Molecular docking and simulation studies of Phyllanthus amarus phytocompounds against structural and nucleocapsid proteins of white spot syndrome virus

Abstract

White spot disease caused by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a lethal disease for shrimp. Envelope structural proteins play a major role in viral attachment and are believed to be the initial molecules to interact with the host cell. Thus, the envelope proteins have been preferred as a potential molecular target for drug discovery. In the present investigation, molecular docking and simulation analysis were performed to predict the binding efficiency of phytocompounds identified from Phyllanthus amarus with major envelope proteins, VP26, VP28, and VP110, and a nucleocapsid protein VP664 of WSSV. The docking result reveals that the compounds 2H-1-benzopyran-6-ol, 3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-acetate and 1,4-benzenediamine, N,N′-diphenyl exhibited highest binding energy with the envelope proteins. The mobility of protein–ligand binding complex at various time intervals was validated by molecular dynamics and simulation study. Therefore, P. amarus phytocompounds were found to be most suitable inhibitors for the antiviral treatment for WSSV infection.