Bergamottin, A Natural Bioactive Compound, Inhibits Dabie Bandavirus Infection In Vitro and In Vivo

ABSTRACT Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a novel, highly fatal disease caused by Dabie bandavirus (DBV), also referred to as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV). DBV is endemic to many Asian countries, and its incidence has recently increased. However, there are currently no specific therapies for combating DBV infection. Here we verified whether the natural bioactive compound, bergamottin, effectively inhibits DBV in vitro and in vivo. A primary in vitro study suggested that bergamottin suppressed DBV infection both in Vero E6 and Huh‐7 cells in a dose‐dependent manner. Time‐of‐addition assay revealed that bergamottin interferes with DBV infection at multiple stages of the viral life cycle. Moreover, bergamottin inhibits viral internalization and effectively reduces viral genome replication. The efficacy of bergamottin at doses of 75 and 120 mg/kg/d against DBV infection in an IFNAR −/− mouse infection model was investigated. Oral delivery at a dose of 120 mg/kg/d significantly reduced the number of the viral RNA copies in the kidneys, spleen, and lungs. These findings highlight that bergamottin is a promising agent that could be further developed as a therapeutic agent against DBV infection.