Cathelicidin peptide analogues inhibit EV71 infection through blocking viral entry and uncoating

• Published in: PLoS pathogens Vol. 20; no. 1; p. e1011967
• Main Authors: Fan, Tingting, Liu, Bing, Yao, Haoyan, Chen, Xinrui, Yang, Hang, Guo, Shangrui, Wu, Bo, Li, Xiaozhen, Li, Xinyu, Xun, Meng, Wang, Hongliang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.01.2024; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Amino acids; Analysis; Antiviral agents; Antiviral Agents - metabolism; Antiviral drugs; Biology and Life Sciences; Blocking; Canyons; Care and treatment; Cathelicidins - pharmacology; Cell death; Coxsackievirus infections; Dengue fever; Diagnosis; Dosage and administration; Enterovirus; Enterovirus A, Human; Enterovirus Infections; Enteroviruses; Genomes; Glycoproteins; Health aspects; Heparan sulfate; Humans; Infection; Infections; Medical research; Medicine and Health Sciences; Medicine, Experimental; Neurologic manifestations of general diseases; Neurological complications; Peptides; Protein expression; Proteins; Research and Analysis Methods; Risk factors; Uncoating; Viral infections; Virus Internalization; Viruses; China
• ISSN: 1553-7374; 1553-7366; 1553-7374
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011967

Given the serious neurological complications and deaths associated with enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection, there is an urgent need to develop effective antivirals against this viral infection. In this study, we demonstrated that two Cathelicidin-derived peptides, LL-18 and FF-18 were more potent against EV71 infection than the parent peptide LL-37, which is the mature and processed form of Cathelicidin. These peptides could directly bind to the EV71 virus particles, but not to coxsackievirus, indicative of their high specificity. The binding of peptides with the virus surface occupied the viral canyon region in a way that could block virus-receptor interactions and inhibit viral uncoating. In addition, these peptide analogues could also relieve the deleterious effect of EV71 infection in vivo. Therefore, Cathelicidin-derived peptides might be excellent candidates for further development of antivirals to treat EV71 infection.