Establishment of a new therapeutic for the treatment of paramyxoviruses by using a mimic of viral genomic RNA.

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K09672
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pediatrics
• Research Institution: Kurume University
• Principal Investigator: Hara Koyu 久留米大学, 医学部, 准教授 (40309753)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 柏木 孝仁 久留米大学, 医学部, 講師 (70320158) ; 渡邊 浩 久留米大学, 医学部, 教授 (90295080)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: パラミクソウイルス / RSウイルス / 抗ウイルス薬 / RNAポリメラーゼ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Paramyxoviruses have a non-coding sequence (NCS) at both 5’-end and 3’-end of the genome. We assessed antiviral activities against paramyxoviruses by using interfering RNA that mimicked the NCS. However, its attempts were unsuccessful. Then, we evaluated whether peptides or small proteins derived from the ribonucleoprotein (P, L, N, M2-1) could be used as dominant negative inhibitors to inhibit viral replication. We found that the C-terminal 82 amino acids of P (P Fr) had a substantial anti-viral activity for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A pull-down experiment of P Fr showed that P Fr strongly interacts with full-length P and inhibits the viral RNA polymerase activity. Our results indicate that P Fr is a promising candidate for further development of antiviral drug for the treatment of paramyxoviruses, as well as RSV.

Free Research Field

ウイルス学