The outbreak and spread of Tembusu virus (TMUV) has caused very large losses in the waterfowl-breeding industry since 2010. The viral envelope (E) protein, the principal surface protein of viral particles, plays a vital role in viral entry and fusion. In this study, two peptides derived from domain II (DII) and the stem of the TMUV envelope protein, TP1 and TP2, respectively, were tested for their antiviral activity. TP1 and TP2 inhibited TMUV infection in BHK-21 cells, and their 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) were 14.19 mg/L and 7.64 mg/L, respectively. Viral inhibition assays in different cell lines of avian origin showed that the inhibitory effects of TP1 and TP2 are not cell type dependent. Moreover, TP2 also exhibited inhibitory activity against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection. The two peptides inhibited antibody-mediated TMUV infection of duck peripheral blood lymphocytes. Co-immunoprecipitation assays and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) indicated that both peptides interact with the surface of the TMUV virion. RNase digestion assays confirmed the release of viral RNA following incubation with TP1, while incubation with TP1 or TP2 interfered with the binding between TMUV and cells. Taken together, these results show that TP1 and TP2 may be developed into antiviral treatments against TMUV infection.

自2010年以来，Tembusu病毒（TMUV）的爆发和扩散在水禽养殖行业造成了巨大损失。病毒外壳蛋白（E）是病毒颗粒的主要表面蛋白，在病毒进入和融合中起着至关重要的作用。在这项研究中，分别测试了来自域II（DII）和TMUV包膜蛋白的茎TP1和TP2的两种肽的抗病毒活性。TP1和TP2抑制BHK-21细胞中TMUV感染及其抑制浓度50％（IC ₅₀）分别为14.19 mg / L和7.64 mg / L。在禽源不同细胞系中的病毒抑制试验表明，TP1和TP2的抑制作用与细胞类型无关。此外，TP2还表现出对日本脑炎病毒（JEV）感染的抑制活性。这两种肽抑制了鸭介导的鸭外周血淋巴细胞的抗体介导的TMUV感染。共同免疫沉淀测定法和间接酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）表明这两种肽都与TMUV病毒体表面相互作用。与TP1孵育后，RNase酶切测定证实了病毒RNA的释放，而与TP1或TP2孵育则干扰了TMUV与细胞之间的结合。两者合计，这些结果表明TP1和TP2可能发展成为针对TMUV感染的抗病毒治疗。