Program

O.7 -- Oral, IWTCP-3

Date: Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Time: 11h40 - 12h00

Studies on interactions between Ebola virus protein VP35 and its partners using molecular simulation approach

Chuong Nguyen (1,2)

(1) Theoretical Physics Research Group, Department for Management of Science and Technology Development, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; (2) Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Ebola virus (EBOV) disease is a severe infection that often results in death, reflecting an inability of the host immune response to control virus replication. The viruses avoid the human immune system's response to viral infections by interfering the host interferon production. The EBOV viral protein 35 (VP35) has recently emerged as a key component in this interference. The previous studies have revealed several key basic residues which are critical for the interactions between VP35 and its partners such as double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and inhibitors. To explore the interactions between VP35 and its partners at molecular level, we have conducted steered molecular dynamics simulations for different complexes of VP35 bound to dsRNA or its inhibitors. Our data have shown several residues which play a crucial role in binding between VP35 and its partner. These results provide an initial data to guide development of antifiloviral compounds against the Ebola virus disease by targeting the VP35 protein.

Presenter: Chuong Nguyen