Volume 113, January 2015, Pages 1–3
Short Communication
The green tea catechin, epigallocatechin gallate inhibits chikungunya virus infection
Highlights
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- The green tea compound EGCG inhibits CHIKV infection of HEK 293T cells.
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- EGCG inhibits gene transfer of CHIKV Env-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors.
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- EGCG inhibits CHIKV attachment to target cells.
Abstract
Chikungunya
virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus that causes
chikungunya fever and has infected millions of people mainly in
developing countries. The associated disease is characterized by rash,
high fever and severe arthritis that can persist for years. CHIKV has
adapted to Aedes albopictus, which also inhabits temperate
regions, including Europe and the United States of America and might
cause new, large outbreaks there. No treatment or licensed CHIKV vaccine
exists. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major component of green
tea, has, among other beneficial properties, antiviral activities.
Therefore, we examined if EGCG has antiviral activity against CHIKV.
EGCG inhibited CHIKV infection in vitro, blocked entry of CHIKV
Env-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors and inhibited CHIKV attachment to
target cells. Thus EGCG might be used as a lead structure to develop
more effective antiviral drugs.
Keywords
- Green tea;
- EGCG;
- Chikungunya virus
- Corresponding author. Tel.:
+49 6103 775504.
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- Both authors contributed equally.
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