Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals

Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals
Open Access

ISSN: 1948-5964

+44 1300 500008

Chandipura virus,an emerging pathogen causing mortality in children: Biology based strategy for antiviral development


International Conference and Exhibition on VIROLOGY

5-7 September 2011 Baltimore, USA

Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay, Arunava Roy, Smarajit Polley, Prasenjit Chakraborty and Siddhartha Roy

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: JAA

Abstract :

In the lifecycle of Chandipura Virus (CHPV), an emerging human pathogenic Rhabdovirus; a crucial step is switching of its molecular machinery from transcription to replication. Like other members of the Rhabdoviridae family, CHPV possess only one RdRp (RNA Dependent RNA Polymerase) complex, which is responsible for both, its replication, as well as transcription. Previously we have demonstrated that the virally encoded phosphoprotein P interacts with the 49 nt untranslated leader RNA (l RNA), in-vitro, and this interaction may be instrumental in the switching of the RdRp from a transcriptase to replicase mode. In this work we provide the fi rst evidence that this interaction is detectable within CHPV infected cells, and this interaction is dependent upon the oscillation of the P protein between its phosphorylated and dephosphorylated forms in the course of the viral life cycle. In-vitro as well as ex-vivo observations suggests that only the unphosphorylated form of the P protein binds l RNA, and interestingly, unphosphorylated P protein is found to be present only during the replication phase of the viral cycle. Structural and mutational studies identifi ed three amino acids in the C-terminal domain of the P-protein as essential for its interaction with the l RNA. A synthetic peptide encompassing these residues retains all the important interactions of the whole protein and when conjugated to a cell penetrating signal, specifi cally inhibited replication but not transcription of the viral RNA, establishing the role of the l-P complex in switching of the RdRp complex into replication mode. Th is is the fi rst clear evidence that P-leader RNA complex promotes anti-termination, leading to the switching. Th e inhibition observed with the peptide suggests a new possible peptidomimetic broad anti-viral design in mononegaloviradae group of human pathogens.

Biography :

I am the Professor of Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, the Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic), and Director, Centre for Research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Calcutta University, the oldest University in India. My research work involves identifi cation of different pathway/proteins in life cycle of Chandipura virus which killed hundreds of children in recent past in India. I have supervised 18 Ph.D students and 6 students are currently working with me. I have published 80 papers in internationally reputed peer reviewed journals. I am a Fellow of Indian Academy of sciences, National Academy of Sciences, West Bengal Academy of Science and Technology.

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