Experimental validation of compound 3md, identified in silico, demonstrates antiviral effect on DENV2 by intervention in the replicative phase.

Dengue is a viral infectious disease that primarily affects populations in tropical and subtropical countries and is caused by the dengue virus, a member of the orthoflavivirus genus. Currently, there is no specific treatment to reduce the viral load of the infection; therefore, it is important to continue evaluating potential antivirals. In this study, previously identified compounds were experimentally validated using in silico assays, assessing their effect on the viral cycle. Ten compounds were tested for plaque-forming unit reduction, and the compound 3md was found to decrease the production of infectious virus by approximately 3 log10 PFU/mL. Furthermore, it reduced the percentage of infected cells by interfering with the replication and/or expression of proteins, thereby decreasing viral RNA synthesis in DENV2. These findings suggest that the mode of action of 3md is primarily related to its interference with viral genome replication.