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Focosi D, Franchini M, Maggi F, Shoham S. COVID-19 therapeutics. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024; 37:e0011923. [PMID: 38771027 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00119-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYSince the emergence of COVID-19 in 2020, an unprecedented range of therapeutic options has been studied and deployed. Healthcare providers have multiple treatment approaches to choose from, but efficacy of those approaches often remains controversial or compromised by viral evolution. Uncertainties still persist regarding the best therapies for high-risk patients, and the drug pipeline is suffering fatigue and shortage of funding. In this article, we review the antiviral activity, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and safety of COVID-19 antiviral therapies. Additionally, we summarize the evidence from randomized controlled trials on efficacy and safety of the various COVID-19 antivirals and discuss unmet needs which should be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Focosi
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Massimo Franchini
- Division of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Carlo Poma Hospital, Mantua, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Shmuel Shoham
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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2
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Seo JE, Le Y, Revollo J, Miranda-Colon J, Xu H, McKinzie P, Mei N, Chen T, Heflich RH, Zhou T, Robison T, Bonzo JA, Guo X. Evaluating the mutagenicity of N-nitrosodimethylamine in 2D and 3D HepaRG cell cultures using error-corrected next generation sequencing. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:1919-1935. [PMID: 38584193 PMCID: PMC11106104 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03731-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Human liver-derived metabolically competent HepaRG cells have been successfully employed in both two-dimensional (2D) and 3D spheroid formats for performing the comet assay and micronucleus (MN) assay. In the present study, we have investigated expanding the genotoxicity endpoints evaluated in HepaRG cells by detecting mutagenesis using two error-corrected next generation sequencing (ecNGS) technologies, Duplex Sequencing (DS) and High-Fidelity (HiFi) Sequencing. Both HepaRG 2D cells and 3D spheroids were exposed for 72 h to N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), followed by an additional incubation for the fixation of induced mutations. NDMA-induced DNA damage, chromosomal damage, and mutagenesis were determined using the comet assay, MN assay, and ecNGS, respectively. The 72-h treatment with NDMA resulted in concentration-dependent increases in cytotoxicity, DNA damage, MN formation, and mutation frequency in both 2D and 3D cultures, with greater responses observed in the 3D spheroids compared to 2D cells. The mutational spectrum analysis showed that NDMA induced predominantly A:T → G:C transitions, along with a lower frequency of G:C → A:T transitions, and exhibited a different trinucleotide signature relative to the negative control. These results demonstrate that the HepaRG 2D cells and 3D spheroid models can be used for mutagenesis assessment using both DS and HiFi Sequencing, with the caveat that severe cytotoxic concentrations should be avoided when conducting DS. With further validation, the HepaRG 2D/3D system may become a powerful human-based metabolically competent platform for genotoxicity testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Eun Seo
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Yuan Le
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Javier Revollo
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Jaime Miranda-Colon
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Hannah Xu
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Page McKinzie
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Nan Mei
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Tao Chen
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Robert H Heflich
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA
| | - Tong Zhou
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD, 20855, USA
| | - Timothy Robison
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Jessica A Bonzo
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Xiaoqing Guo
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA.
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3
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Urbanowicz K, Opielka M, Stegmann KM, Dickmanns A, Dobbelstein M, Peters GJ, Smoleński RT. Evaluation of N4-hydroxycytidine incorporation into nucleic acids of SARS-CoV-2-infected host cells by direct measurement with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. NUCLEOSIDES, NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024:1-9. [PMID: 38741480 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2024.2346550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Molnupiravir, an orally administered prodrug of β-d-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC), is incorporated into newly synthesized RNA by viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). It is used for treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Incorporation of NHC triphosphate into viral RNA inhibits replication of the virus, at least in part by introducing deleterious mutations. However, there is limited information on NHC incorporation into host RNA and reports on the risk of mutagenicity that molnupiravir/NHC pose to the host are conflicting. We used two liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods to evaluate the incorporation of NHC into RNA and DNA of host Vero E6 cells in a SARS-CoV-2 infection model. To test this, host and viral RNA were degraded to their ribonucleosides, while host DNA was degraded to deoxyribonucleosides. Subsequently, nucleic acid constituents were analyzed by LC-MS, which offers specific, direct, and quantitative determination of incorporation. Our findings revealed concentration dependent NHC incorporation into host cell RNA in both infected and uninfected cell cultures, reaching a maximum of 1 in 7,093 bases. Analysis of host DNA revealed no presence of deoxy-N4-hydroxycytidine down to a detection limit of 1 in 133,000 bases. Our findings therefore suggest minimal to no NHC incorporation into host DNA, indicating a low probability of significant host cell mutagenicity associated with its use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mikolaj Opielka
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Kim M Stegmann
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Antje Dickmanns
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Dobbelstein
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Godefridus J Peters
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
- Laboratory of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Vrije Unversteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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4
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Du L, Deiter F, Bouzidi MS, Billaud JN, Simmons G, Dabral P, Selvarajah S, Lingappa AF, Michon M, Yu SF, Paulvannan K, Manicassamy B, Lingappa VR, Boushey H, Greenland JR, Pillai SK. A viral assembly inhibitor blocks SARS-CoV-2 replication in airway epithelial cells. Commun Biol 2024; 7:486. [PMID: 38649430 PMCID: PMC11035691 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06130-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 to evade vaccines and therapeutics underlines the need for innovative therapies with high genetic barriers to resistance. Therefore, there is pronounced interest in identifying new pharmacological targets in the SARS-CoV-2 viral life cycle. The small molecule PAV-104, identified through a cell-free protein synthesis and assembly screen, was recently shown to target host protein assembly machinery in a manner specific to viral assembly. In this study, we investigate the capacity of PAV-104 to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in human airway epithelial cells (AECs). We show that PAV-104 inhibits >99% of infection with diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants in immortalized AECs, and in primary human AECs cultured at the air-liquid interface (ALI) to represent the lung microenvironment in vivo. Our data demonstrate that PAV-104 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 production without affecting viral entry, mRNA transcription, or protein synthesis. PAV-104 interacts with SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) and interferes with its oligomerization, blocking particle assembly. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that PAV-104 reverses SARS-CoV-2 induction of the type-I interferon response and the maturation of nucleoprotein signaling pathway known to support coronavirus replication. Our findings suggest that PAV-104 is a promising therapeutic candidate for COVID-19 with a mechanism of action that is distinct from existing clinical management approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Du
- Vitalant Research Institute, 360 Spear St., San Francisco, CA, 94105, USA
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Fred Deiter
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Veterans Administration Health Care System, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA
| | - Mohamed S Bouzidi
- Vitalant Research Institute, 360 Spear St., San Francisco, CA, 94105, USA
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | | | - Graham Simmons
- Vitalant Research Institute, 360 Spear St., San Francisco, CA, 94105, USA
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Prerna Dabral
- Vitalant Research Institute, 360 Spear St., San Francisco, CA, 94105, USA
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | | | | | - Maya Michon
- Prosetta Biosciences Inc, 670 5th St., San Francisco, CA, 94107, USA
| | - Shao Feng Yu
- Prosetta Biosciences Inc, 670 5th St., San Francisco, CA, 94107, USA
| | - Kumar Paulvannan
- Prosetta Biosciences Inc, 670 5th St., San Francisco, CA, 94107, USA
| | | | | | - Homer Boushey
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - John R Greenland
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Veterans Administration Health Care System, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA
| | - Satish K Pillai
- Vitalant Research Institute, 360 Spear St., San Francisco, CA, 94105, USA.
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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5
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Guo X, Xu H, Seo JE. Application of HepaRG cells for genotoxicity assessment: a review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART C, TOXICOLOGY AND CARCINOGENESIS 2024:1-24. [PMID: 38566478 DOI: 10.1080/26896583.2024.2331956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
There has been growing interest in the use of human-derived metabolically competent cells for genotoxicity testing. The HepaRG cell line is considered one of the most promising cell models because it is TP53-proficient and retains many characteristics of primary human hepatocytes. In recent years, HepaRG cells, cultured in both a traditional two-dimensional (2D) format and as more advanced in-vivo-like 3D spheroids, have been employed in assays that measure different types of genetic toxicity endpoints, including DNA damage, mutations, and chromosomal damage. This review summarizes published studies that have used HepaRG cells for genotoxicity assessment, including cell model evaluation studies and risk assessment for various compounds. Both 2D and 3D HepaRG models can be adapted to several high-throughput genotoxicity assays, generating a large number of data points that facilitate quantitative benchmark concentration modeling. With further validation, HepaRG cells could serve as a unique, human-based new alternative methodology for in vitro genotoxicity testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Guo
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Hannah Xu
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Ji-Eun Seo
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR, USA
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Xu Z, Flensburg C, Bilardi RA, Majewski IJ. Uridine-cytidine kinase 2 potentiates the mutagenic influence of the antiviral β-d-N4-hydroxycytidine. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:12031-12042. [PMID: 37953355 PMCID: PMC10711452 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Molnupiravir (EIDD-2801) is an antiviral that received approval for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection. Treatment of bacteria or cell lines with the active form of molnupiravir, β-d-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC, or EIDD-1931), induces mutations in DNA. Yet these results contrast in vivo genotoxicity studies conducted during registration of the drug. Using a CRISPR screen, we found that inactivating the pyrimidine salvage pathway component uridine-cytidine kinase 2 (Uck2) renders cells more tolerant of NHC. Short-term exposure to NHC increased the mutation rate in a mouse myeloid cell line, with most mutations being T:A to C:G transitions. Inactivating Uck2 impaired the mutagenic activity of NHC, whereas over-expression of Uck2 enhanced mutagenesis. UCK2 is upregulated in many cancers and cell lines. Our results suggest differences in ribonucleoside metabolism contribute to the variable mutagenicity of NHC observed in cancer cell lines and primary tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Xu
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, VIC3052, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Department of Medical Biology, 1G Royal Parade, VIC3052, Australia
| | - Christoffer Flensburg
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, VIC3052, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Department of Medical Biology, 1G Royal Parade, VIC3052, Australia
| | - Rebecca A Bilardi
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, VIC3052, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Department of Medical Biology, 1G Royal Parade, VIC3052, Australia
| | - Ian J Majewski
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, VIC3052, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Department of Medical Biology, 1G Royal Parade, VIC3052, Australia
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7
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Wicaksono IA, Suhandi C, Elamin KM, Wathoni N. Efficacy and safety of casirivimab-imdevimab combination on COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis randomized controlled trial. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22839. [PMID: 38058433 PMCID: PMC10696184 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The advantages and disadvantages of casirivimab-imdevimab for coronavirus disease 2019 are not well understood. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant literature to determine the therapeutic effectiveness and potential side effects of casirivimab-imdevimab in COVID-19 patients. Methods Databases were searched from the time of their commencement until February 28th, 2023. The primary results evaluated were the death rate at 28 days, progression of current clinical symptoms within 28 days, viral load, discharge from hospital, and any adverse events. Also, we contrasted the effects of the casirivimab-imdevimab treatment with placebo or standard of care. The protocol registration for this systematic review and meta-analysis was recorded in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023412835). Results A total of eight studies were included, comprising 19,819 patients, and conducted a qualitative assessment of their risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Casirivimab-imdevimab effectively reduced the mortality rate (OR = 0.62; 95 % CI of 0.40-0.98; p = 0.04; I2 = 30 %) and reduced the progression of clinical symptoms (OR = 0.86; 95 % CI of 0.79-0.93; p = 0.0003; I2 = 57 %). Casirivimab-imdevimab also improved viral load clearance and hospital discharge. Additionally, the trials' findings demonstrated a slight decrease in the likelihood of adverse events occurring with the use of casirivimab-imdevimab. Conclusion Our research suggests that casirivimab-imdevimab may be a valuable, safe, and effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imam Adi Wicaksono
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang 45363, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Cecep Suhandi
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang 45363, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Khaled M. Elamin
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Nasrul Wathoni
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang 45363, West Java, Indonesia
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Zibat A, Zhang X, Dickmanns A, Stegmann KM, Dobbelstein AW, Alachram H, Soliwoda R, Salinas G, Groß U, Görlich D, Kschischo M, Wollnik B, Dobbelstein M. N4-hydroxycytidine, the active compound of Molnupiravir, promotes SARS-CoV-2 mutagenesis and escape from a neutralizing nanobody. iScience 2023; 26:107786. [PMID: 37731621 PMCID: PMC10507161 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC), the active compound of the drug Molnupiravir, is incorporated into SARS-CoV-2 RNA, causing false base pairing. The desired result is an "error catastrophe," but this bears the risk of mutated virus progeny. To address this experimentally, we propagated the initial SARS-CoV-2 strain in the presence of NHC. Deep sequencing revealed numerous NHC-induced mutations and host-cell-adapted virus variants. The presence of the neutralizing nanobody Re5D06 selected for immune escape mutations, in particular p.E484K and p.F490S, which are key mutations of the Beta/Gamma and Omicron-XBB strains, respectively. With NHC treatment, nanobody resistance occurred two passages earlier than without. Thus, within the limitations of this purely in vitro study, we conclude that the combined action of Molnupiravir and a spike-neutralizing antagonist leads to the rapid emergence of escape mutants. We propose caution use and supervision when using Molnupiravir, especially when patients are still at risk of spreading virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Zibat
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Xiaoxiao Zhang
- Department of Mathematics and Technology, University of Applied Sciences Koblenz, 53424 Remagen, Germany
- Department of Informatics, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Antje Dickmanns
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kim M. Stegmann
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Halima Alachram
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rebecca Soliwoda
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gabriela Salinas
- NGS Integrative Genomics Core Unit, Department of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uwe Groß
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dirk Görlich
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maik Kschischo
- Department of Mathematics and Technology, University of Applied Sciences Koblenz, 53424 Remagen, Germany
| | - Bernd Wollnik
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Dobbelstein
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Istifli ES, Okumus N, Sarikurkcu C, Kuhn ER, Netz PA, Tepe AS. Comparative docking and molecular dynamics studies of molnupiravir (EIDD-2801): implications for novel mechanisms of action on influenza and SARS-CoV-2 protein targets. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-13. [PMID: 37811782 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2267696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Molnupiravir (EIDD-2801) (MLN) is an oral antiviral drug for COVID-19 treatment, being integrated into viral RNA through RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Upon ingestion, MLN is transformed into two active metabolites: β-d-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) (EIDD-1931) in the host plasma, and EIDD-1931-triphosphate (MTP) within the host cells. However, recent studies provide increasing evidence of MLN's interactions with off-target proteins beyond the viral genome, suggesting that the complete mechanisms of action of MLN remain unclear. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the molecular interactions of MLN in the form of NHC and MTP with the non-RNA structural components of avian influenza (hemagglutinin, neuraminidase) and SARS-CoV-2 (spike glycoprotein, Mpro, and RdRp) viruses and to elucidate whether these two metabolites possess the ability to form stable complexes with these major viral components. Molecular docking of NHC and MTP was performed using AutoDock 4.2.6 and the obtained protein-drug complexes were submitted to 200-ns molecular dynamics simulations in triplicate with subsequent free energy calculations using GROMACS. Docking scores, molecular dynamics and MM/GBSA results showed that MTP was tightly bound within the active site of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp and remained highly stable throughout the 200-ns simulations. Besides, it was also shown that NHC and MTP formed moderately-to-highly stable molecular complexes with off-target receptors hemagglutinin, neuraminidase and Mpro, but rather weak interactions with spike glycoprotein. Our computational findings suggest that NHC and MTP may directly inhibit these receptors, and propose that additional studies on the off-target effects of MLN, i.e. real-time protein binding assays, should be performed.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erman Salih Istifli
- Faculty of Science and Literature, Department of Biology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey
| | - Nurullah Okumus
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
| | - Cengiz Sarikurkcu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
| | - Eduardo Ramires Kuhn
- Theoretical Chemistry Group, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Paulo A Netz
- Theoretical Chemistry Group, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Arzuhan Sihoglu Tepe
- Department of Pharmacy Services, Kilis 7 Aralik University, Vocational High School of Health Services, Kilis, Turkey
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10
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Dobrovolsky VN, Matsuda T, McKinzie P, Miranda J, Revollo JR. Whole-genome high-fidelity sequencing: A novel approach to detecting and characterization of mutagenicity in vivo. MUTATION RESEARCH. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2023; 891:503691. [PMID: 37770148 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2023.503691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Direct DNA sequencing can be used for characterizing mutagenicity in simple and complex biological models. Recently we described a method of whole-genome sequencing for detecting mutations in simple models of cultured bacteria, mammalian cells, and nematode. In the current proof-of-concept study, we expand and improve our method for evaluating a more complex mammalian biological model in outbred mice. We detail the method by applying it to a small set of animals treated with a mutagen with known mutagenicity profiles, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU), for consistency with the known data. Whole-genome high-fidelity sequencing (HiFi Sequencing) showed frequencies and spectra of background mutations in tissues of untreated mice that were consistent with normal ageing and characterized by spontaneous or enzymatic deamination of 5-methylcytosine. In mice treated with a single 40 mg/kg dose of ENU, the frequency of mutations in the genomic DNA of solid tissues increased up to 7-fold, with the greatest increase observed in the spleen and the smallest increase in the liver. The most common mutations detected in ENU-treated mice were T > A transitions and T > C transversions, consistent with the types of mutations caused by alkylating agents. The data suggest that HiFi Sequencing may be useful for characterizing mutagenicity of novel compounds in various biological models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasily N Dobrovolsky
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson AR, USA.
| | - Tomonari Matsuda
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Kyoto University, Otsu, Shiga, Japan
| | - Page McKinzie
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson AR, USA
| | - Jaime Miranda
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson AR, USA
| | - Javier R Revollo
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson AR, USA
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11
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Miranda JA, Fenner K, McKinzie PB, Dobrovolsky VN, Revollo JR. Unbiased whole genome detection of ultrarare off-target mutations in genome-edited cell populations by HiFi sequencing. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2023; 64:374-381. [PMID: 37488781 DOI: 10.1002/em.22566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
DNA base editors (BEs) composed of a nuclease-deficient Cas9 fused to a DNA-modifying enzyme can achieve on-target mutagenesis without creating double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs). As a result, BEs generate far less DNA damage than traditional nuclease-proficient Cas9 systems, which do rely on the creation of DSBs to achieve on-target mutagenesis. The inability of BEs to create DSBs makes the detection of their undesired off-target effects very difficult. PacBio HiFi sequencing can efficiently detect ultrarare mutations resulting from chemical mutagenesis in whole genomes with a sensitivity ~1 × 10-8 mutations per base pair. In this proof-of-principle study, we evaluated whether this technique could also detect the on- and off-target mutations generated by a cytosine-to-thymine (C>T) BE targeting the LacZ gene in Escherichia coli (E. coli). HiFi sequencing detected on-target mutant allele fractions ranging from ~7% to ~63%, depending on the single-guide RNA (sgRNA) used, while no on-target mutations were detected in controls lacking the BE. The presence of the BE resulted in a ~3-fold increase in mutation frequencies compared to controls lacking the BE, irrespective of the sgRNA used. These increases were mostly composed of C:G>T:A substitutions distributed throughout the genome. Our results demonstrate that HiFi sequencing can efficiently identify on- and off-target mutations in cell populations that have undergone genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime A Miranda
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Kristina Fenner
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Page B McKinzie
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Vasily N Dobrovolsky
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Javier R Revollo
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
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12
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Biancolella M, Colona VL, Luzzatto L, Watt JL, Mattiuz G, Conticello SG, Kaminski N, Mehrian-Shai R, Ko AI, Gonsalves GS, Vasiliou V, Novelli G, Reichardt JKV. COVID-19 annual update: a narrative review. Hum Genomics 2023; 17:68. [PMID: 37488607 PMCID: PMC10367267 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-023-00515-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Three and a half years after the pandemic outbreak, now that WHO has formally declared that the emergency is over, COVID-19 is still a significant global issue. Here, we focus on recent developments in genetic and genomic research on COVID-19, and we give an outlook on state-of-the-art therapeutical approaches, as the pandemic is gradually transitioning to an endemic situation. The sequencing and characterization of rare alleles in different populations has made it possible to identify numerous genes that affect either susceptibility to COVID-19 or the severity of the disease. These findings provide a beginning to new avenues and pan-ethnic therapeutic approaches, as well as to potential genetic screening protocols. The causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, is still in the spotlight, but novel threatening virus could appear anywhere at any time. Therefore, continued vigilance and further research is warranted. We also note emphatically that to prevent future pandemics and other world-wide health crises, it is imperative to capitalize on what we have learnt from COVID-19: specifically, regarding its origins, the world's response, and insufficient preparedness. This requires unprecedented international collaboration and timely data sharing for the coordination of effective response and the rapid implementation of containment measures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vito Luigi Colona
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, School of Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucio Luzzatto
- Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- University of Florence, 50121, Florence, Italy
| | - Jessica Lee Watt
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Smithfield, QLD, 4878, Australia
| | | | - Silvestro G Conticello
- Core Research Laboratory, Istituto per lo Studio, la Prevenzione e la Rete Oncologica (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
- Institute of Clinical Physiology - National Council of Research (IFC-CNR), 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Naftali Kaminski
- Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ruty Mehrian-Shai
- Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Edmond and Lilly Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 2 Sheba Road, 52621, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Albert I Ko
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
- Instituto Gonçalo MonizFundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Gregg S Gonsalves
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Vasilis Vasiliou
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Giuseppe Novelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, School of Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
- IRCCS Neuromed, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, 89557, Reno, NV, USA.
| | - Juergen K V Reichardt
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Smithfield, QLD, 4878, Australia
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13
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Cho E, Swartz CD, Williams A, V Rivas M, Recio L, Witt KL, Schmidt EK, Yaplee J, Smith TH, Van P, Lo FY, Valentine CC, Salk JJ, Marchetti F, Smith-Roe SL, Yauk CL. Error-corrected duplex sequencing enables direct detection and quantification of mutations in human TK6 cells with strong inter-laboratory consistency. MUTATION RESEARCH. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2023; 889:503649. [PMID: 37491114 PMCID: PMC10395007 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2023.503649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Error-corrected duplex sequencing (DS) enables direct quantification of low-frequency mutations and offers tremendous potential for chemical mutagenicity assessment. We investigated the utility of DS to quantify induced mutation frequency (MF) and spectrum in human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells exposed to a prototypical DNA alkylating agent, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU). Furthermore, we explored appropriate experimental parameters for this application, and assessed inter-laboratory reproducibility. In two independent experiments in two laboratories, TK6 cells were exposed to ENU (25-200 µM) and DNA was sequenced 48, 72, and 96 h post-exposure. A DS mutagenicity panel targeting twenty 2.4-kb regions distributed across the genome was used to sample diverse, genome-representative sequence contexts. A significant increase in MF that was unaffected by time was observed in both laboratories. Concentration-response in the MF from the two laboratories was strongly positively correlated (r = 0.97). C:G>T:A, T:A>C:G, T:A>A:T, and T:A>G:C mutations increased in consistent, concentration-dependent manners in both laboratories, with high proportions of C:G>T:A at all time points. The consistent results across the three time points suggest that 48 h may be sufficient for mutation analysis post-exposure. The target sites responded similarly between the two laboratories and revealed a higher average MF in intergenic regions. These results, demonstrating remarkable reproducibility across time and laboratory for both MF and spectrum, support the high value of DS for characterizing chemical mutagenicity in both research and regulatory evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunnara Cho
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Andrew Williams
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Leslie Recio
- Inotiv-RTP, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; Scitovation, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Kristine L Witt
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Phu Van
- TwinStrand Biosciences, Inc., Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Fang Yin Lo
- TwinStrand Biosciences, Inc., Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Francesco Marchetti
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Stephanie L Smith-Roe
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Carole L Yauk
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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14
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Draft Genome Sequences of 14 Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Escherichia coli Isolates from Imported Shrimp. Microbiol Resour Announc 2023; 12:e0111622. [PMID: 36856408 PMCID: PMC10112127 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01116-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We report the draft genome sequences of 14 fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli strains that were isolated from imported shrimp. All isolates contained multiple point mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) and non-QRDRs of gyrA, parC, and parE genes. The data improve the understanding of fluoroquinolone resistance and indicate resistance mechanisms.
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15
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Molnupiravir: From Hope to Epic Fail? Viruses 2022; 14:v14112560. [PMID: 36423169 PMCID: PMC9694535 DOI: 10.3390/v14112560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Molnupiravir has been the first oral antiviral authorized for COVID-19 outpatients, reporting extraordinary sales and preserved in vitro efficacy against Omicron sublineages so far. However, it has recently been associated with very poor clinical efficacy, the risk of creating novel SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, and long-term risk for mutagenicity in humans. The latter two are severe concerns, especially in the indicated population, i.e., long-replicating, immunodeficient patients. We conclude that, at this point, alternative antivirals should be preferred over molnupiravir.
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