Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Importance of NS5 Protein to Zika Virus Survival

Version 1 : Received: 12 August 2019 / Approved: 12 August 2019 / Online: 12 August 2019 (14:09:57 CEST)
Version 2 : Received: 3 September 2019 / Approved: 4 September 2019 / Online: 4 September 2019 (13:19:24 CEST)

How to cite: Elshahawi, H.; Syed Hassan, S.; Balasubramaniam, V. Importance of NS5 Protein to Zika Virus Survival. Preprints 2019, 2019080147. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201908.0147.v1 Elshahawi, H.; Syed Hassan, S.; Balasubramaniam, V. Importance of NS5 Protein to Zika Virus Survival. Preprints 2019, 2019080147. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201908.0147.v1

Abstract

ZIKV is the latest addition to an ever-growing list of arboviruses that are causing outbreaks with serious consequences. 14 mild cases were recorded between 1960 and 1980 until the first major outbreak was recorded in 2007 on Yap island followed by more severe outbreaks in French Polynesia (2013) and Brazil (2015) leading to a 20-fold increase in GBS and Microcephaly cases respectively. Various transmission methods have been recorded ranging from Aedes mosquito vector transmission to sexual and vertical transmission. No current vaccines or treatments are available but recent studies have taken interest in the NS5 protein which has both the RdRp & MTase domains making it important for viral replication alongside other important functions such as inhibiting the innate immune system thus ensuring virus survival and replication. Structural studies can help design inhibitors while biochemical studies can help understand the various mechanisms utilized by NS5 thus counteracting them can inhibit or abolish the viral infection. Drug repurposing has proven to be an effective tool since hundreds of thousands of compounds can be screened in-silico thus saving time and resources while also having information available on such compounds especially if they are already used to treat other ailments.

Keywords

Zika; NS5; Flavivirus; Arbovirus; TBK1; STAT2; IFN1; IFN3; RdRp; MTase

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Virology

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