The human α-defensin-derived peptide HD5(1-9) inhibits cellular attachment and entry of human cytomegalovirus

Abstract

AUTHOR SUMMARY 49Defensins are peptides produced by various human organs which take part in the 50 natural defense against pathogens. Recently, it has been shown that defensins are 51 further cleaved to smaller peptides that have high intrinsic anti-microbial activity. We 52 here challenged the hypothesis that these peptides might have antiviral activity, and due 53 to their presumably natural occurrence, low toxicity. Indeed, we found one peptide 54 fragment that turned out to block the attachment of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) 55 to cells. Furthermore, this peptide did not show toxicity in various cellular assays or 56 impede the embryonic development of zebrafish at the concentrations used to block 57 HCMV. This is important, since HCMV is one of the most important viral congenital 58 infections. Altogether, our results hold promise for the development of a new class of 59 antivirals against HCMV.

Antimicrobial peptides: mechanism of action, activity and clinical potential

“…In the case of parainfluenza respiratory virus, the temporin G-mediated blocking of the late steps of viral replication impairs the extracellular release of viral particles. The human α-defensin-derived peptide HD5(1–9) is also able to prevent viral infection by inhibiting the adherence and the subsequent entry of the virus into cells [ 195 ]. Cathelicidin-derived AMP GF-17 and BMAP-18 inhibit ZIKV through directly inactivating the virus and interfering with the interferon (IFN) pathway [ 196 ].…”

Comprehensive Analysis of Human Cytomegalovirus- and HIV-Mediated Plasma Membrane Remodeling in Macrophages

“…The clinical HCMV isolates H2497 and H1873 were isolated from amniotic fluid of two HCMV-infected but antiviral-naive pregnant women and primarily isolated from ARPE-19 cells without any prior fibroblast adaption ( 69 ).…”