Flavivirus NS4B protein: Structure, function, and antiviral discovery

Antiviral Res. 2022 Nov:207:105423. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105423. Epub 2022 Sep 27.

Abstract

Infections with mosquito-borne flaviviruses, such as Dengue virus, ZIKV virus, and West Nile virus, pose significant threats to public health. Flaviviruses cause up to 400 million infections each year, leading to many forms of diseases, including fatal hemorrhage, encephalitis, congenital abnormalities, and deaths. Currently, there are no clinically approved antiviral drugs for the treatment of flavivirus infections. The non-structural protein NS4B is an emerging target for drug discovery due to its multiple roles in the flaviviral life cycle. In this review, we summarize the latest knowledge on the structure and function of flavivirus NS4B, as well as the progress on antiviral compounds that target NS4B.

Keywords: Antivirals; Drug discovery; Flavivirus; Nonstructural protein 4B.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / metabolism
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Dengue Virus* / metabolism
  • Flavivirus Infections*
  • Flavivirus*
  • Humans
  • Zika Virus Infection*
  • Zika Virus* / metabolism

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents