The Viral Polymerase Inhibitor 7-Deaza-2’-C-Methyladenosine Is a Potent Inhibitor of In Vitro Zika Virus Replication and Delays Disease Progression in a Robust Mouse Infection Model
Fig 1
Dose-dependent inhibition of ZIKV RNA replication by 7DMA.
(A) Vero cell cultures infected with ZIKV strain MR766 were treated with different concentrations of 7DMA. Viral RNA levels in the supernatant were quantified on day 4 pi by means of RT-qPCR and are expressed as percentage inhibition of untreated virus control (black bars). Mock-infected cells were treated with the same dilution series of 7DMA. Cell viability was determined by means of the MTS/PMS method and is expressed as percentage of cell growth of untreated control (white circles). Data represent mean values ± standard deviations (SD) for three independent experiments. Log10 reduction values in viral RNA load are depicted in italics at the top of each bar. (B) Antiviral activity of 7DMA against ZIKV as determined in an immunofluorescence assay. At a concentration of 11 μM, 7DMA almost completely blocked viral antigen expression (left panel) compared to untreated, infected cells (right panel) and infected cells treated at a lower concentration (5.6 and 2.8 μM; two panels in the middle).