Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42820595›Full record

ArticleMemorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz2026

Enhancement of simeprevir and sofosbuvir anti-ZIKV activity by iNOS-derived NO in vitroFIRST REVIEW ROUND - REVIEWERS' COMMENTSREVIEWERS' COMMENTS.

Rômulo José Soares-Bezerra, Karen Dos Santos Charret, João Marcos Beserra Rocha da Silva, Joana Miranda Mamprim, Lucas de Souza Leite, Richard de Almeida Lima, Daniela Del Rosário Flores Rodrigues, Alexandre Dos Santos da Silva, Natiele Carla da Silva Ferreira, Marcelo Alves Pinto

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Rômulo José Soares-BezerraFundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8576-2869
Karen Dos Santos CharretFundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanossomatídeos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
João Marcos Beserra Rocha da SilvaFundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Joana Miranda MamprimFundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Lucas de Souza LeiteFundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Richard de Almeida LimaFundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Daniela Del Rosário Flores RodriguesFundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Alexandre Dos Santos da SilvaFundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Natiele Carla da Silva FerreiraFundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Comunicação Celular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Marcelo Alves PintoFundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundZika virus (ZIKV) was first identified in the Americas in 2015, with Brazil experiencing a major epidemic marked by teratogenic effects during early pregnancy. Ex vivo studies of microglia from fatal ZIKV-induced microcephaly cases revealed elevated levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO). Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have been proposed as potential ZIKV treatments.

objectivesThis study aimed to investigate the effects of two DAAs, simeprevir and sofosbuvir, on iNOS expression and NO production during in vitro ZIKV infection.

methodsMolecular docking analyses were performed to assess the interaction between DAAs and the iNOS enzyme. ZIKV-infected Vero CCL-81 cells were treated with simeprevir or sofosbuvir (10 µmol/L), and iNOS expression, NO production, and cytotoxicity were evaluated.

findingsBoth DAAs demonstrated strong binding affinity to the iNOS active site. Compared with the untreated infected controls, treatment with simeprevir and sofosbuvir significantly upregulated iNOS expression and increased NO production by approximately 60%. No cytotoxic effects were observed under the experimental conditions. MAIN

conclusionsSimeprevir and sofosbuvir not only exhibit antiviral properties but also may enhance the host antiviral response via modulation of the NO pathway, suggesting a dual mechanism of action against ZIKV.

Indexed as

Antiviral AgentsNitric OxideNitric Oxide Synthase Type IISimeprevirSofosbuvirZika VirusAnimalsChlorocebus aethiopsHumansMolecular Docking SimulationVero CellsAntiviral AgentsNitric OxideNitric Oxide Synthase Type IISimeprevirSofosbuvir

Identifiers

PMID42820595
PMCPMC13623229

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.