Melittin-Related Peptides Interfere with Sandfly Fever Naples Virus Infection by Interacting with Heparan Sulphate

Abstract

Emerging viruses pose an important global public health challenge, and early action is needed to control their spread. The Bunyaviridae family contains a great number of arboviruses which are potentially pathogenic for humans. For example, phleboviruses affect a large range of hosts, including humans and animals. Some infections usually have an asymptomatic course, but others lead to severe complications, such as Toscana virus, which is able to cause meningitis and encephalitis. Unfortunately, to date, no vaccines or antiviral treatments have been found. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of melittin-related peptides, namely the frog-derived RV-23 and AR-23, on sandfly fever Naples virus infection in vitro. Both peptides exhibited a strong antiviral activity by targeting the viral particles and blocking the virus–cell interaction. Their action was directed to an early phase of SFNV infection, in particular at viral adsorption on host cells, by interfering with the binding of common glycosaminoglycan receptors. Given the better antimicrobial behavior of AR-23 and RV-23 compared to melittin in terms of selectivity, our studies expand our understanding of the potential of these peptides as antimicrobials and stimulate further investigations in the direction of novel antiviral strategies against phlebovirus infection.

Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Melittin Peptides Derived from Apis mellifera and Apis florea Venom

“…These actions are also known to have a killing effect on viruses, protozoa and cancer cells [17]. Moreover, melittin-related peptides, namely the frog-derived RV-23 and AR-23, exhibited strong antiviral activity against the sandfly fever Naples virus by blocking the virus-cell interaction through interaction with heparan sulfate [34]. Thus, melittin might block the binding of HSV particles with heparan sulfate receptor molecules.…”

SARS-CoV-2 Fusion Peptide Conjugated to a Tetravalent Dendrimer Selectively Inhibits Viral Infection

“…Peptide drugs offer several advantages, such as their low ability to induce resistance, high specificity, efficacy, tolerability, and safety, as well as ease of synthesis [ 11 , 12 ]. They can derive from nature as the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) isolated from mammals, insects, reptiles, amphibians, plants, and fishes [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ] or have a synthetic origin via recombinant and chemical methods [ 20 ]. However, peptides as drugs have two drawbacks, membrane impermeability and poor in vivo stability, which have greatly impaired their clinical use.…”