There is growing evidence that Zika virus (ZIKV) can cause devastating infant brain defects and other neurological disorders in humans. However, no specific antiviral therapy is available at present. We tested a series of 2'-C- or 2'-O-methyl-substituted nucleosides, 2'-C-fluoro-2'-C-methyl-substituted nucleosides, 3'-O-methyl-substituted nucleosides, 3'-deoxynucleosides, derivatives with 4'-C-azido substitution, heterobase-modified nucleosides, and neplanocins for their ability to inhibit ZIKV replication in cell culture. Antiviral activity was identified when 2'-C-methylated nucleosides were tested, suggesting that these compounds might represent promising lead candidates for further development of specific antivirals against ZIKV.

Aix Marseille Université IRD French Institute of Research for Development EHESP French School of Public Health EPV UMR_D 190 Emergence des Pathologies Virales France

Department of Virology Veterinary Research Institute Brno

Department of Virology Veterinary Research Institute Brno Institute of Parasitology Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Czech Academy of Sciences Prague

National Institute of Health Dr Ricardo Jorge CEVDI INSA Águas de Moura Portugal

Rega Institute for Medical Research KU Leuven Belgium

References provided by Crossref.org

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