Antiviral evaluation of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazole derivatives against Chikungunya virus

Future Virol. 2023 Sep;18(13):865-880. doi: 10.2217/fvl-2023-0142. Epub 2023 Oct 25.

Abstract

Aim: This work aimed to investigate the antiviral activity of two 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazole derivatives (1 and 2) against Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) replication.

Materials & methods: Cytotoxicity was analyzed using colorimetric assays and the antiviral potential was evaluated using plaque assays and computational tools.

Results: Compound 2 showed antiviral activity against CHIKV 181-25 in BHK-21 and Vero cells. Also, this compound presented a higher activity against CHIKV BRA/RJ/18 in Vero cells, like compound 1. Compound 2 exhibited virucidal activity and inhibited virus entry while compound 1 inhibited virus release. Molecular docking suggested that these derivatives inhibit nsP1 protein while compound 1 may also target capsid protein.

Conclusion: Both compounds exhibit promising antiviral activity against CHIKV by blocking different steps of virus replication.

Keywords: alphavirus; antiviral; arbovirus; chikungunya; molecular modeling; triazole.