1
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Pacetti M, Pismataro MC, Felicetti T, Giammarino F, Bonomini A, Tiecco M, Bertagnin C, Barreca ML, Germani R, Cecchetti V, Vicenti I, Tabarrini O, Zazzi M, Loregian A, Massari S. Switching the three-component Biginelli-like reaction conditions for the regioselective synthesis of new 2-amino[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5- a]pyrimidines. Org Biomol Chem 2024; 22:767-783. [PMID: 38167738 DOI: 10.1039/d3ob01861j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Among the eight different triazolopyrimidine isomers existing in nature, 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (TZP) is one of the most studied and used isomers in medicinal chemistry. For some years, our group has been involved in developing regioselective one-pot procedures for the synthesis of 2-amino-7-aryl-5-methyl- and 2-amino-5-aryl-7-methyl-TZPs of interest in the preparation of antiviral agents. In this work, taking advantage of a Biginelli-like multicomponent reaction (MCR), we report the identification of finely tunable conditions to regioselectively synthesize C-6 ester-substituted amino-TZP analogues, both in dihydro and oxidized forms. Indeed, the use of mild acidic conditions is strongly directed toward the regioselective synthesis of 5-aryl-7-methyl C-6-substituted TZP analogues, while the use of neutral ionic liquids shifted the regioselectivity towards 7-aryl-5-methyl derivatives. In addition, the novel synthesized scaffolds were functionalized at the C-2 position and evaluated for their antiviral activity against RNA viruses (influenza virus, flaviviruses, and SARS-CoV-2). Compounds 25 and 26 emerged as promising anti-flavivirus agents, showing activity in the low micromolar range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Pacetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | | | - Tommaso Felicetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Federica Giammarino
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Bonomini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Matteo Tiecco
- Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Chiara Bertagnin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | | | - Raimondo Germani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Violetta Cecchetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Vicenti
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Oriana Tabarrini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Zazzi
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Serena Massari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
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2
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Chen H, Lye MF, Gorgulla C, Ficarro SB, Cuny GD, Scott DA, Wu F, Rothlauf PW, Wang X, Fernandez R, Pesola JM, Draga S, Marto JA, Hogle JM, Arthanari H, Coen DM. A small molecule exerts selective antiviral activity by targeting the human cytomegalovirus nuclear egress complex. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011781. [PMID: 37976321 PMCID: PMC10691697 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011781] [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: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an important pathogen for which new antiviral drugs are needed. HCMV, like other herpesviruses, encodes a nuclear egress complex (NEC) composed of two subunits, UL50 and UL53, whose interaction is crucial for viral replication. To explore whether small molecules can exert selective antiviral activity by inhibiting NEC subunit interactions, we established a homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay of these interactions and used it to screen >200,000 compound-containing wells. Two compounds, designated GK1 and GK2, which selectively inhibited this interaction in the HTRF assay with GK1 also active in a co-immunoprecipitation assay, exhibited more potent anti-HCMV activity than cytotoxicity or activity against another herpesvirus. At doses that substantially reduced HCMV plaque formation, GK1 and GK2 had little or no effect on the expression of viral proteins and reduced the co-localization of UL53 with UL50 at the nuclear rim in a subset of cells. GK1 and GK2 contain an acrylamide moiety predicted to covalently interact with cysteines, and an analog without this potential lacked activity. Mass spectrometric analysis showed binding of GK2 to multiple cysteines on UL50 and UL53. Nevertheless, substitution of cysteine 214 of UL53 with serine (C214S) ablated detectable inhibitory activity of GK1 and GK2 in vitro, and the C214S substitution engineered into HCMV conferred resistance to GK1, the more potent of the two inhibitors. Thus, GK1 exerts selective antiviral activity by targeting the NEC. Docking studies suggest that the acrylamide tethers one end of GK1 or GK2 to C214 within a pocket of UL53, permitting the other end of the molecule to sterically hinder UL50 to prevent NEC formation. Our results prove the concept that targeting the NEC with small molecules can selectively block HCMV replication. Such compounds could serve as a foundation for development of anti-HCMV drugs and as chemical tools for studying HCMV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Chen
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ming F. Lye
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Christoph Gorgulla
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis Tennessee United States of America
| | - Scott B. Ficarro
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Gregory D. Cuny
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - David A. Scott
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Medicinal Chemistry Core, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Fan Wu
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Paul W. Rothlauf
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Xiaoou Wang
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rosio Fernandez
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jean M. Pesola
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sorin Draga
- Virtual Discovery, Inc. Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts United States of America
- Non-Governmental Research Organization Biologic, Bucharest Romania
| | - Jarrod A. Marto
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - James M. Hogle
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Haribabu Arthanari
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Donald M. Coen
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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3
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Almehmadi M, Haq IU, Alsaiari AA, Alshabrmi FM, Abdulaziz O, Allahyani M, Aladhadh M, Shafie A, Aljuaid A, Alotaibi RT, Ullah J, Alharthi NS. Identification of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Human Cytomegalovirus pUL89 Endonuclease Using Integrated Computational Approaches. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28093938. [PMID: 37175348 PMCID: PMC10180037 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28093938] [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: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Replication of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) requires the presence of a metal-dependent endonuclease at the C-terminus of pUL89, in order to properly pack and cleave the viral genome. Therefore, pUL89 is an attractive target to design anti-CMV intervention. Herein, we used integrated structure-based and ligand-based virtual screening approaches in combination with MD simulation for the identification of potential metal binding small molecule antagonist of pUL89. In this regard, the essential chemical features needed for the inhibition of pUL89 endonuclease domain were defined and used as a 3D query to search chemical compounds from ZINC and ChEMBL database. Thereafter, the molecular docking and ligand-based shape screening were used to narrow down the compounds based on previously identified pUL89 antagonists. The selected virtual hits were further subjected to MD simulation to determine the intrinsic and ligand-induced flexibility of pUL89. The predicted binding modes showed that the compounds reside well in the binding site of endonuclease domain by chelating with the metal ions and crucial residues. Taken in concert, the in silico investigation led to the identification of potential pUL89 antagonists. This study provided promising starting point for further in vitro and in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mazen Almehmadi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ihtisham Ul Haq
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, M. Strzody 9, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Joint Doctoral School, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Ahad Amer Alsaiari
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad M Alshabrmi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Osama Abdulaziz
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mamdouh Allahyani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Aladhadh
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alaa Shafie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulelah Aljuaid
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rema Turki Alotaibi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jawad Ullah
- Department of Chemistry, Hazara University, Mansehra 21120, Pakistan
| | - Nada Saud Alharthi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
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4
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Strang BL. Toward inhibition of human cytomegalovirus replication with compounds targeting cellular proteins. J Gen Virol 2022; 103. [PMID: 36215160 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Antiviral therapy for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) currently relies upon direct-acting antiviral drugs. However, it is now well known that these drugs have shortcomings, which limit their use. Here I review the identification and investigation of compounds targeting cellular proteins that have anti-HCMV activity and could supersede those anti-HCMV drugs currently in use. This includes discussion of drug repurposing, for example the use of artemisinin compounds, and discussion of new directions to identify compounds that target cellular factors in HCMV-infected cells, for example screening of kinase inhibitors. In addition, I highlight developing areas such as the use of machine learning and emphasize how interaction with fields outside virology will be critical for development of anti-HCMV compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blair L Strang
- Institute for Infection & Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
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5
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Zhang C, Tang YS, Meng CR, Xu J, Zhang DL, Wang J, Huang EF, Shaw PC, Hu C. Design, Synthesis, Molecular Docking Analysis and Biological Evaluations of 4-[(Quinolin-4-yl)amino]benzamide Derivatives as Novel Anti-Influenza Virus Agents. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116307. [PMID: 35682986 PMCID: PMC9181126 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, a series of 4-[(quinolin-4-yl)amino]benzamide derivatives as the novel anti-influenza agents were designed and synthesized. Cytotoxicity assay, cytopathic effect assay and plaque inhibition assay were performed to evaluate the anti-influenza virus A/WSN/33 (H1N1) activity of the target compounds. The target compound G07 demonstrated significant anti-influenza virus A/WSN/33 (H1N1) activity both in cytopathic effect assay (EC50 = 11.38 ± 1.89 µM) and plaque inhibition assay (IC50 = 0.23 ± 0.15 µM). G07 also exhibited significant anti-influenza virus activities against other three different influenza virus strains A/PR/8 (H1N1), A/HK/68 (H3N2) and influenza B virus. According to the result of ribonucleoprotein reconstitution assay, G07 could interact well with ribonucleoprotein with an inhibition rate of 80.65% at 100 µM. Furthermore, G07 exhibited significant activity target PA−PB1 subunit of RNA polymerase according to the PA−PB1 inhibitory activity prediction by the best pharmacophore Hypo1. In addition, G07 was well drug-likeness based on the results of Lipinski’s rule and ADMET prediction. All the results proved that 4-[(quinolin-4-yl)amino]benzamide derivatives could generate potential candidates in discovery of anti-influenza virus agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (C.Z.); (C.-R.M.); (J.X.); (D.-L.Z.); (J.W.); (E.-F.H.)
| | - Yun-Sang Tang
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong 999077, China;
| | - Chu-Ren Meng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (C.Z.); (C.-R.M.); (J.X.); (D.-L.Z.); (J.W.); (E.-F.H.)
| | - Jing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (C.Z.); (C.-R.M.); (J.X.); (D.-L.Z.); (J.W.); (E.-F.H.)
| | - De-Liang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (C.Z.); (C.-R.M.); (J.X.); (D.-L.Z.); (J.W.); (E.-F.H.)
| | - Jian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (C.Z.); (C.-R.M.); (J.X.); (D.-L.Z.); (J.W.); (E.-F.H.)
| | - Er-Fang Huang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (C.Z.); (C.-R.M.); (J.X.); (D.-L.Z.); (J.W.); (E.-F.H.)
| | - Pang-Chui Shaw
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong 999077, China;
- Correspondence: (P.-C.S.); (C.H.); Tel.: +86-24-43520246 (C.H.)
| | - Chun Hu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (C.Z.); (C.-R.M.); (J.X.); (D.-L.Z.); (J.W.); (E.-F.H.)
- Correspondence: (P.-C.S.); (C.H.); Tel.: +86-24-43520246 (C.H.)
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6
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Desantis J, Mercorelli B, Celegato M, Croci F, Bazzacco A, Baroni M, Siragusa L, Cruciani G, Loregian A, Goracci L. Indomethacin-based PROTACs as pan-coronavirus antiviral agents. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 226:113814. [PMID: 34534839 PMCID: PMC8416298 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Indomethacin (INM), a well-known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, has recently gained attention for its antiviral activity demonstrated in drug repurposing studies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although the mechanism of action of INM is not yet fully understood, recent studies have indicated that it acts at an early stage of the coronaviruses (CoVs) replication cycle. In addition, a proteomic study reported that the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of INM could be also ascribed to its ability to inhibit human prostaglandin E synthase type 2 (PGES-2), a host protein which interacts with the SARS-CoV-2 NSP7 protein. Although INM does not potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in infected Vero E6 cells, here we have explored for the first time the application of the Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) technology in order to develop more potent INM-derived PROTACs with anti-CoV activity. In this study, we report the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of INM-based PROTACs endowed with antiviral activity against a panel of human CoVs, including different SARS-CoV-2 strains. Two PROTACs showed a strong improvement in antiviral potency compared to INM. Molecular modelling studies support human PGES-2 as a potential target of INM-based antiviral PROTACs, thus paving the way toward the development of host-directed anti-CoVs strategies. To the best of our knowledge, these PROTACs represent the first-in-class INM-based PROTACs with antiviral activity and also the first example of the application of PROTACs to develop pan-coronavirus agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Desantis
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Marta Celegato
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Federico Croci
- Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Baroni
- Molecular Discovery Ltd., Centennial Park, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gabriele Cruciani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Italy
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
| | - Laura Goracci
- Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Italy.
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7
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Falci Finardi N, Kim H, Hernandez LZ, Russell MRG, Ho CMK, Sreenu VB, Wenham HA, Merritt A, Strang BL. Identification and characterization of bisbenzimide compounds that inhibit human cytomegalovirus replication. J Gen Virol 2021; 102. [PMID: 34882533 PMCID: PMC8744270 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The shortcomings of current anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) drugs has stimulated a search for anti-HCMV compounds with novel targets. We screened collections of bioactive compounds and identified a range of compounds with the potential to inhibit HCMV replication. Of these compounds, we selected bisbenzimide compound RO-90-7501 for further study. We generated analogues of RO-90-7501 and found that one compound, MRT00210423, had increased anti-HCMV activity compared to RO-90-7501. Using a combination of compound analogues, microscopy and biochemical assays we found RO-90-7501 and MRT00210423 interacted with DNA. In single molecule microscopy experiments we found RO-90-7501, but not MRT00210423, was able to compact DNA, suggesting that compaction of DNA was non-obligatory for anti-HCMV effects. Using bioinformatics analysis, we found that there were many putative bisbenzimide binding sites in the HCMV DNA genome. However, using western blotting, quantitative PCR and electron microscopy, we found that at a concentration able to inhibit HCMV replication our compounds had little or no effect on production of certain HCMV proteins or DNA synthesis, but did have a notable inhibitory effect on HCMV capsid production. We reasoned that these effects may have involved binding of our compounds to the HCMV genome and/or host cell chromatin. Therefore, our data expand our understanding of compounds with anti-HCMV activity and suggest targeting of DNA with bisbenzimide compounds may be a useful anti-HCMV strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Falci Finardi
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - HyeongJun Kim
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA.,Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA
| | - Lee Z Hernandez
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA.,Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA.,Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | | | - Catherine M-K Ho
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Vattipally B Sreenu
- MRC - University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Hannah A Wenham
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Andy Merritt
- Centre for Therapeutic Discovery, LifeArc, Stevenage, UK
| | - Blair L Strang
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK.,Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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8
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Abstract
Herpesviruses comprise a family of DNA viruses that cause a variety of human and veterinary diseases. During productive infection, mammalian, avian, and reptilian herpesviruses replicate their genomes using a set of conserved viral proteins that include a two subunit DNA polymerase. This enzyme is both a model system for family B DNA polymerases and a target for inhibition by antiviral drugs. This chapter reviews the structure, function, and mechanisms of the polymerase of herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV), with only occasional mention of polymerases of other herpesviruses such as human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Antiviral polymerase inhibitors have had the most success against HSV and HCMV. Detailed structural information regarding HSV DNA polymerase is available, as is much functional information regarding the activities of the catalytic subunit (Pol), which include a DNA polymerization activity that can utilize both DNA and RNA primers, a 3'-5' exonuclease activity, and other activities in DNA synthesis and repair and in pathogenesis, including some remaining to be biochemically defined. Similarly, much is known regarding the accessory subunit, which both resembles and differs from sliding clamp processivity factors such as PCNA, and the interactions of this subunit with Pol and DNA. Both subunits contribute to replication fidelity (or lack thereof). The availability of both pharmacologic and genetic tools not only enabled the initial identification of Pol and the pol gene, but has also helped dissect their functions. Nevertheless, important questions remain for this long-studied enzyme, which is still an attractive target for new drug discovery.
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9
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Dong H, Wang Z, Zhao D, Leng X, Zhao Y. Antiviral strategies targeting herpesviruses. J Virus Erad 2021; 7:100047. [PMID: 34141443 PMCID: PMC8187247 DOI: 10.1016/j.jve.2021.100047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpesviruses, known as large DNA viruses, have a wide host range. In addition to human beings, cattle, and horses, even carp can be hosts for herpesvirus infection. Herpesviruses are pathogens possessing elaborate mechanisms that regulate host cell components for its replication, assembly and generating mature virus particles that can infect humans and most animals, usually causing multiple and lifelong infections. In addition, several human diseases, such as genital or mouth herpes, mononucleosis, and Burkitt lymphoma, are usually associated with herpesvirus infection. Blocking the steps of viral infection, such as entry, replication and assembly, may be an effective way for many different herpes viruses and their related diseases. Therefore, we aim to describe antiviral agents that are able to prevent herpesvirus entry, replication and assembly in host cells. We summarize antiviral strategies, including certain small molecular drugs, RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9 system-based antiviral approaches, which represent promising approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haisi Dong
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Zeyu Wang
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Daqing Zhao
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Xiangyang Leng
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Yicheng Zhao
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
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10
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Ghassabian H, Falchi F, Timmoneri M, Mercorelli B, Loregian A, Palù G, Alvisi G. Divide et impera: An In Silico Screening Targeting HCMV ppUL44 Processivity Factor Homodimerization Identifies Small Molecules Inhibiting Viral Replication. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050941. [PMID: 34065234 PMCID: PMC8160850 DOI: 10.3390/v13050941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a leading cause of severe diseases in immunocompromised individuals, including AIDS patients and transplant recipients, and in congenitally infected newborns. The utility of available drugs is limited by poor bioavailability, toxicity, and emergence of resistant strains. Therefore, it is crucial to identify new targets for therapeutic intervention. Among the latter, viral protein–protein interactions are becoming increasingly attractive. Since dimerization of HCMV DNA polymerase processivity factor ppUL44 plays an essential role in the viral life cycle, being required for oriLyt-dependent DNA replication, it can be considered a potential therapeutic target. We therefore performed an in silico screening and selected 18 small molecules (SMs) potentially interfering with ppUL44 homodimerization. Antiviral assays using recombinant HCMV TB4-UL83-YFP in the presence of the selected SMs led to the identification of four active compounds. The most active one, B3, also efficiently inhibited HCMV AD169 strain in plaque reduction assays and impaired replication of an AD169-GFP reporter virus and its ganciclovir-resistant counterpart to a similar extent. As assessed by Western blotting experiments, B3 specifically reduced viral gene expression starting from 48 h post infection, consistent with the inhibition of viral DNA synthesis measured by qPCR starting from 72 h post infection. Therefore, our data suggest that inhibition of ppUL44 dimerization could represent a new class of HCMV inhibitors, complementary to those targeting the DNA polymerase catalytic subunit or the viral terminase complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanieh Ghassabian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (H.G.); (M.T.); (B.M.); (A.L.); (G.P.)
| | | | - Martina Timmoneri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (H.G.); (M.T.); (B.M.); (A.L.); (G.P.)
| | - Beatrice Mercorelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (H.G.); (M.T.); (B.M.); (A.L.); (G.P.)
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (H.G.); (M.T.); (B.M.); (A.L.); (G.P.)
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (H.G.); (M.T.); (B.M.); (A.L.); (G.P.)
| | - Gualtiero Alvisi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (H.G.); (M.T.); (B.M.); (A.L.); (G.P.)
- Correspondence:
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11
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Di Antonio V, Palù G, Alvisi G. Live-Cell Analysis of Human Cytomegalovirus DNA Polymerase Holoenzyme Assembly by Resonance Energy Transfer Methods. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9050928. [PMID: 33925913 PMCID: PMC8146696 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9050928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) genome replication is a complex and still not completely understood process mediated by the highly coordinated interaction of host and viral products. Among the latter, six different proteins form the viral replication complex: a single-stranded DNA binding protein, a trimeric primase/helicase complex and a two subunit DNA polymerase holoenzyme, which in turn contains a catalytic subunit, pUL54, and a dimeric processivity factor ppUL44. Being absolutely required for viral replication and representing potential therapeutic targets, both the ppUL44-pUL54 interaction and ppUL44 homodimerization have been largely characterized from structural, functional and biochemical points of view. We applied fluorescence and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (FRET and BRET) assays to investigate such processes in living cells. Both interactions occur with similar affinities and can take place both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm. Importantly, single amino acid substitutions in different ppUL44 domains selectively affect its dimerization or ability to interact with pUL54. Intriguingly, substitutions preventing DNA binding of ppUL44 influence the BRETmax of protein-protein interactions, implying that binding to dsDNA induces conformational changes both in the ppUL44 homodimer and in the DNA polymerase holoenzyme. We also compared transiently and stably ppUL44-expressing cells in BRET inhibition assays. Transient expression of the BRET donor allowed inhibition of both ppUL44 dimerization and formation of the DNA polymerase holoenzyme, upon overexpression of FLAG-tagged ppUL44 as a competitor. Our approach could be useful both to monitor the dynamics of assembly of the HCMV DNA polymerase holoenzyme and for antiviral drug discovery.
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12
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Pismataro MC, Felicetti T, Bertagnin C, Nizi MG, Bonomini A, Barreca ML, Cecchetti V, Jochmans D, De Jonghe S, Neyts J, Loregian A, Tabarrini O, Massari S. 1,2,4-Triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines: Efficient one-step synthesis and functionalization as influenza polymerase PA-PB1 interaction disruptors. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 221:113494. [PMID: 33962311 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In the search for new anti-influenza virus (IV) compounds, we have identified the 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (TZP) as a very suitable scaffold to obtain compounds able to disrupt IV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) PA-PB1 subunits heterodimerization. In this work, in order to acquire further SAR insights for this class of compounds and identify more potent derivatives, we designed and synthesized additional series of analogues to investigate the role of the substituents around the TZP core. To this aim, we developed four facile and efficient one-step procedures for the synthesis of 5-phenyl-, 6-phenyl- and 7-phenyl-2-amino-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines, and 2-amino-5-phenyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ol. Two analogues having the ethyl carboxylate moiety at the C-2 position of the TZP were also prepared in good yields. Then, the scaffolds herein synthesized and two previous scaffolds were functionalized and evaluated for their anti-IAV activity, leading to the identification of compound 22 that showed both anti-PA-PB1 (IC50 = 19.5 μM) and anti-IAV activity (EC50 = 16 μM) at non-toxic concentrations, thus resulting among the most active TZP derivatives reported to date by us. A selection of the synthesized compounds, along with a set of in-house available analogues, was also tested against SARS-CoV-2. The most promising compound 49 from this series displayed an EC50 value of 34.47 μM, highlighting the potential of the TPZ scaffold in the search for anti-CoV agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Chiara Pismataro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via Del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Tommaso Felicetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via Del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Chiara Bertagnin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via Gabelli 63, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Giulia Nizi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via Del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Anna Bonomini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via Gabelli 63, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Letizia Barreca
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via Del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Violetta Cecchetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via Del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Dirk Jochmans
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Herestraat 49, Box 1043, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steven De Jonghe
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Herestraat 49, Box 1043, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Neyts
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Herestraat 49, Box 1043, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via Gabelli 63, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Oriana Tabarrini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via Del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Serena Massari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via Del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy.
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13
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Mercorelli B, Celegato M, Luganini A, Gribaudo G, Lepesheva GI, Loregian A. The antifungal drug isavuconazole inhibits the replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and acts synergistically with anti-HCMV drugs. Antiviral Res 2021; 189:105062. [PMID: 33722615 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2021.105062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We recently reported that some clinically approved antifungal drugs are potent inhibitors of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Here, we report the broad-spectrum activity against HCMV of isavuconazole (ICZ), a new extended-spectrum triazolic antifungal drug. ICZ inhibited the replication of clinical isolates of HCMV as well as strains resistant to the currently available DNA polymerase inhibitors. The antiviral activity of ICZ against HCMV could be linked to the inhibition of human cytochrome P450 51 (hCYP51), an enzyme whose activity we previously demonstrated to be required for productive HCMV infection. Moreover, time-of-addition studies indicated that ICZ might have additional inhibitory effects during the first phase of HCMV replication. Importantly, ICZ showed synergistic antiviral activity in vitro when administered in combination with different approved anti-HCMV drugs at clinically relevant doses. Together, these results pave the way to possible future clinical studies aimed at evaluating the repurposing potential of ICZ in the treatment of HCMV-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Celegato
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Anna Luganini
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, 10123, Turin, Italy
| | - Giorgio Gribaudo
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, 10123, Turin, Italy
| | - Galina I Lepesheva
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
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14
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Massari S, Bertagnin C, Pismataro MC, Donnadio A, Nannetti G, Felicetti T, Di Bona S, Nizi MG, Tensi L, Manfroni G, Loza MI, Sabatini S, Cecchetti V, Brea J, Goracci L, Loregian A, Tabarrini O. Synthesis and characterization of 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-2-carboxamide-based compounds targeting the PA-PB1 interface of influenza A virus polymerase. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 209:112944. [PMID: 33328103 PMCID: PMC7561591 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Influenza viruses (Flu) are responsible for seasonal epidemics causing high rates of morbidity, which can dramatically increase during severe pandemic outbreaks. Antiviral drugs are an indispensable weapon to treat infected people and reduce the impact on human health, nevertheless anti-Flu armamentarium still remains inadequate. In search for new anti-Flu drugs, our group has focused on viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) developing disruptors of PA-PB1 subunits interface with the best compounds characterized by cycloheptathiophene-3-carboxamide and 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-2-carboxamide scaffolds. By merging these moieties, two very interesting hybrid compounds were recently identified, starting from which, in this paper, a series of analogues were designed and synthesized. In particular, a thorough exploration of the cycloheptathiophene-3-carboxamide moiety led to acquire important SAR insight and identify new active compounds showing both the ability to inhibit PA-PB1 interaction and viral replication in the micromolar range and at non-toxic concentrations. For few compounds, the ability to efficiently inhibit PA-PB1 subunits interaction did not translate into anti-Flu activity. Chemical/physical properties were investigated for a couple of compounds suggesting that the low solubility of compound 14, due to a strong crystal lattice, may have impaired its antiviral activity. Finally, computational studies performed on compound 23, in which the phenyl ring suitably replaced the cycloheptathiophene, suggested that, in addition to hydrophobic interactions, H-bonds enhanced its binding within the PAC cavity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Massari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Chiara Bertagnin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Anna Donnadio
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giulio Nannetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Tommaso Felicetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Bona
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maria Giulia Nizi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Leonardo Tensi
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Manfroni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maria Isabel Loza
- CIMUS Research Center, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Stefano Sabatini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Violetta Cecchetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Jose Brea
- CIMUS Research Center, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Laura Goracci
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Oriana Tabarrini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, Italy
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15
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The Clinically Approved Antifungal Drug Posaconazole Inhibits Human Cytomegalovirus Replication. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.00056-20. [PMID: 32690644 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00056-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Posaconazole (PCZ) is a clinically approved drug used predominantly for prophylaxis and salvage therapy of fungal infections. Here, we report its previously undescribed anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) activity. By using antiviral assays, we demonstrated that PCZ, along with other azolic antifungals, has a broad anti-HCMV activity, being active against different strains, including low-passage-number clinical isolates and strains resistant to viral DNA polymerase inhibitors. Using a pharmacological approach, we identified the inhibition of human cytochrome P450 51 (hCYP51), or lanosterol 14α demethylase, a cellular target of posaconazole in infected cells, as a mechanism of anti-HCMV activity of the drug. Indeed, hCYP51 expression was stimulated upon HCMV infection, and the inhibition of its enzymatic activity by either the lanosterol analog VFV {(R)-N-(1-(3,4'-difluoro-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethyl)-4-(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamide} or PCZ decreased HCMV yield and infectivity of released virus particles. Importantly, we observed that the activity of the first-line anti-HCMV drug ganciclovir was boosted tenfold by PCZ and that ganciclovir (GCV) and PCZ act synergistically in inhibiting HCMV replication. Taken together, these findings suggest that this clinically approved drug deserves further investigation in the development of host-directed antiviral strategies as a candidate anti-HCMV drug with a dual antimicrobial effect.
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16
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Celegato M, Messa L, Goracci L, Mercorelli B, Bertagnin C, Spyrakis F, Suarez I, Cousido-Siah A, Travé G, Banks L, Cruciani G, Palù G, Loregian A. A novel small-molecule inhibitor of the human papillomavirus E6-p53 interaction that reactivates p53 function and blocks cancer cells growth. Cancer Lett 2019; 470:115-125. [PMID: 31693922 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.10.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite prophylactic vaccination campaigns, human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cancers still represent a major medical issue for global population, thus specific anti-HPV drugs are needed. Since the ability of HPV E6 oncoprotein to promote p53 degradation is linked to tumor progression, E6 has been proposed as an ideal target for cancer treatment. Using the crystal structure of the E6/E6AP/p53 complex, we performed an in silico screening of small-molecule libraries against a highly conserved alpha-helix in the N-terminal domain of E6 involved in the E6-p53 interaction. We discovered a compound able to inhibit the E6-mediated degradation of p53 through disruption of E6-p53 binding both in vitro and in cells. This compound could restore p53 intracellular levels and transcriptional activity, reduce the viability and proliferation of HPV-positive cancer cells, and block 3D cervospheres formation. Mechanistic studies revealed that the compound anti-tumor activity mainly relies on induction of cell cycle arrest and senescence. Our data demonstrate that the disruption of the direct E6-p53 interaction can be obtained with a small-molecule compound leading to specific antitumoral activity in HPV-positive cancer cells and thus represents a new approach for anti-HPV drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Celegato
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Messa
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Goracci
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Consortium for Computational Molecular and Materials Sciences, Perugia, Italy.
| | | | - Chiara Bertagnin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Spyrakis
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Irina Suarez
- Équipe Labellisée Ligue 2015, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Alexandra Cousido-Siah
- Équipe Labellisée Ligue 2015, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Gilles Travé
- Équipe Labellisée Ligue 2015, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Lawrence Banks
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
| | - Gabriele Cruciani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Consortium for Computational Molecular and Materials Sciences, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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17
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Nannetti G, Massari S, Mercorelli B, Bertagnin C, Desantis J, Palù G, Tabarrini O, Loregian A. Potent and broad-spectrum cycloheptathiophene-3-carboxamide compounds that target the PA-PB1 interaction of influenza virus RNA polymerase and possess a high barrier to drug resistance. Antiviral Res 2019; 165:55-64. [PMID: 30885750 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Influenza viruses are major respiratory pathogens responsible for both seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics worldwide. The current available treatment options have limited efficacy and thus the development of new antivirals is highly needed. We previously reported the identification of a series of cycloheptathiophene-3-carboxamide compounds as influenza A virus inhibitors that act by targeting the protein-protein interactions between the PA-PB1 subunits of the viral polymerase. In this study, we characterized the antiviral properties of the most promising compounds as well as investigated their propensity to induce drug resistance. Our results show that some of the selected compounds possess potent, broad-spectrum anti-influenza activity as they efficiently inhibited the replication of several strains of influenza A and B viruses, including an oseltamivir-resistant clinical isolate, with nanomolar or low-micromolar potency. The most promising compounds specifically inhibited the PA-PB1 binding in vitro and interfered with the influenza A virus polymerase activity in a cellular context, without showing cytotoxicity. The most active PA-PB1 inhibitors showed to possess a drug resistance barrier higher than that of oseltamivir. Indeed, no viral variants with reduced susceptibility to the selected compounds emerged after serial passages of influenza A virus under drug selective pressure. Overall, our studies identified potent PA-PB1 inhibitors as promising candidates for the development of new anti-influenza drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Nannetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Serena Massari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Bertagnin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Jenny Desantis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Oriana Tabarrini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
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18
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AZT acts as an anti-influenza nucleotide triphosphate targeting the catalytic site of A/PR/8/34/H1N1 RNA dependent RNA polymerase. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2019; 33:387-404. [PMID: 30739239 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-019-00189-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
To develop potent drugs that inhibit the activity of influenza virus RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), a set of compounds favipiravir, T-705, T-1105 and T-1106, ribavirin, ribavirin triphosphate viramidine, 2FdGTP (2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroguanosine triphosphate) and AZT-TP (3'-Azido-3'-deoxy-thymidine-5'-triphosphate) were docked with a homology model of IAV RdRp from the A/PR/8/34/H1N1 strain. These compounds bind to four pockets A-D of the IAV RdRp with different mechanism of action. In addition, AZT-TP also binds to the PB1 catalytic site near to the tip of the priming loop with a highest ΔG of - 16.7 Kcal/mol exhibiting an IC50 of 1.12 µM in an in vitro enzyme transcription assay. This shows that AZT-TP mainly prevents the incorporation of incoming nucleotide involved in initiation of vRNA replication. Conversely, 2FdGTP used as a positive control binds to pocket-B at the end of tunnel-II with a highest ΔG of - 16.3 Kcal/mol inhibiting chain termination with a similar IC50 of 1.12 µM. Overall, our computational results in correlation with experimental studies gives information for the first time about the binding modes of the known influenza antiviral compounds in different models of vRNA replication by IAV RdRp. This in turn gives new structural insights for the development of new therapeutics exhibiting high specificity to the PB1 catalytic site of influenza A viruses.
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19
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Luganini A, Mercorelli B, Messa L, Palù G, Gribaudo G, Loregian A. The isoquinoline alkaloid berberine inhibits human cytomegalovirus replication by interfering with the viral Immediate Early-2 (IE2) protein transactivating activity. Antiviral Res 2019; 164:52-60. [PMID: 30738836 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The identification and validation of new small molecules able to inhibit the replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) remains a priority to develop alternatives to the currently used DNA polymerase inhibitors, which are often burdened by long-term toxicity and emergence of cross-resistance. To contribute to this advancement, here we report on the characterization of the mechanism of action of a bioactive plant-derived alkaloid, berberine (BBR), selected in a previous drug repurposing screen expressly devised to identify early inhibitors of HCMV replication. Low micromolar concentrations of BBR were confirmed to suppress the replication of different HCMV strains, including clinical isolates and strains resistant to approved DNA polymerase inhibitors. Analysis of the HCMV replication cycle in infected cells treated with BBR then revealed that the bioactive compound compromised the progression of virus cycle at a stage prior to viral DNA replication and Early (E) genes expression, but after Immediate-Early (IE) proteins expression. Mechanistic studies in fact highlighted that BBR interferes with the transactivating functions of the viral IE2 protein, thus impairing efficient E gene expression and the progression of HCMV replication cycle. Finally, the mechanism of the antiviral activity of BBR appears to be conserved among different CMVs, since BBR suppressed murine CMV (MCMV) replication and inhibited the transactivation of the prototypic MCMV E1 gene by the IE3 protein, the murine homolog of IE2. Together, these observations warrant for further experimentation to obtain proof of concept that BBR could represent an attractive candidate for alternative anti-HCMV therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Luganini
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, 10123, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Messa
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Giorgio Gribaudo
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, 10123, Turin, Italy.
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121, Padua, Italy.
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20
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Synthesis and biological evaluation of a library of hybrid derivatives as inhibitors of influenza virus PA-PB1 interaction. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 157:743-758. [PMID: 30142611 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The limited treatment options against influenza virus along with the growing public health concerns regarding the continuous emergence of drug-resistant viruses make essential the development of new anti-flu agents with novel mechanisms of action. One of the most attractive targets is the interaction between two subunits of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, PA and PB1. Herein we report the rational design of hybrid compounds starting from a 3-cyano-4,6-diphenylpyridine scaffold recently identified as disruptor of PA-PB1 interactions. Guided by the previously reported SAR data, a library of amino acid derivatives was synthesized. The biological evaluation led to the identification of new PA-PB1 inhibitors, that do not show appreciable toxicity. Molecular modeling shed further lights on the inhibition mechanism of these compounds.
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21
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A quantitative LumiFluo assay to test inhibitory compounds blocking p53 degradation induced by human papillomavirus oncoprotein E6 in living cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6020. [PMID: 29662081 PMCID: PMC5902497 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24470-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
High-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) are the causative agents for the onset of several epithelial cancers in humans. The deregulated expression of the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 is the driving force sustaining the progression of malignant transformation in pre-neoplastic lesions. Targeting the viral E6 oncoprotein through inhibitory compounds can counteract the survival of cancer cells due to the reactivation of p53-mediated pathways and represents an intriguing strategy to treat HPV-associated neoplasias. Here, we describe the development of a quantitative and easy-to-perform assay to monitor the E6-mediated degradation of p53 in living cells to be used for small-molecule testing. This assay allows to unbiasedly determine whether a compound can protect p53 from the E6-mediated degradation in cells, through a simple 3-step protocol. We validated the assay by testing two small molecules, SAHA and RITA, reported to impair the E6-mediated p53 degradation. Interestingly, we observed that only SAHA efficiently rescued p53, while RITA could not provide the same degree of protection. The possibility to specifically and quantitatively monitor the ability of a selected compound to rescue p53 in a cellular context through our LumiFluo assay could represent an important step towards the successful development of anti-HPV drugs.
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22
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Schiavone S, Trabace L. Small Molecules: Therapeutic Application in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23020411. [PMID: 29438357 PMCID: PMC6017408 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23020411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, an increasing number of studies have been published, focusing on the potential therapeutic use of small catalytic agents with strong biological properties. So far, most of these works have only regarded specific clinical fields, such as oncology, infectivology and general pathology, in particular with respect to the treatment of significant inflammatory processes. However, interesting data on possible therapeutic applications of small molecules for the treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative illnesses are emerging, especially with respect to the possibility to modulate the cellular redox state. Indeed, a crucial role of redox dysregulation in the pathogenesis of these disorders has been widely demonstrated by both pre-clinical and clinical studies, being the reduction of the total amount of free radicals a promising novel therapeutic approach for these diseases. In this review, we focused our interest on studies published during the last ten years reporting therapeutic potential of small molecules for the treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, also based on the biological efficiency of these compounds in detecting intracellular disturbances induced by increased production of reactive oxygen species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Schiavone
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Via Napoli, 20, 71122 Foggia, Italy.
| | - Luigia Trabace
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Via Napoli, 20, 71122 Foggia, Italy.
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23
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Mercorelli B, Luganini A, Celegato M, Palù G, Gribaudo G, Loregian A. Repurposing the clinically approved calcium antagonist manidipine dihydrochloride as a new early inhibitor of human cytomegalovirus targeting the Immediate-Early 2 (IE2) protein. Antiviral Res 2018; 150:130-136. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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24
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Strang BL. RO0504985 is an inhibitor of CMGC kinase proteins and has anti-human cytomegalovirus activity. Antiviral Res 2017; 144:21-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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25
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Desantis J, Nannetti G, Massari S, Barreca ML, Manfroni G, Cecchetti V, Palù G, Goracci L, Loregian A, Tabarrini O. Exploring the cycloheptathiophene-3-carboxamide scaffold to disrupt the interactions of the influenza polymerase subunits and obtain potent anti-influenza activity. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 138:128-139. [PMID: 28666191 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
With the aim to identify small molecules able to disrupt PA-PB1 subunits interaction of influenza virus (flu) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and based on previous structural and computational information, in this paper we have designed and synthesized a new series of cycloheptathiophene-3-carboxamide (cHTC) derivatives. Their biological evaluation led to highlight important structural insights along with new interesting compounds, such as the 2-hydroxybenzamido derivatives 29, 31, and 32, and the 4-aminophenyl derivative 54, which inhibited viral growth in the low micromolar range (EC50 = 0.18-1.2 μM) at no toxic concentrations (CC50 > 250 μM). This study permitted to obtain among the most potent anti-flu compounds within the PA-PB1 interaction inhibitors, confirming the cHTC scaffold as particularly suitable to achieve innovative anti-flu agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Desantis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giulio Nannetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Serena Massari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Manfroni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Violetta Cecchetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Laura Goracci
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy.
| | - Oriana Tabarrini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
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26
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Khan AS, Murray MJ, Ho CMK, Zuercher WJ, Reeves MB, Strang BL. High-throughput screening of a GlaxoSmithKline protein kinase inhibitor set identifies an inhibitor of human cytomegalovirus replication that prevents CREB and histone H3 post-translational modification. J Gen Virol 2017; 98:754-768. [PMID: 28100301 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To identify new compounds with anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) activity and new anti-HCMV targets, we developed a high-throughput strategy to screen a GlaxoSmithKline Published Kinase Inhibitor Set. This collection contains a range of extensively characterized compounds grouped into chemical families (chemotypes). From our screen, we identified compounds within chemotypes that impede HCMV protein production and identified kinase proteins associated with inhibition of HCMV protein production that are potential novel anti-HCMV targets. We focused our study on a top 'hit' in our screen, SB-734117, which we found inhibits productive replication of several HCMV strains. Kinase selectivity data indicated that SB-734117 exhibited polypharmacology and was an inhibitor of several proteins from the AGC and CMCG kinase groups. Using Western blotting, we found that SB-734711 inhibited accumulation of HCMV immediate-early proteins, phosphorylation of cellular proteins involved in immediate-early protein production (cAMP response element-binding protein and histone H3) and histone H3 lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3). Therefore, we identified SB-734117 as a novel anti-HCMV compound and found that inhibition of AGC and CMCG kinase proteins during productive HCMV replication was associated with inhibition of viral protein production and prevented post-translational modification of cellular factors associated with viral protein production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina S Khan
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Matthew J Murray
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK
| | - Catherine M K Ho
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - William J Zuercher
- Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Matthew B Reeves
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK
| | - Blair L Strang
- Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
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27
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Chen H, Coseno M, Ficarro SB, Mansueto MS, Komazin-Meredith G, Boissel S, Filman DJ, Marto JA, Hogle JM, Coen DM. A Small Covalent Allosteric Inhibitor of Human Cytomegalovirus DNA Polymerase Subunit Interactions. ACS Infect Dis 2017; 3:112-118. [PMID: 28183184 PMCID: PMC5480311 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.6b00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase comprises a catalytic subunit, UL54, and an accessory subunit, UL44, the interaction of which may serve as a target for the development of new antiviral drugs. Using a high-throughput screen, we identified a small molecule, (5-((dimethylamino)methylene-3-(methylthio)-6,7-dihydrobenzo[c]thiophen-4(5H)-one), that selectively inhibits the interaction of UL44 with a UL54-derived peptide in a time-dependent manner, full-length UL54, and UL44-dependent long-chain DNA synthesis. A crystal structure of the compound bound to UL44 revealed a covalent reaction with lysine residue 60 and additional noncovalent interactions that cause steric conflicts that would prevent the UL44 connector loop from interacting with UL54. Analyses of the reaction of the compound with model substrates supported a resonance-stabilized conjugation mechanism, and substitution of the lysine reduced the ability of the compound to inhibit UL44-UL54 peptide interactions. This novel covalent inhibitor of polymerase subunit interactions may serve as a starting point for new, needed drugs to treat human cytomegalovirus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Chen
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Molly Coseno
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Scott B. Ficarro
- Department of Cancer Biology and Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - My Sam Mansueto
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Gloria Komazin-Meredith
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Sandrine Boissel
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - David J. Filman
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Jarrod A. Marto
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States,Department of Cancer Biology and Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - James M. Hogle
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Donald M. Coen
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States,Corresponding Author: (D.M.C.)
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28
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Wu X, Wu X, Sun Q, Zhang C, Yang S, Li L, Jia Z. Progress of small molecular inhibitors in the development of anti-influenza virus agents. Am J Cancer Res 2017; 7:826-845. [PMID: 28382157 PMCID: PMC5381247 DOI: 10.7150/thno.17071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The influenza pandemic is a major threat to human health, and highly aggressive strains such as H1N1, H5N1 and H7N9 have emphasized the need for therapeutic strategies to combat these pathogens. Influenza anti-viral agents, especially active small molecular inhibitors play important roles in controlling pandemics while vaccines are developed. Currently, only a few drugs, which function as influenza neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors and M2 ion channel protein inhibitors, are approved in clinical. However, the acquired resistance against current anti-influenza drugs and the emerging mutations of influenza virus itself remain the major challenging unmet medical needs for influenza treatment. It is highly desirable to identify novel anti-influenza agents. This paper reviews the progress of small molecular inhibitors act as antiviral agents, which include hemagglutinin (HA) inhibitors, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibitors, NA inhibitors and M2 ion channel protein inhibitors etc. Moreover, we also summarize new, recently reported potential targets and discuss strategies for the development of new anti-influenza virus drugs.
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29
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Massari S, Desantis J, Nannetti G, Sabatini S, Tortorella S, Goracci L, Cecchetti V, Loregian A, Tabarrini O. Efficient and regioselective one-step synthesis of 7-aryl-5-methyl- and 5-aryl-7-methyl-2-amino-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives. Org Biomol Chem 2017; 15:7944-7955. [DOI: 10.1039/c7ob02085f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Two facile and efficient one-step procedures for the regioselective synthesis of 7-aryl-5-methyl- and 5-aryl-7-methyl-2-amino-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Massari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of Perugia
- 06123 Perugia
- Italy
| | - Jenny Desantis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of Perugia
- 06123 Perugia
- Italy
| | - Giulio Nannetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine
- University of Padua
- 35121 Padua
- Italy
| | - Stefano Sabatini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of Perugia
- 06123 Perugia
- Italy
| | - Sara Tortorella
- Department of Chemistry
- Biology and Biotechnology
- University of Perugia
- 06123 Perugia
- Italy
| | - Laura Goracci
- Department of Chemistry
- Biology and Biotechnology
- University of Perugia
- 06123 Perugia
- Italy
| | - Violetta Cecchetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of Perugia
- 06123 Perugia
- Italy
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine
- University of Padua
- 35121 Padua
- Italy
| | - Oriana Tabarrini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of Perugia
- 06123 Perugia
- Italy
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30
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Trist IML, Nannetti G, Tintori C, Fallacara AL, Deodato D, Mercorelli B, Palù G, Wijtmans M, Gospodova T, Edink E, Verheij M, de Esch I, Viteva L, Loregian A, Botta M. 4,6-Diphenylpyridines as Promising Novel Anti-Influenza Agents Targeting the PA-PB1 Protein-Protein Interaction: Structure-Activity Relationships Exploration with the Aid of Molecular Modeling. J Med Chem 2016; 59:2688-703. [PMID: 26924568 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Influenza is an infectious disease that represents an important public health burden, with high impact on the global morbidity, mortality, and economy. The poor protection and the need of annual updating of the anti-influenza vaccine, added to the rapid emergence of viral strains resistant to current therapy make the need for antiviral drugs with novel mechanisms of action compelling. In this regard, the viral RNA polymerase is an attractive target that allows the design of selective compounds with reduced risk of resistance. In previous studies we showed that the inhibition of the polymerase acidic protein-basic protein 1 (PA-PB1) interaction is a promising strategy for the development of anti-influenza agents. Starting from the previously identified 3-cyano-4,6-diphenyl-pyridines, we chemically modified this scaffold and explored its structure-activity relationships. Noncytotoxic compounds with both the ability of disrupting the PA-PB1 interaction and antiviral activity were identified, and their mechanism of target binding was clarified with molecular modeling simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuni M L Trist
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena , Via A. Moro, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giulio Nannetti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Padova , Via A. Gabelli 63, I-35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Cristina Tintori
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena , Via A. Moro, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Lucia Fallacara
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena , Via A. Moro, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Davide Deodato
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena , Via A. Moro, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Beatrice Mercorelli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Padova , Via A. Gabelli 63, I-35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Padova , Via A. Gabelli 63, I-35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Maikel Wijtmans
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, VU University Amsterdam , De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tzveta Gospodova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Acad. Georgy Bonchev str. BI. 9, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ewald Edink
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, VU University Amsterdam , De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mark Verheij
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, VU University Amsterdam , De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Iwan de Esch
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, VU University Amsterdam , De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lilia Viteva
- Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Acad. Georgy Bonchev str. BI. 9, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Padova , Via A. Gabelli 63, I-35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Maurizio Botta
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena , Via A. Moro, I-53100 Siena, Italy.,Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Temple University , BioLife Science Building, Suite 333, 1900 N 12th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
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31
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Ho CMK, Donovan-Banfield IZ, Tan L, Zhang T, Gray NS, Strang BL. Inhibition of IKKα by BAY61-3606 Reveals IKKα-Dependent Histone H3 Phosphorylation in Human Cytomegalovirus Infected Cells. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150339. [PMID: 26930276 PMCID: PMC4773098 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein kinase inhibitors can be used as tools to identify proteins and pathways required for virus replication. Using virus replication assays and western blotting we found that the widely used protein kinase inhibitor BAY61-3606 inhibits replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain AD169 and the accumulation of HCMV immediate-early proteins in AD169 infected cells, but has no effect on replication of HCMV strain Merlin. Using in vitro kinase assays we found that BAY61-3606 is a potent inhibitor of the cellular kinase IKKα. Infection of cells treated with siRNA targeting IKKα indicated IKKα was required for efficient AD169 replication and immediate-early protein production. We hypothesized that IKKα was required for AD169 immediate-early protein production as part of the canonical NF-κB signaling pathway. However, although BAY61-3606 inhibited phosphorylation of the IKKα substrate IκBα, we found no canonical or non-canonical NF-κB signaling in AD169 infected cells. Rather, we observed that treatment of cells with BAY61-3606 or siRNA targeting IKKα decreased phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine 10 (H3S10p) in western blotting assays. Furthermore, we found treatment of cells with BAY61-3606, but not siRNA targeting IKKα, inhibited the accumulation of histone H3 acetylation (H3K9ac, H3K18ac and H3K27ac) and tri-methylation (H3K27me3 and H3K36me3) modifications. Therefore, the requirement for IKKα in HCMV replication was strain-dependent and during replication of an HCMV strain requiring IKKα, IKKα-dependent H3S10 phosphorylation was associated with efficient HCMV replication and immediate-early protein production. Plus, inhibition of HCMV replication by BAY61-3606 is associated with acetylation and tri-methylation modifications of histone H3 that do not involve IKKα.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M. K. Ho
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George’s, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - I’ah Z. Donovan-Banfield
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George’s, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Li Tan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
- Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Tinghu Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
- Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Nathanael S. Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
- Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Blair L. Strang
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George’s, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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32
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Mercorelli B, Luganini A, Nannetti G, Tabarrini O, Palù G, Gribaudo G, Loregian A. Drug Repurposing Approach Identifies Inhibitors of the Prototypic Viral Transcription Factor IE2 that Block Human Cytomegalovirus Replication. Cell Chem Biol 2016; 23:340-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2015.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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33
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Shen Z, Lou K, Wang W. New small-molecule drug design strategies for fighting resistant influenza A. Acta Pharm Sin B 2015; 5:419-30. [PMID: 26579472 PMCID: PMC4629447 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2015.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza A virus is the major cause of seasonal or pandemic flu worldwide. Two main treatment strategies-vaccination and small molecule anti-influenza drugs are currently available. As an effective vaccine usually takes at least 6 months to develop, anti-influenza small molecule drugs are more effective for the first line of protection against the virus during an epidemic outbreak, especially in the early stage. Two major classes of anti-influenza drugs currently available are admantane-based M2 protein blockers (amantadine and rimantadine) and neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors (oseltamivir, zanamivir, and peramivir). However, the continuous evolvement of influenza A virus and the rapid emergence of resistance to current drugs, particularly to amantadine, rimantadine, and oseltamivir, have raised an urgent need for developing new anti-influenza drugs against resistant forms of influenza A virus. In this review, we first give a brief introduction of the molecular mechanisms behind resistance, and then discuss new strategies in small-molecule drug development to overcome influenza A virus resistance targeting mutant M2 proteins and neuraminidases, and other viral proteins not associated with current drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuyuan Shen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, and State Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Reactor, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Kaiyan Lou
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, and State Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Reactor, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, and State Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Reactor, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
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34
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Massari S, Nannetti G, Desantis J, Muratore G, Sabatini S, Manfroni G, Mercorelli B, Cecchetti V, Palù G, Cruciani G, Loregian A, Goracci L, Tabarrini O. A Broad Anti-influenza Hybrid Small Molecule That Potently Disrupts the Interaction of Polymerase Acidic Protein–Basic Protein 1 (PA-PB1) Subunits. J Med Chem 2015; 58:3830-42. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Massari
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giulio Nannetti
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Jenny Desantis
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giulia Muratore
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Stefano Sabatini
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Manfroni
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Violetta Cecchetti
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Gabriele Cruciani
- Department
of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Laura Goracci
- Department
of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Oriana Tabarrini
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
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Loregian A, Mercorelli B, Nannetti G, Compagnin C, Palù G. Antiviral strategies against influenza virus: towards new therapeutic approaches. Cell Mol Life Sci 2014; 71:3659-83. [PMID: 24699705 PMCID: PMC11114059 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1615-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Revised: 03/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Influenza viruses are major human pathogens responsible for respiratory diseases affecting millions of people worldwide and characterized by high morbidity and significant mortality. Influenza infections can be controlled by vaccination and antiviral drugs. However, vaccines need annual updating and give limited protection. Only two classes of drugs are currently approved for the treatment of influenza: M2 ion channel blockers and neuraminidase inhibitors. However, they are often associated with limited efficacy and adverse side effects. In addition, the currently available drugs suffer from rapid and extensive emergence of drug resistance. All this highlights the urgent need for developing new antiviral strategies with novel mechanisms of action and with reduced drug resistance potential. Several new classes of antiviral agents targeting viral replication mechanisms or cellular proteins/processes are under development. This review gives an overview of novel strategies targeting the virus and/or the host cell for counteracting influenza virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, via Gabelli 63, 35121, Padua, Italy,
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Lepri S, Nannetti G, Muratore G, Cruciani G, Ruzziconi R, Mercorelli B, Palù G, Loregian A, Goracci L. Optimization of Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Influenza Virus Polymerase: From Thiophene-3-Carboxamide to Polyamido Scaffolds. J Med Chem 2014; 57:4337-50. [DOI: 10.1021/jm500300r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Susan Lepri
- Department
of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giulio Nannetti
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Giulia Muratore
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Gabriele Cruciani
- Department
of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Renzo Ruzziconi
- Department
of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Giorgio Palù
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Laura Goracci
- Department
of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
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Mercorelli B, Gribaudo G, Palù G, Loregian A. Approaches for the generation of new anti-cytomegalovirus agents: identification of protein-protein interaction inhibitors and compounds against the HCMV IE2 protein. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1119:349-363. [PMID: 24639231 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-788-4_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is responsible for severe, often even fatal, diseases in immunocompromised subjects and also represents the major cause of viral-associated congenital malformations in newborn children. The few drugs licensed for anti-HCMV therapy suffer from many drawbacks and none of them have been approved for the treatment of congenital infections. Furthermore, the emergence of drug-resistant viral strains represents a major concern for disease management. Thus, there is a strong need for new anti-HCMV drugs. Here we describe three different assays for the discovery of novel anti-HCMV compounds: two are in vitro assays, i.e., a fluorescence polarization (FP)-based assay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which are designed to search for compounds that act by disrupting the interactions between the HCMV DNA polymerase subunits, but in general can be employed to find inhibitors of any protein-protein interaction of interest; the third is a cell-based assay designed to identify inhibitors of the viral immediate-early 2 (IE2) protein activities.
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Loregian A, Palù G. How academic labs can approach the drug discovery process as a way to synergize with big pharma. Trends Microbiol 2013; 21:261-4. [PMID: 23731493 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2013.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Revised: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
While the pharmaceutical industry is facing highly challenging times, the academic drug discovery sector has the potential to contribute meaningfully to the discovery of novel drug targets and to the development of new mode-of-action therapeutics against a range of diseases, including rare and neglected diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
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39
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Inhibition of herpesvirus and influenza virus replication by blocking polymerase subunit interactions. Antiviral Res 2013; 99:318-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2013.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2013] [Revised: 05/24/2013] [Accepted: 05/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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40
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Islam S, Firestine SM. Synthesis of Substituted Pyridyl-Pyrimidines as Potential Protein-Protein Interaction Inhibitors. J Heterocycl Chem 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/jhet.1595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Islam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; Wayne State University; Detroit; Michigan; 48201
| | - Steven M. Firestine
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; Wayne State University; Detroit; Michigan; 48201
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41
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Massari S, Mercorelli B, Sancineto L, Sabatini S, Cecchetti V, Gribaudo G, Palù G, Pannecouque C, Loregian A, Tabarrini O. Design, synthesis, and evaluation of WC5 analogues as inhibitors of human cytomegalovirus Immediate-Early 2 protein, a promising target for anti-HCMV treatment. ChemMedChem 2013; 8:1403-14. [PMID: 23757191 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201300106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Revised: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is mostly asymptomatic for immunocompetent individuals, it remains a serious threat for those who are immunocompromised, in whom it is associated with various clinical manifestations. The therapeutic utility of the few available anti-HCMV drugs is limited by several drawbacks, including cross-resistance due to their common mechanism of action, i.e., inhibition of viral DNA polymerase. Therefore, compounds that target other essential viral events could overcome this problem. One example of this is the 6-aminoquinolone WC5, which acts by directly blocking the transactivation of essential viral Early genes by the Immediate-Early 2 (IE2) protein. In this study, the quinolone scaffold of the lead compound WC5 was investigated in depth, defining more suitable substituents for each of the scaffold positions explored and identifying novel, potent and nontoxic compounds. Some compounds showed potent anti-HCMV activity by interfering with IE2-dependent viral E gene expression. Among them, naphthyridone 1 was also endowed with potent anti-HIV activity in latently infected cells. Their antiviral profile along with their innovative mechanism of action make these anti-HCMV quinolones a very promising class of compounds to be exploited for more effective antiviral therapeutic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Massari
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
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A short cis-acting motif in the M112-113 promoter region is essential for IE3 to activate M112-113 gene expression and is important for murine cytomegalovirus replication. J Virol 2012; 87:2639-47. [PMID: 23255797 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.03171-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Immediate-early 3 (IE3) gene products are required to activate early (E)-stage gene expression of murine cytomegaloviruses (MCMV). The first early gene activated by IE3 is the M112-113 gene (also called E1), although a complete understanding of the activation mechanism is still lacking. In this paper, we identify a 10-bp cis-regulating motif upstream of the M112-113 TATA box as important for IE3 activation of M112-113 expression. Results from DNA affinity assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays show that the association of IE3 with the M112-113 gene promoter was eliminated by deletion of the 10-bp DNA sequence, now named IE3AM (for IE3 activating motif). In addition, IE3 interacts with TATA box binding protein (TBP), a core protein of TFIID (transcription initiation) complexes. Finally, we created an IE3AM-deleted MCMV (MCMVdIE3AM) using a bacterial artificial chromosome system. The mutant virus can still replicate in NIH 3T3 cells but at a significantly lower level. The defectiveness of the MCMVdIE3AM infection can be rescued in an M112-113-complemented cell line. Our results suggest that the interactions of IE3 with IE3AM and with TBP stabilize the TFIID complex at the M112-113 promoter such that M112-113 gene expression can be activated and/or enhanced.
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The human cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase processivity factor UL44 is modified by SUMO in a DNA-dependent manner. PLoS One 2012; 7:e49630. [PMID: 23166733 PMCID: PMC3499415 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
During the replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) genome, the viral DNA polymerase subunit UL44 plays a key role, as by binding both DNA and the polymerase catalytic subunit it confers processivity to the holoenzyme. However, several lines of evidence suggest that UL44 might have additional roles during virus life cycle. To shed light on this, we searched for cellular partners of UL44 by yeast two-hybrid screenings. Intriguingly, we discovered the interaction of UL44 with Ubc9, an enzyme involved in the covalent conjugation of SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-related MOdifier) to cellular and viral proteins. We found that UL44 can be extensively sumoylated not only in a cell-free system and in transfected cells, but also in HCMV-infected cells, in which about 50% of the protein resulted to be modified at late times post-infection, when viral genome replication is accomplished. Mass spectrometry studies revealed that UL44 possesses multiple SUMO target sites, located throughout the protein. Remarkably, we observed that binding of UL44 to DNA greatly stimulates its sumoylation both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we showed that overexpression of SUMO alters the intranuclear distribution of UL44 in HCMV-infected cells, and enhances both virus production and DNA replication, arguing for an important role for sumoylation in HCMV life cycle and UL44 function(s). These data report for the first time the sumoylation of a viral processivity factor and show that there is a functional interplay between the HCMV UL44 protein and the cellular sumoylation system.
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44
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Human cytomegalovirus inhibitor AL18 also possesses activity against influenza A and B viruses. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012; 56:6009-13. [PMID: 22908168 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01219-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
AL18, an inhibitor of human cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase, was serendipitously found to also block the interaction between the PB1 and PA polymerase subunits of influenza A virus. Furthermore, AL18 effectively inhibited influenza A virus polymerase activity and the overall replication of influenza A and B viruses. A molecular model to explain the binding of AL18 to both cytomegalovirus and influenza targets is proposed. Thus, AL18 represents an interesting lead for the development of new antivirals.
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Flusin O, Saccucci L, Contesto-Richefeu C, Hamdi A, Bardou C, Poyot T, Peinnequin A, Crance JM, Colas P, Iseni F. A small molecule screen in yeast identifies inhibitors targeting protein-protein interactions within the vaccinia virus replication complex. Antiviral Res 2012; 96:187-95. [PMID: 22884885 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2012.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2012] [Revised: 07/23/2012] [Accepted: 07/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Genetic and biochemical data have identified at least four viral proteins essential for vaccinia virus (VACV) DNA synthesis: the DNA polymerase E9, its processivity factor (the heterodimer A20/D4) and the primase/helicase D5. These proteins are part of the VACV replication complex in which A20 is a central subunit interacting with E9, D4 and D5. We hypothesised that molecules able to modulate protein-protein interactions within the replication complex may represent a new class of compounds with anti-orthopoxvirus activities. In this study, we adapted a forward duplex yeast two-hybrid assay to screen more than 27,000 molecules in order to identify inhibitors of A20/D4 and/or A20/D5 interactions. We identified two molecules that specifically inhibited both interactions in yeast. Interestingly, we observed that these compounds displayed a similar antiviral activity to cidofovir (CDV) against VACV in cell culture. We further showed that these molecules were able to inhibit the replication of another orthopoxvirus (i.e. cowpox virus), but not the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), an unrelated DNA virus. We also demonstrated that the antiviral activity of both compounds correlated with an inhibition of VACV DNA synthesis. Hence, these molecules may represent a starting point for the development of new anti-orthopoxvirus drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Flusin
- Unité de virologie, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), 24 avenue des Maquis du Grésivaudan, 38702 La Tronche, France
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46
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Schnee M, Wagner FM, Koszinowski UH, Ruzsics Z. A cell free protein fragment complementation assay for monitoring the core interaction of the human cytomegalovirus nuclear egress complex. Antiviral Res 2012; 95:12-8. [PMID: 22580129 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2012.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2012] [Revised: 04/17/2012] [Accepted: 04/27/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Certain viral protein-protein interactions provide attractive targets for antiviral drug development. Recently, we described a β-lactamase based protein fragment complementation assay (PCA) to study the core interaction of the nuclear egress complex (NEC) of different herpesviruses in cells. Now, to have a cell free assay for inhibitor screens, we expressed split β-lactamase tagged interaction domains of the viral pUL50 and pUL53 proteins representing the NEC of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in bacteria. After validation and basic characterization of this NEC-PCA, we tested peptide inhibitors of the pUL50-pUL53 complex. We show that peptides resembling sequences of the first conserved region of pUL53 can inhibit the NEC-PCA. This, on one hand, indicated that the core interaction in the HCMV NEC is mediated by a linear motif. On the other hand it proved that this new pUL50-pUL53 interaction assay allows a simple cell free test for small molecular inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margit Schnee
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Gene Center, Feodor Lynen Str. 25, D-81377 Munich, Germany
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47
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Small molecule inhibitors of influenza A and B viruses that act by disrupting subunit interactions of the viral polymerase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:6247-52. [PMID: 22474359 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1119817109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza viruses are the cause of yearly epidemics and occasional pandemics that represent a significant challenge to public health. Current control strategies are imperfect and there is an unmet need for new antiviral therapies. Here, we report the identification of small molecule compounds able to effectively and specifically inhibit growth of influenza A and B viruses in cultured cells through targeting an assembly interface of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Using an existing crystal structure of the primary protein-protein interface between the PB1 and PA subunits of the influenza A virus polymerase, we conducted an in silico screen to identify potential small molecule inhibitors. Selected compounds were then screened for their ability to inhibit the interaction between PB1 and PA in vitro using an ELISA-based assay and in cells, to inhibit nuclear import of a binary PB1-PA complex as well as transcription by the full viral ribonucleoprotein complex. Two compounds emerged as effective inhibitors with IC(50) values in the low micromolar range and negligible cytotoxicity. Of these, one compound also acted as a potent replication inhibitor of a variety of influenza A virus strains in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, including H3N2 and H1N1 seasonal and 2009 pandemic strains. Importantly, this included an oseltamivir-resistant isolate. Furthermore, potent inhibition of influenza B viruses but not other RNA or DNA viruses was seen. Overall, these compounds provide a foundation for the development of a new generation of therapeutic agents exhibiting high specificity to influenza A and B viruses.
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48
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Jeon YH, Lee JY, Kim S. Chemical modulators working at pharmacological interface of target proteins. Bioorg Med Chem 2011; 20:1893-901. [PMID: 22227462 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2011.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2011] [Revised: 11/30/2011] [Accepted: 12/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
For last few decades, the active site cleft and substrate-binding site of enzymes as well as ligand-binding site of the receptors have served as the main pharmacological space for drug discovery. However, rapid accumulation of proteome and protein network analysis data has opened a new therapeutic space that is the interface between the interacting proteins. Due to the complexity of the interaction modes and the numbers of the participating components, it is still challenging to identify the chemicals that can accurately control the protein-protein interactions at desire. Nonetheless, the number of chemical drugs and candidates working at the interface of the interacting proteins are rapidly increasing. This review addresses the current case studies and state-of-the-arts in the development of small chemical modulators controlling the interactions of the proteins that have pathological implications in various human diseases such as cancer, immune disorders, neurodegenerative and infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Ho Jeon
- Korea University College of Pharmacy Sejong-ro, Jochiwon, Yeonggi-gun, Chungnam 339-700, Republic of Korea
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous pathogen that establishes a lifelong asymptomatic infection in healthy individuals. Infection of immunesuppressed individuals causes serious illness. Transplant and AIDS patients are highly susceptible to CMV leading to life-threatening end-organ disease. Another vulnerable population is the developing fetus in utero, where congenital infection can result in surviving newborns with long-term developmental problems. There is no vaccine licensed for CMV and current antivirals suffer from complications associated with prolonged treatment. These include drug toxicity and emergence of resistant strains. There is an obvious need for new antivirals. Candidate intervention strategies are tested in controlled preclinical animal models but species specificity of human CMV precludes the direct study of the virus in an animal model. AREAS COVERED This review explores the current status of CMV antivirals and development of new drugs. This includes the use of animal models and the development of new improved models such as humanized animal CMV and bioluminescent imaging of virus in animals in real time. EXPERT OPINION Various new CMV antivirals are in development, some with greater spectrum of activity against other viruses. Although the greatest need is in the setting of transplant patients, there remains an unmet need for a safe antiviral strategy against congenital CMV. This is especially important as an effective CMV vaccine remains an elusive goal. In this regard, greater emphasis should be placed on suitable preclinical animal models and greater collaboration between industry and academia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair McGregor
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Center for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Translational Research, 2001 6th Street SE, MN 55455, USA.
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50
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Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus continues to impact adversely on the outcome of solid organ and stem cell transplantation and remains a major cause of congenital abnormalities. In the absence of a vaccine, antiviral drugs have been the mainstay of therapy. Although very few anticytomegalovirus drugs are currently licensed, there are multiple opportunities within the viral life cycle for drug development. In this article we summarize some of the key new antiviral agents undergoing preclinical and clinical development against a range of targets in the viral life cycle, highlighting those where further development is warranted or being undertaken.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard SB Milne
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Molecular Virology, Division of Infection & Immunity, Department of Infection, University College Medical School (Royal Free Campus), Rowland Hill Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, UK
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