A small protein inhibits the hepatitis C virus and prevents it from reproducing within infected cells. This molecule could be a good candidate to improve conventional treatments against the disease in patients who have become resistant to them. The work is published in the journal Hepatology and has proven the efficacy of the peptide in cellular tissues.
The novelty of this molecule is that it does not act directly on the hepatitis C virus. What it does is block the binding of a viral protein (NS5A) and another from the infected organism, called HSP70, which is produced under stress conditions. This blockage interrupts the cascade of cellular events that facilitate the replication of the virus within the body. By not attacking you directly, the virus is less likely to mutate and develop resistance to the treatment.
The authors of the study, from the University of California, began to search for peptides that could inhibit the binding of NS5A-HSP70 based on previous work that identified this association as a key factor in hepatitis C virus infection. to this ten amino acid molecule, derived from factor C34, which is found in the region of the viral protein NS5A responsible for binding to HSP70.
Future research will be aimed at developing, from this peptide, smaller molecules that can be easily introduced into cells and with greater affinity for the target proteins. After being tested in clinical trials with animal models, they could be used to develop drugs that combat the resistance acquired by the virus.
