IIT Roorkee Researchers Identify Potential Drug for Chikungunya and Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee have identified promising drug candidates for treating Chikungunya and other mosquito-borne diseases. Chikungunya is a viral illness transmitted by infected mosquitoes, leading to symptoms such as fever, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash. Currently, there are no specific antiviral treatments or vaccines available for Chikungunya, with medical care primarily focusing on alleviating symptoms.
In a significant breakthrough, the IIT Roorkee team discovered that piperazine, a drug commonly used in deworming treatments against roundworm and pinworm, exhibits antiviral properties against the Chikungunya virus. Through structural biology techniques, they found that piperazine binds effectively to the hydrophobic pocket of the Chikungunya virus's capsid protein. This binding inhibits the replication and spread of the virus within the host. Laboratory studies demonstrated that piperazine successfully curbed the spread and replication of the Chikungunya virus in cell cultures. The research team is currently conducting animal testing and aims to progress to clinical trials to further evaluate piperazine's efficacy and safety in treating Chikungunya infections.
In another study, IIT Roorkee scientists identified molecules, specifically Pep-I and Pep-II, that inhibit the activity of the Chikungunya virus's nsP2 protease enzyme, which is crucial for viral replication. Among these, Pep-I exhibited higher antiviral activity, achieving approximately a 99% reduction in the virus during cell-based assays. The research team is developing derivatives of Pep-I and similar molecules, with plans to test their antiviral potential in animal models, aiming to advance towards clinical applications.
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