Detection, Expression, Molecular Characterization, and In Silico Analysis of Galectin-8 from Oryctes rhinoceros and its Possible Antiviral Activity Against the Dengue Virus

The expression of galectin-8 at various organs, its characterization through in silico analysis with possible anti-viral activity, was carried out from the grubs of Oryctes rhinoceros. Galectin-8 amplification, sequencing, prediction of amino acids, and analysis showed functional domains specific to galectin of several other species of insects. Further, quantification of galectin-8 transcripts revealed significantly higher levels of expression in hemocyte lysate than any other organs. The glycan lactose, that specifically inhibited the functional activity of galectin was used as a ligand for molecular docking, with a binding energy of -8.5 kcal/mol, revealing the specificity of lactose to galectin-8. MD simulation performed to find the binding stability disclosed the dynamic nature of galectin-8 and its targeted interaction with lactose. The protein-protein docking performed between galectin-8 with two dengue viral non-structural proteins, NS1 and NS5, suggested the possible antiviral property of galectin-8 against the dengue virus.