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Voss S, Rademann J, Nitsche C. Characterisation of ten NS2B-NS3 proteases: Paving the way for pan-flavivirus drugs. Antiviral Res 2024; 226:105878. [PMID: 38582134 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Flaviviruses can cause severe illness in humans. Effective and safe vaccines are available for some species; however, for many flaviviruses disease prevention or specific treatments remain unavailable. The viral replication cycle depends on the proteolytic activity of the NS2B-NS3 protease, which releases functional viral proteins from a non-functional polyprotein precursor, rendering the protease a promising drug target. In this study, we characterised recombinant NS2B-NS3 proteases from ten flaviviruses including three unreported proteases from the Usutu, Kyasanur forest disease and Powassan viruses. All protease constructs comprise a covalent Gly4-Ser-Gly4 linker connecting the NS3 serine protease domain with its cofactor NS2B. We conducted a comprehensive cleavage site analysis revealing areas of high conversion. While all proteases were active in enzymatic assays, we noted a 1000-fold difference in catalytic efficiency across proteases from different flaviviruses. Two bicyclic peptide inhibitors displayed anti-pan-flaviviral protease activity with inhibition constants ranging from 10 to 1000 nM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saan Voss
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Jörg Rademann
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Nitsche
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
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Cheng Y, Wang R, Wu Q, Chen J, Wang A, Wu Z, Sun F, Zhu S. Advancements in Research on Duck Tembusu Virus Infections. Viruses 2024; 16:811. [PMID: 38793692 PMCID: PMC11126125 DOI: 10.3390/v16050811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Duck Tembusu Virus (DTMUV) is a pathogen of the Flaviviridae family that causes infections in poultry, leading to significant economic losses in the duck farming industry in recent years. Ducks infected with this virus exhibit clinical symptoms such as decreased egg production and neurological disorders, along with serious consequences such as ovarian hemorrhage, organ enlargement, and necrosis. Variations in morbidity and mortality rates exist across different age groups of ducks. It is worth noting that DTMUV is not limited to ducks alone; it can also spread to other poultry such as chickens and geese, and antibodies related to DTMUV have even been found in duck farm workers, suggesting a potential risk of zoonotic transmission. This article provides a detailed overview of DTMUV research, delving into its genomic characteristics, vaccines, and the interplay with host immune responses. These in-depth research findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the virus's transmission mechanism and pathogenic process, offering crucial scientific support for epidemic prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Cheng
- Engineering Technology Research Center for Modern Animal Science and Novel Veterinary Pharmaceutic Development, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Veterinary Bio-Pharmaceutical High Technology Research, Jiangsu Agri-Animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou 225300, China; (Y.C.)
| | - Ruoheng Wang
- Engineering Technology Research Center for Modern Animal Science and Novel Veterinary Pharmaceutic Development, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Veterinary Bio-Pharmaceutical High Technology Research, Jiangsu Agri-Animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou 225300, China; (Y.C.)
| | - Qingguo Wu
- Engineering Technology Research Center for Modern Animal Science and Novel Veterinary Pharmaceutic Development, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Veterinary Bio-Pharmaceutical High Technology Research, Jiangsu Agri-Animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou 225300, China; (Y.C.)
| | - Jinying Chen
- Engineering Technology Research Center for Modern Animal Science and Novel Veterinary Pharmaceutic Development, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Veterinary Bio-Pharmaceutical High Technology Research, Jiangsu Agri-Animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou 225300, China; (Y.C.)
| | - Anping Wang
- Engineering Technology Research Center for Modern Animal Science and Novel Veterinary Pharmaceutic Development, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Veterinary Bio-Pharmaceutical High Technology Research, Jiangsu Agri-Animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou 225300, China; (Y.C.)
| | - Zhi Wu
- Engineering Technology Research Center for Modern Animal Science and Novel Veterinary Pharmaceutic Development, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Veterinary Bio-Pharmaceutical High Technology Research, Jiangsu Agri-Animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou 225300, China; (Y.C.)
| | - Fang Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Shanyuan Zhu
- Engineering Technology Research Center for Modern Animal Science and Novel Veterinary Pharmaceutic Development, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Veterinary Bio-Pharmaceutical High Technology Research, Jiangsu Agri-Animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou 225300, China; (Y.C.)
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Manzato VDM, Di Santo C, Torquato RJS, Coelho C, Gallo G, Hardy L, Würtele M, Tanaka AS. Boophilin D1, a Kunitz type protease inhibitor, as a source of inhibitors for the ZIKA virus NS2B-NS3 protease. Biochimie 2023; 214:96-101. [PMID: 37364769 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Arboviruses are a global concern for a multitude of reasons, including their increased incidence and human mortality. Vectors associated with arboviruses include the mosquito Aedes sp., which is responsible for transmitting the Zika virus. Flaviviruses, like the Zika virus, present only one chymotrypsin-like serine protease (NS3) in their genome. Together with host enzymes, the NS2B co-factor NS3 protease complex are essential for the viral replication cycle by virus polyprotein processing. To search for Zika virus NS2B-NS3 protease (ZIKVPro) inhibitors, a phage display library was constructed using the Boophilin domain 1 (BoophD1), a thrombin inhibitor from the Kunitz family. A BoophilinD1 library mutated at positions P1-P4' was constructed, presenting a titer of 2.9x106 (cfu), and screened utilizing purified ZIKVPro. The results demonstrated at the P1-P4' positions the occurrence of 47% RALHA sequence (mut 12) and 11.8% RASWA sequence (mut14), SMRPT, or KALIP (wt) sequence. BoophD1-wt and mutants 12 and 14 were expressed and purified. The purified BoophD1 wt, mut 12 and 14, presented Ki values for ZIKVPro of 0.103, 0.116, and 0.101 μM, respectively. The BoophD1 mutant inhibitors inhibit the Dengue virus 2 protease (DENV2) with Ki values of 0.298, 0.271, and 0.379 μM, respectively. In conclusion, BoophD1 mut 12 and 14 selected for ZIKVPro demonstrated inhibitory activity like BoophD1-wt, suggesting that these are the strongest Zika inhibitors present in the BoophD1 mutated phage display library. Furthermore, BoophD1 mutants selected for ZIKVPro inhibit both Zika and Dengue 2 proteases making them potential pan-flavivirus inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica de Moraes Manzato
- Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila Di Santo
- Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Jose Soares Torquato
- Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila Coelho
- Department of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Gloria Gallo
- Department of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Leon Hardy
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA
| | - Martin Würtele
- Department of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Aparecida Sadae Tanaka
- Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), RJ, Brazil.
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Eyer L, Seley-Radtke K, Ruzek D. New directions in the experimental therapy of tick-borne encephalitis. Antiviral Res 2023; 210:105504. [PMID: 36574904 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a potentially fatal disease common in much of Europe and Asia. There is no specific therapy for the treatment of TBE patients. However, several efforts are being made to develop small molecules that specifically interfere with the life cycle of TBE virus. In particular, recently various nucleoside analogues that can inhibit the viral replicase, such as the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase or viral methyltransferases, have been explored. In addition, human or chimeric (i.e., structural chimeras that combine mouse variable domains with human constant domains) monoclonal antibodies with promising potential for post-exposure prophylaxis or early therapy have been developed. This review summarizes the latest directions and experimental approaches that may be used to combat TBE in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludek Eyer
- Laboratory of Emerging Viral Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katherine Seley-Radtke
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daniel Ruzek
- Laboratory of Emerging Viral Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Teramoto T, Choi KH, Padmanabhan R. Flavivirus proteases: The viral Achilles heel to prevent future pandemics. Antiviral Res 2023; 210:105516. [PMID: 36586467 PMCID: PMC10062209 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Flaviviruses are important human pathogens and include dengue (DENV), West Nile (WNV), Yellow fever virus (YFV), Japanese encephalitis (JEV) and Zika virus (ZIKV). DENV, transmitted by mosquitoes, causes diseases ranging in severity from mild dengue fever with non-specific flu-like symptoms to fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. DENV infections are caused by four serotypes, DENV1-4, which interact differently with antibodies in blood serum. The incidence of DENV infection has increased dramatically in recent decades and the CDC estimates 400 million dengue infections occur each year, resulting in ∼25,000 deaths mostly among children and elderly people. Similarly, ZIKV infections are caused by infected mosquito bites to humans, can be transmitted sexually and through blood transfusions. If a pregnant woman is infected, the virus can cross the placental barrier and can spread to her fetus, causing severe brain malformations in the child including microcephaly and other birth defects. It is noteworthy that the neurological manifestations of ZIKV were also observed in DENV endemic regions, suggesting that pre-existing antibody response to DENV could augment ZIKV infection. WNV, previously unknown in the US (and known to cause only mild disease in Middle East), first arrived in New York city in 1999 (NY99) and spread throughout the US and Canada by Culex mosquitoes and birds. WNV is now endemic in North America. Thus, emerging and re-emerging flaviviruses are significant threat to human health. However, vaccines are available for only a limited number of flaviviruses, and antiviral therapies are not available for any flavivirus. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop therapeutics that interfere with essential enzymatic steps, such as protease in the flavivirus lifecycle as these viruses possess significant threat to future pandemics. In this review, we focus on our E. coli expression of NS2B hydrophilic domain (NS2BH) covalently linked to NS3 protease domain (NS3Pro) in their natural context which is processed by the combined action of both subunits of the NS2B-NS3Pro precursor. Biochemical activities of the viral protease such as solubility and autoproteolysis of NS2BH-NS3Pro linkage depended on the C-terminal portion of NS2BH linked to the NS3Pro domain. Since 2008, we also focus on the use of the recombinant protease in high throughput screens and characterization of small molecular compounds identified in these screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadahisa Teramoto
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
| | - Kyung H Choi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47406, USA.
| | - Radhakrishnan Padmanabhan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
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Abstract
Flaviviruses are vector-borne pathogens capable of causing devastating human diseases. The re-emergence of Zika in 2016 notoriously led to a widescale epidemic in the Americas. New daunting evidence suggests that a single mutation in Zika virus genome may increase transmission and pathogenesis, further highlighting the need to be prepared for flavivirus outbreaks. Dengue, in particular infects about 400 million people each year, leading to reoccurring local outbreaks. Public health efforts to mitigate flavivirus transmission is largely dependent on vector control strategies, as only a limited number of flavivirus vaccines have been developed thus far. There are currently no commercially available antivirals for flaviviruses, leaving supportive care as the primary treatment option. In this review, we will briefly paint a broad picture of the flavivirus landscape in terms of therapeutics, with particular focus on viral targets, promising novel compounds entering the drug discovery pipeline, as well as model systems for evaluating drug efficacy.
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Viral proteases as therapeutic targets. Mol Aspects Med 2022; 88:101159. [PMID: 36459838 PMCID: PMC9706241 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2022.101159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Some medically important viruses-including retroviruses, flaviviruses, coronaviruses, and herpesviruses-code for a protease, which is indispensable for viral maturation and pathogenesis. Viral protease inhibitors have become an important class of antiviral drugs. Development of the first-in-class viral protease inhibitor saquinavir, which targets HIV protease, started a new era in the treatment of chronic viral diseases. Combining several drugs that target different steps of the viral life cycle enables use of lower doses of individual drugs (and thereby reduction of potential side effects, which frequently occur during long term therapy) and reduces drug-resistance development. Currently, several HIV and HCV protease inhibitors are routinely used in clinical practice. In addition, a drug including an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 main protease, nirmatrelvir (co-administered with a pharmacokinetic booster ritonavir as Paxlovid®), was recently authorized for emergency use. This review summarizes the basic features of the proteases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and SARS-CoV-2 and discusses the properties of their inhibitors in clinical use, as well as development of compounds in the pipeline.
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Antiviral Agents against Flavivirus Protease: Prospect and Future Direction. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11030293. [PMID: 35335617 PMCID: PMC8955721 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses cause a significant amount of mortality and morbidity, especially in regions where they are endemic. A recent example is the outbreak of Zika virus throughout the world. Development of antiviral drugs against different viral targets is as important as the development of vaccines. During viral replication, a single polyprotein precursor (PP) is produced and further cleaved into individual proteins by a viral NS2B-NS3 protease complex together with host proteases. Flavivirus protease is one of the most attractive targets for development of therapeutic antivirals because it is essential for viral PP processing, leading to active viral proteins. In this review, we have summarized recent development in drug discovery targeting the NS2B-NS3 protease of flaviviruses, especially Zika, dengue, and West Nile viruses.
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Goryashchenko AS, Uvarova VI, Osolodkin DI, Ishmukhametov AA. Discovery of small molecule antivirals targeting tick-borne encephalitis virus. ANNUAL REPORTS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.armc.2022.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Bauer S, Zhang F, Linhardt RJ. Implications of Glycosaminoglycans on Viral Zoonotic Diseases. Diseases 2021; 9:85. [PMID: 34842642 PMCID: PMC8628766 DOI: 10.3390/diseases9040085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that pass from animals to humans. These include diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites and can be transmitted through close contact or through an intermediate insect vector. Many of the world's most problematic zoonotic diseases are viral diseases originating from animal spillovers. The Spanish influenza pandemic, Ebola outbreaks in Africa, and the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic are thought to have started with humans interacting closely with infected animals. As the human population grows and encroaches on more and more natural habitats, these incidents will only increase in frequency. Because of this trend, new treatments and prevention strategies are being explored. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are complex linear polysaccharides that are ubiquitously present on the surfaces of most human and animal cells. In many infectious diseases, the interactions between GAGs and zoonotic pathogens correspond to the first contact that results in the infection of host cells. In recent years, researchers have made progress in understanding the extraordinary roles of GAGs in the pathogenesis of zoonotic diseases, suggesting potential therapeutic avenues for using GAGs in the treatment of these diseases. This review examines the role of GAGs in the progression, prevention, and treatment of different zoonotic diseases caused by viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Bauer
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA;
| | - Fuming Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA;
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - Robert J. Linhardt
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA;
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
- Departments of Biological Science, Biomedical Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
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Structure and Dynamics of Zika Virus Protease and Its Insights into Inhibitor Design. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9081044. [PMID: 34440248 PMCID: PMC8394600 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9081044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV)—a member of the Flaviviridae family—is an important human pathogen. Its genome encodes a polyprotein that can be further processed into structural and non-structural proteins. ZIKV protease is an important target for antiviral development due to its role in cleaving the polyprotein to release functional viral proteins. The viral protease is a two-component protein complex formed by NS2B and NS3. Structural studies using different approaches demonstrate that conformational changes exist in the protease. The structures and dynamics of this protease in the absence and presence of inhibitors were explored to provide insights into the inhibitor design. The dynamic nature of residues binding to the enzyme cleavage site might be important for the function of the protease. Due to the charges at the protease cleavage site, it is challenging to develop small-molecule compounds acting as substrate competitors. Developing small-molecule compounds to inhibit protease activity through an allosteric mechanism is a feasible strategy because conformational changes are observed in the protease. Herein, structures and dynamics of ZIKV protease are summarized. The conformational changes of ZIKV protease and other proteases in the same family are discussed. The progress in developing allosteric inhibitors is also described. Understanding the structures and dynamics of the proteases are important for designing potent inhibitors.
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