Virucidal Star Polymer Disrupts Alphavirus Infection in Aedes Mosquitoes

ZP12, a heparan sulfate proteoglycan-mimicking zwitterionic polymer, is potent against Ross River virus and Semliki Forest virus in Aedes aegypti cells and gut cultures, reducing titres by up to five orders of magnitude.

• Why it matters: Mosquito-borne alphaviruses threaten global health, but there are no antivirals that can target both the vertebrate host and mosquito vector, limiting transmission-blocking options.
• What they did: The study tested ZP12 antiviral and virucidal activity against RRV and SFV in C6/36 mosquito cells, then in ex vivo Aedes aegypti gut cultures using 100 g/mL and 0.5 g/mL, including delayed-treatment and sugar-feeding prophylaxis.
• The result: ZP12 reduced RRV replication at both concentrations and retained activity after infection initiation, though efficacy declined with delay; sugar feeding did not prevent gut infection, but ZP12 remained biologically active in mosquitoes, supporting further transmission-blocking development.

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