipase) free medium or a Ca+2-chelating agent (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) in the experiments. These results strongly suggest that phospholipases A2 isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus exert the antiviral effect by its enzymatic activity, cleaving glycerophospholipids on virus envelope and/or on the cell membrane.

Keywords: Antiviral; Flavivirus ; Phospholipase activity; Snake venoms

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