title: Inhibition of enveloped virus infection of cultured cells by valproic acid.
abstract: Valproic acid (VPA) is a short-chain fatty acid commonly used for treatment of neurological disorders. As VPA can interfere with cellular lipid metabolism, its effect on the infection of cultured cells by viruses of seven viral families relevant to human and animal health, including eight enveloped and four nonenveloped viruses, was analyzed. VPA drastically inhibited multiplication of all the enveloped viruses tested, including the zoonotic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and West Nile virus (WNV), while it did not affect infection by the nonenveloped viruses assayed. VPA reduced vesicular stomatitis virus infection yield without causing a major blockage of either viral RNA or protein synthesis. In contrast, VPA drastically abolished WNV RNA and protein synthesis, indicating that this drug can interfere the viral cycle at different steps of enveloped virus infection. Thus, VPA can contribute to an understanding of the crucial steps of viral maturation and to the development of future strategies against infections associated with enveloped viruses.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Nicolás Cabrera 1, UAM, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Calvo
authors.forename: Juan-Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Saiz
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sobrino
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martín-Acebes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053586:Virus Internalization / Q000187:drug effects*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014635:Valproic Acid