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Virus study targets infection linked to birth defects

Date:
May 15, 2017
Source:
University of Edinburgh
Summary:
Fresh insights into how a common virus replicates could pave the way for new therapies to stop its spread. Scientists have discovered a key molecule linked to Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, which is harmless for healthy people but can cause miscarriage and birth defects during pregnancy.
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Fresh insights into how a common virus replicates could pave the way for new therapies to stop its spread.

Scientists have discovered a key molecule linked to Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, which is harmless for healthy people but can cause miscarriage and birth defects during pregnancy.

Tests on infected cells found that blocking the molecule with a chemical inhibitor stops the virus from multiplying.

The molecule -- called VCP -- is a component of the infected cell rather than a substance produced by the virus itself.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute found the virus is dependent on VCP to replicate its genetic material and multiply.

Chemicals that block the activity of VCP are 10 times more powerful at stopping the virus than existing medications that target HCMV directly, the study found.

By targeting the affected cells instead of the virus, the approach could also cut the chances of the virus becoming resistant to the therapy, researchers say.

Drugs that target VCP are already being developed as potential therapies for cancer. Studies to check whether the drugs are safe for use will be needed before they could be tested as a therapy for the virus.

HCMV is extremely common. It infects at least 30 per cent of the population in the developed world and up to 100 per cent of people in developing countries.

It can be life-threatening for people with a weakened immune system, such as transplant recipients and people infected with HIV.

Infection during pregnancy can lead to hearing loss and intellectual disabilities in unborn babies.

The study is published in the journal PLOS Pathogens.

Dr Finn Grey, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute, said: "Human Cytomegalovirus infection is an important human disease. By gaining a better understanding of how the virus works, we can develop improved antiviral drugs. While more work is required, this study shows the potential of such approaches."


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Edinburgh. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Yao-Tang Lin, James Prendergast, Finn Grey. The host ubiquitin-dependent segregase VCP/p97 is required for the onset of human cytomegalovirus replication. PLOS Pathogens, 2017; 13 (5): e1006329 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006329

Cite This Page:

University of Edinburgh. "Virus study targets infection linked to birth defects." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 May 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170515095439.htm>.
University of Edinburgh. (2017, May 15). Virus study targets infection linked to birth defects. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170515095439.htm
University of Edinburgh. "Virus study targets infection linked to birth defects." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170515095439.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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