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Almowallad S, Al-Massabi R. Berberine modulates cardiovascular diseases as a multitarget-mediated alkaloid with insights into its downstream signals using in silico prospective screening approaches. Saudi J Biol Sci 2024; 31:103977. [PMID: 38510527 PMCID: PMC10951604 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2024.103977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is potentially correlated with several cardiac disorders that are greatly associated with cellular oxidative stress generation, inflammation, endothelial cells dysfunction, and many cardiovascular complications. Berberine is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid compound that widely modulates pathogenesis of atherosclerosis through its different curative potentials. This in silico screening study was designed to confirm the potent restorative properties of berberine chloride as a multitarget-mediated alkaloid against the CVDs and their complications through screening, identifying, visualizing, and evaluating its binding models, affinities, and interactions toward several CVDs-related targets as direct and/or indirect-mediated signals via inhibiting cellular ER stress and apoptotic signals and activating autophagy pathway. The drug-likeness properties of berberine were predicted using the computational QSAR/ADMET and Lipinski's RO5 analyses as well as in silico molecular docking simulations. The potent berberine-binding modes, residues-interaction patterns, and free energies of binding scores towards several CVDs-related targets were estimated using molecular docking tools. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetic properties and toxicological features of berberine were clearly determined. According to this in silico virtual screening study, berberine chloride could restore cardiac function and improve pathogenic features of atherosclerotic CVDs through alleviating ER stress and apoptotic signals, activating autophagy, improving insulin sensitivity, decreasing hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, increasing intracellular RCT signaling, attenuating oxidative stress and vascular inflammation, and upregulating cellular antioxidant defenses in many cardiovascular tissues. In this in silico study, berberine chloride greatly modulated several potent CVDs-related targets, including SIGMAR1, GRP78, CASP3, BECN1, PIK3C3, SQSTM1/p62, LC3B, GLUT3, INSR, LDLR, LXRα, PPARγ, IL1β, IFNγ, iNOS, COX-2, MCP-1, IL10, GPx1, and SOD3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaa Almowallad
- Assistant Professor of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rehab Al-Massabi
- Assistant Professor of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia
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2
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Gattan HS, Wakid MH, Qahwaji RM, Altwaim S, Mahjoub HA, Alfaifi MS, Elshazly H, Al-Megrin WAI, Alshehri EA, Elshabrawy HA, El-kady AM. In silico and in vivo evaluation of the anti-cryptosporidial activity of eugenol. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1374116. [PMID: 38515537 PMCID: PMC10954888 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1374116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptosporidiosis is an opportunistic parasitic disease widely distributed worldwide. Although Cryptosporidium sp. causes asymptomatic infection in healthy people, it may lead to severe illness in immunocompromised individuals. Limited effective therapeutic alternatives are available against cryptosporidiosis in this category of patients. So, there is an urgent need for therapeutic alternatives for cryptosporidiosis. Recently, the potential uses of Eugenol (EUG) have been considered a promising novel treatment for bacterial and parasitic infections. Consequently, it is suggested to investigate the effect of EUG as an option for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis. Materials and methods The in silico bioinformatics analysis was used to predict and determine the binding affinities and intermolecular interactions of EUG and Nitazoxanide (NTZ) toward several Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) lowa II target proteins. For animal study, five groups of immunosuppressed Swiss albino mice (10 mice each) were used. Group I was left uninfected (control), and four groups were infected with 1,000 oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. The first infected group was left untreated. The remaining three infected groups received NTZ, EUG, and EUG + NTZ, respectively, on the 6th day post-infection (dpi). All mice were sacrificed 30 dpi. The efficacy of the used formulas was assessed by counting the number of C. parvum oocysts excreted in stool of infected mice, histopathological examination of the ileum and liver tissues and determination of the expression of iNOS in the ileum of mice in different animal groups. Results treatment with EUG resulted in a significant reduction in the number of oocysts secreted in stool when compared to infected untreated mice. In addition, oocyst excretion was significantly reduced in mice received a combination therapy of EUG and NTZ when compared with those received NTZ alone. EUG succeeded in reverting the histopathological alterations induced by Cryptosporidium infection either alone or in combination with NTZ. Moreover, mice received EUG showed marked reduction of the expression of iNOS in ileal tissues. Conclusion Based on the results, the present study signified a basis for utilizing EUG as an affordable, safe, and alternative therapy combined with NTZ in the management of cryptosporidiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hattan S. Gattan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majed H. Wakid
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rowaid M. Qahwaji
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah Altwaim
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haifaa A. Mahjoub
- Biological Sciences Department, College of Sciences and Arts, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mashael S. Alfaifi
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hayam Elshazly
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences-Scientific Departments, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt
| | - Wafa Abdullah I. Al-Megrin
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Hatem A. Elshabrawy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Sam Houston State University, Conroe, TX, United States
| | - Asmaa M. El-kady
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
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Venugopal DC, Viswanathan P, Ravindran S, Punnoose AM, Yasasve M, Dicky John DG, Prabhakar L, Ramanathan G, Sankarapandian S, Ramshankar V. Antifibrotic effect of silymarin on arecoline-induced fibrosis in primary human buccal fibroblasts: an in silico and in vitro analysis. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:303. [PMID: 38356030 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09177-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to assess silymarin's anticancer and antifibrotic potential through in silico analysis and investigate its impact on in vitro arecoline-induced fibrosis in primary human buccal fibroblasts (HBF). METHODS & RESULTS The study utilized iGEMDOCK for molecular docking, evaluating nine bioflavonoids, and identified silymarin and baicalein as the top two compounds with the highest target affinity, followed by subsequent validation through a 100ns Molecular Dynamic Simulation demonstrating silymarin's stable behavior with Transforming Growth Factor Beta. HBF cell lines were developed from tissue samples obtained from patients undergoing third molar extraction. Arecoline, a known etiological factor in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), was employed to induce fibrogenesis in these HBFs. The inhibitory concentration (IC50) of arecoline was determined using the MTT assay, revealing dose-dependent cytotoxicity of HBFs to arecoline, with notable cytotoxicity observed at concentrations exceeding 50µM. Subsequently, the cytotoxicity of silymarin was assessed at 24 and 72 h, spanning concentrations from 5µM to 200µM, and an IC50 value of 143µM was determined. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to analyze the significant downregulation of key markers including collagen, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), stem cell, hypoxia, angiogenesis and stress markers in silymarin-treated arecoline-induced primary buccal fibroblast cells. CONCLUSION Silymarin effectively inhibited fibroblast proliferation and downregulated genes associated with cancer progression and EMT pathway, both of which are implicated in malignant transformation. To our knowledge, this study represents the first exploration of silymarin's potential as a novel therapeutic agent in an in vitro model of OSMF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divyambika Catakapatri Venugopal
- Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sri Ramachandra Dental College & Hospital, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Porur, Chennai, 600 116, India.
| | - Paramesh Viswanathan
- Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Clinical Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research (DU), Porur, Chennai, 600 116, India
| | - Soundharya Ravindran
- Department of Preventive Oncology (Research), Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, Chennai, 600020, India
| | - Alan Mathew Punnoose
- Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Clinical Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research (DU), Porur, Chennai, 600 116, India
| | - Madhavan Yasasve
- Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sri Ramachandra Dental College & Hospital, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Porur, Chennai, 600 116, India
| | - Davis G Dicky John
- Department of Bioinformatics, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Porur, Chennai, 600 116, India
| | - Lavanya Prabhakar
- Department of Bioinformatics, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Porur, Chennai, 600 116, India
| | - Gnanasambandan Ramanathan
- Department of Biomedical Science, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632 014, India
| | - Sathasivasubramanian Sankarapandian
- Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sri Ramachandra Dental College & Hospital, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Porur, Chennai, 600 116, India
| | - Vijayalakshmi Ramshankar
- Department of Preventive Oncology (Research), Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, Chennai, 600020, India.
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da Rocha JM, Campos DMDO, Esmaile SC, Menezes GDL, Bezerra KS, da Silva RA, Junior EDDS, Tayyeb JZ, Akash S, Fulco UL, Alqahtani T, Oliveira JIN. Quantum biochemical analysis of the binding interactions between a potential inhibitory drug and the Ebola viral glycoprotein. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38258414 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2305314] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Ebola virus disease (EVD) causes outbreaks and epidemics in West Africa that persist until today. The envelope glycoprotein of Ebola virus (GP) consists of two subunits, GP1 and GP2, and plays a key role in anchoring or fusing the virus to the host cell in its active form on the virion surface. Toremifene (TOR) is a ligand that mainly acts as an estrogen receptor antagonist; however, a recent study showed a strong and efficient interaction with GP. In this context, we aimed to evaluate the energetic affinity features involved in the interaction between GP and toremifene by computer simulation techniques using the Molecular Fractionation Method with Conjugate Caps (MFCC) scheme and quantum-mechanical (QM) calculations, as well as missense mutations to assess protein stability. We identified ASP522, GLU100, TYR517, THR519, LEU186, LEU515 as the most attractive residues in the EBOV glycoprotein structure that form the binding pocket. We divided toremifene into three regions and evaluated that region i was more important than region iii and region ii for the formation of the TOR-GP1/GP2 complex, which might control the molecular remodeling process of TOR. The mutations that caused more destabilization were ARG134, LEU515, TYR517 and ARG559, while those that caused stabilization were GLU523 and ASP522. TYR517 is a critical residue for the binding of TOR, and is highly conserved among EBOV species. Our results may help to elucidate the mechanism of drug action on the GP protein of the Ebola virus and subsequently develop new pharmacological approaches against EVD.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaerdyson M da Rocha
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Daniel M de O Campos
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Stephany C Esmaile
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Gabriela de L Menezes
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Katyanna S Bezerra
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Roosevelt A da Silva
- Core Collaboratives of BioSistemas, Special Unit of Exact Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí, GO, Brazil
| | - Edilson D da S Junior
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Jehad Zuhair Tayyeb
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shopnil Akash
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Birulia, Ashulia, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Umberto L Fulco
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Taha Alqahtani
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jonas I N Oliveira
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
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Pradhan D, Biswasroy P, Kulkarni S, Taliyan R, Pradhan DK, Bhola RK, Mahapatra S, Ghosh G, Rath G. Identification of starvation-mimetic bioactive phytocomponent from Withania somnifera using in-silico molecular modelling and flow cytometry-based analysis for the management of malaria. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:528-549. [PMID: 37087726 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2201855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
Multidrug resistance episodes in malaria increased from 3.9% to 20% from 2015 to 2019. Synchronizing the clinical manifestation in chronological sequence led to a unique impression on glucose demand (increased up to 100-fold) by the parasite-infected RBCs. Hence, restriction in the glucose uptake to parasite-infected RBCs could be an alternative approach to conquer the global burden of malaria to a greater extent. A C28 steroidal lactone Withaferin A (WS-3) isolated from Withania somnifera leave extract shows better thermodynamically stable interactions with the glucose transporters (GLUT-1 and PfHT) to standard drugs metformin and lopinavir. MD simulations for a trajectory period of 100 ns reflect stable interactions with the interactive amino acid residues such as Pro141, Gln161, Gln282, Gln283, Trp388, Phe389, and Phe40, Asn48, Phe85, His168, Gln169, Asn311 which potentiating inhibitory activity of WS-3 against GLUT-1 and PfHT respectively. WS-3 was non-hemotoxic (%hemolysis <5%) for a high concentration of up to 1 mg/ml in the physiological milieu. However, the %hemolysis significantly increased up to 30.55 ± 0.929% in a parasitophorous simulated environment (pH 5.0). Increased hemolysis of WS-3 could be due to the production of ROS in an acidic environment. Further, the inhibitory activity of WS-3 against both glucose transporters was supported with flow cytometry-based analysis of parasite-infected RBCs. Results show that WS-3 has low mean fluorescence intensities for both target proteins compared to conventional drugs, suggesting a potential sugar transporter inhibitor against GLUT-1 and PfHT for managing malaria. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Pradhan
- Department of Herbal Nanotechnology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha O Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
- R and D Division, Ixoreal Biomed. Pvt. Ltd, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Prativa Biswasroy
- Department of Herbal Nanotechnology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha O Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | | | - Rajiv Taliyan
- Department of Pharmacy, BITS Pilani, Pilani, Rajasthan, India
| | - Dilip Kumar Pradhan
- Department of Medicine, Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College & Hospital, Baripada, Odisha, India
| | - Rajesh Kumar Bhola
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Medical Sciences and Sum Hospital, Siksha O Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Sonali Mahapatra
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Goutam Ghosh
- Department of Herbal Nanotechnology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha O Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Goutam Rath
- Department of Herbal Nanotechnology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha O Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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Afzal O, Ahsan MJ. An Efficient Synthesis of 1-(1,3-Dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-3-aryl Urea Analogs as Anticancer and Antioxidant Agents: An Insight into Experimental and In Silico Studies. Molecules 2023; 29:67. [PMID: 38202650 PMCID: PMC10779787 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29010067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The present investigation reports the efficient multistep synthesis of 1-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-3-aryl urea analogs (7a-f) in good yields. All the 1-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-3-aryl urea analogs (7a-f) were characterized by spectroscopic techniques. Five among the six compounds were tested against 56 cancer cell lines at 10 µM as per the standard protocol. 1-(4-Bromophenyl)-3-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)urea (7c) exhibited moderate but significant anticancer activity against EKVX, CAKI-1, UACC-62, MCF7, LOX IMVI, and ACHN with percentage growth inhibitions (PGIs) of 75.46, 78.52, 80.81, 83.48, 84.52, and 89.61, respectively. Compound 7c was found to exhibit better anticancer activity than thalidomide against non-small cell lung, CNS, melanoma, renal, prostate, and breast cancer cell lines. It was also found to exhibit superior anticancer activity against melanoma cancer compared to imatinib. Among the tested compounds, the 4-bromosubstitution (7c) on the phenyl ring demonstrated good anticancer activity. Docking scores ranging from -6.363 to -7.565 kcal/mol were observed in the docking studies against the molecular target EGFR. The ligand 7c displayed an efficient binding against the EGFR with a docking score of -7.558 kcal/mol and displayed an H-bond interaction with Lys745 and the carbonyl functional group. Compound 7c demonstrated a moderate inhibition of EGFR with an IC50 of 42.91 ± 0.80 nM, in comparison to erlotinib (IC50 = 26.85 ± 0.72 nM), the standard drug. The antioxidant potential was also calculated for the compounds (7a-f), which exhibited good to low activity. 1-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-3-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)urea (7f) and 1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-3-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)urea (7d) demonstrated significant antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 15.99 ± 0.10 and 16.05 ± 0.15 µM, respectively. The 2- and 4-methoxysubstitutions on the N-phenyl ring showed good antioxidant activity among the series of compounds (7a-f). An in silico ADMET prediction studies showed the compounds' adherence to Lipinski's rule of five: they were free from toxicities, including mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, and immunotoxicity, but not for hepatotoxicity. The toxicity prediction demonstrated LD50 values between 1000 and 5000 mg/Kg, putting the compounds either in class IV or class V toxicity classes. Our findings might create opportunities for more advancements in cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obaid Afzal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Jawed Ahsan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jahangirabad Institute of Technology (JIT), Jahangirabad Fort, Jahangirabad 225203, Uttar Pradesh, India;
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Gao J, Zhao J, Chen X, Wang J. A review on in silico prediction of the environmental risks posed by pharmaceutical emerging contaminants. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1535. [PMID: 38008816 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12159-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Computer-aided (in silico) prediction has shown good potential to support the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of pharmaceutical emerging contaminants (PECs), allowing low-cost, animal-free, high-throughput screening of multiple potential risks posed by a wide variety of pharmaceuticals in the environment based on insufficient toxicity data. This review provided recent insights regarding the application of in silico approaches in prediction for environmental risks of PECs. Based on the review of 20 included articles from 8 countries published since 2018, we found that the researchers' interest and concern in this research topic were sharply aroused since 2021. Recently, in silico approaches have been widely used for the prediction of bioaccumulation and biodegradability, lethal endpoints, developmental toxicity, mutagenicity, other eco-toxicological effects such as ototoxicity and hematological toxicity, and human health hazards of exposure to PECs. Particular attention has been given to the simultaneous discernment of multiple environmental risks and health effects of PECs based on mechanistic data of pharmaceuticals using advanced bioinformatic methods such as transcriptomic analysis and network pharmacology prediction. In silico software platforms and databases used in the included studies were diversified, and there is currently no standardized and accepted in silico model for ERA of PECs. Date suggested that in silico prediction of the environmental risks posed by PECs is still in its infancy. Considerable critical challenges need to be addressed, including consideration of environmental exposure concentration for PECs, interactions among mixtures of PECs and other contaminants coexisting in environments, and development of in silico models specific to ERA of PECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Gao
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Jinru Zhao
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Xintong Chen
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China.
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Kalita P, Tripathi T, Padhi AK. Computational Protein Design for COVID-19 Research and Emerging Therapeutics. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:602-613. [PMID: 37122454 PMCID: PMC10042144 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.2c01513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
As the world struggles with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, unprecedented obstacles have continuously been traversed as new SARS-CoV-2 variants continually emerge. Infectious disease outbreaks are unavoidable, but the knowledge gained from the successes and failures will help create a robust health management system to deal with such pandemics. Previously, scientists required years to develop diagnostics, therapeutics, or vaccines; however, we have seen that, with the rapid deployment of high-throughput technologies and unprecedented scientific collaboration worldwide, breakthrough discoveries can be accelerated and insights broadened. Computational protein design (CPD) is a game-changing new technology that has provided alternative therapeutic strategies for pandemic management. In addition to the development of peptide-based inhibitors, miniprotein binders, decoys, biosensors, nanobodies, and monoclonal antibodies, CPD has also been used to redesign native SARS-CoV-2 proteins and human ACE2 receptors. We discuss how novel CPD strategies have been exploited to develop rationally designed and robust COVID-19 treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parismita Kalita
- Molecular
and Structural Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India
| | - Timir Tripathi
- Molecular
and Structural Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India
- Regional
Director’s Office, Indira Gandhi
National Open University, Regional Centre Kohima, Kenuozou, Kohima 797001, India
| | - Aditya K. Padhi
- Laboratory
for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design, School of Biochemical
Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology
(BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Korkmaz IN, Güller U, Kalın R, Özdemir H, Küfrevioğlu Öİ. Structure-Activity Relationship of Methyl 4-Aminobenzoate Derivatives as Being Drug Candidate Targeting Glutathione Related Enzymes: in Vitro and in Silico Approaches. Chem Biodivers 2023; 20:e202201220. [PMID: 37043708 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202201220] [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: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
A thiol compound, glutathione, is essential for healthy cell defence against xenobiotics and oxidative stress. Glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) are two glutathione-related enzymes that function in the antioxidant and the detoxification systems. In this study, potential inhibitory effects of methyl 4-aminobenzoate derivatives on GR and GST were examined in vitro. GR and GST were isolated from human erythrocytes with 7.63 EU/mg protein and 5.66 EU/mg protein specific activity, respectively. It was found that compound 1 (methyl 4-amino-3-bromo-5-fluorobenzoate with Ki value of 0.325±0.012 μM) and compound 5 (methyl 4-amino-2-nitrobenzoate with Ki value of 92.41±22.26 μM) inhibited GR and GST stronger than other derivatives. Furthermore, a computer-aided method was used to predict the binding affinities of derivatives, ADME characteristics, and toxicities. Derivatives 4 (methyl 4-amino-2-bromobenzoate) and 6 (methyl 4-amino-2-chlorobenzoate) were estimated to have the lowest binding energies into GR and GST receptors, respectively according to results of in silico studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Işıl Nihan Korkmaz
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Atatürk University, Erzurum, 25240, Türkiye
| | - Uğur Güller
- Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Iğdır University, Iğdır, 76100, Türkiye
| | - Ramazan Kalın
- Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Science, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, 25700, Türkiye
| | - Hasan Özdemir
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Atatürk University, Erzurum, 25240, Türkiye
| | - Ömer İrfan Küfrevioğlu
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Atatürk University, Erzurum, 25240, Türkiye
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Sib Tul Hassan Shah S, Naeem I. In-silico targeting TMPK from monkey pox virus: Molecular docking analysis, density functional theory studies and molecular dynamic simulation analysis. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:14689-14701. [PMID: 36970852 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2193998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed the monkeypox epidemic a "public health emergency of worldwide significance" recently. The monkeypox virus is a member of the same Orthopoxvirus genus as the smallpox virus. Although smallpox medications are advised against monkeypox, no monkeypox-specific drugs are currently available. In the event of such an outbreak, in-silico medication identification is a practical and efficient strategy. As a result, we report a computational drug repurposing analysis to discover medicines that may be potential inhibitors of thymidylate kinase, a critical monkeypox viral enzyme. The target protein structure of the monkeypox virus was modeled using the vaccinia virus's homologous protein structure. Using molecular docking and density functional theory, we found 11 possible inhibitors of the monkeypox virus from an Asinex library of 261120 chemicals. The primary purpose of this in silico work is to find possible inhibitors of monkeypox viral proteins that can then be experimentally tested in order to develop innovative therapeutic medicines for monkeypox infection.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Sib Tul Hassan Shah
- Department of Life Science, School of Science, University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Iqra Naeem
- Department of Life Science, School of Science, University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore, Pakistan
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Sharma L, Bisht GS. Short Antimicrobial Peptides: Therapeutic Potential and Recent Advancements. Curr Pharm Des 2023; 29:3005-3017. [PMID: 38018196 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128248959231102114334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
There has been a lot of interest in antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as potential next-generation antibiotics. They are components of the innate immune system. AMPs have broad-spectrum action and are less prone to resistance development. They show potential applications in various fields, including medicine, agriculture, and the food industry. However, despite the good activity and safety profiles, AMPs have had difficulty finding success in the clinic due to their various limitations, such as production cost, proteolytic susceptibility, and oral bioavailability. To overcome these flaws, a number of solutions have been devised, one of which is developing short antimicrobial peptides. Short antimicrobial peptides do have an advantage over longer peptides as they are more stable and do not collapse during absorption. They have generated a lot of interest because of their evolutionary success and advantageous properties, such as low molecular weight, selective targets, cell or organelles with minimal toxicity, and enormous therapeutic potential. This article provides an overview of the development of short antimicrobial peptides with an emphasis on those with ≤ 30 amino acid residues as a potential therapeutic agent to fight drug-resistant microorganisms. It also emphasizes their applications in many fields and discusses their current state in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalita Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Gopal Singh Bisht
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Himachal Pradesh, India
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12
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Nabati F, kamyabiamineh A, Kosari R, Ghasemi F, Seyedebrahimi S, Mohammadi S, Moradi M. Virtual screening based on the structure of more than 105 compounds against four key proteins of SARS-CoV-2: MPro, SRBD, RdRp, and PLpro. INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE UNLOCKED 2022; 35:101134. [PMID: 36406927 PMCID: PMC9652154 DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2022.101134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background SARS-CoV-2 initially originated in Wuhan (China) around December 2019, and spread all over the world. Currently, WHO (Word Health Organization) has licensed several vaccines for this viral infection. However, not everyone can be vaccinated. People with underlying health conditions that weaken their immune systems or those with severe allergies to some vaccine components, may not be able to be vaccinated. Moreover, no vaccination is 100% safe, and the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 mutations may reduce the efficacy of immunizations. Therefore, it is urgent to develop effective drugs to protect people against this virus. Material and method We performed structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) of a library that was built from ChemDiv and PubChem databases against four SARS-CoV-2 target proteins: S-protein (spike), main protease (MPro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and PLpro. A virtual screening study was performed using PyRx and AutoDock tools. Results Our results suggest that twenty-five top-ranked drugs with the highest energy binding as the potential inhibitors against four SARS-CoV-2 targets, relative to the reference molecules. Based on the energy binding, we suggest that these compounds could be used to produce effective anti-viral drugs against SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion The discovery of novel compounds for COVID-19 using computer-aided drug discovery tools requires knowledge of the structure of coronavirus and various target proteins of the virus. These compounds should be further assessed in experimental assays and clinical trials to validate their actual activity against the disease. These findings may contribute to the drug design studies against COVID-19.
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Shaik RA, Ahmad MS, Alzahrani M, Alzerwi NAN, Alnemare AK, Reyzah M, Albar HM, Alshagrawi S, Elkhalifa AME, Alzahrani R, Alrohaimi Y, Mahfoz TMB, Ahmad RK, Alahmdi RA, Al-baradie NRS. Comprehensive Highlights of the Universal Efforts towards the Development of COVID-19 Vaccine. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10101689. [PMID: 36298554 PMCID: PMC9611897 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10101689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The world has taken proactive measures to combat the pandemic since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, which was caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). These measures range from increasing the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) and highlighting the value of social distancing to the emergency use authorization (EUA) of therapeutic drugs or antibodies and their appropriate use; nonetheless, the disease is still spreading quickly and is ruining people’s social lives, the economy, and public health. As a result, effective vaccines are critical for bringing the pandemic to an end and restoring normalcy in society. Several potential COVID-19 vaccines are now being researched, developed, tested, and reviewed. Since the end of June 2022, several vaccines have been provisionally approved, whereas others are about to be approved. In the upcoming years, a large number of new medications that are presently undergoing clinical testing are anticipated to hit the market. To illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of their technique, to emphasize the additives and delivery methods used in their creation, and to project potential future growth, this study explores these vaccines and the related research endeavors, including conventional and prospective approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riyaz Ahamed Shaik
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence:
| | - Mohammed Shakil Ahmad
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mansour Alzahrani
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nasser A. N. Alzerwi
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Ministry of Education, Al Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad K. Alnemare
- Otolaryngology Department, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Musaed Reyzah
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Ministry of Education, Al Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haitham M. Albar
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Ministry of Education, Al Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salah Alshagrawi
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh 11673, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed M. E. Elkhalifa
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh 11673, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Haematology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of El Imam El Mahdi, Kosti 1158, Sudan
| | - Raed Alzahrani
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yousef Alrohaimi
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Turki M. Bin Mahfoz
- Department of Otolaryngology, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 13317, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ritu Kumar Ahmad
- Applied Medical Sciences, Buraydah Private Colleges, Buraydah 51418, Saudi Arabia
| | - Riyadh Ahmed Alahmdi
- Department of Family Medicine, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAAUH), Princess Nourah Bin Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
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El-Menyar A, Khan NA, Mekkodathil A, Rizoli S, Consunji R, Elmenyar E, Galwankar S, Al-Thani H. A quick scoping review of the first year of vaccination against the COVID-19 pandemic: Do we need more shots or time? Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e30609. [PMID: 36123868 PMCID: PMC9477714 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000030609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants, along with the waning of vaccine-induced immunity, has increased breakthrough infections and urged booster jabs and debates. In the short term, the administration of booster doses has been reported to be safe and enhance severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-specific neutralizing antibody levels. However, the effects of these doses on the pandemic trajectory and herd immunity are unclear. There is insufficient evidence that a third booster shot of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine maintains longer immunity and covers new viral variants. The lack of sufficient evidence, combined with the fact that millions of people have not yet received 1 or 2 jabs of the COVID-19 vaccine, has raised concerns regarding the call for booster vaccinations. METHODS We conducted a quick scoping review to explore the literature on the need for a booster COVID-19 vaccination from January 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022. RESULTS Sixty-one relevant publications were identified, of which 17 were related to waning immunity after 2 doses of the vaccine among the general population or healthcare workers, 19 were related to the third or booster dose of vaccination after the second dose among the general population or healthcare workers, and 25 were related to booster dose among immunocompromised patient. CONCLUSIONS Initially, the need for a booster dose was equivocal; however, several studies demonstrated the benefit of the booster dose over time. Adequate scientific information is required regarding the administration of booster doses to the general population as well as the high-risk individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman El-Menyar
- Department of Surgery, Trauma and Vascular Surgery Clinical Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar
- Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar
| | - Naushad Ahmad Khan
- Department of Surgery, Trauma and Vascular Surgery Clinical Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar
| | - Ahammed Mekkodathil
- Department of Surgery, Trauma and Vascular Surgery Clinical Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar
| | - Sandro Rizoli
- Department of Surgery, Trauma Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar
| | - Rafael Consunji
- Department of Surgery, Trauma Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar
| | | | - Sagar Galwankar
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FL
| | - Hassan Al-Thani
- Department of Surgery, Trauma Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar
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Cavalcante BRR, Freitas RD, Siquara da Rocha LDO, Rocha GV, de Carvalho Pachêco TC, Pereira Ramos PI, Gurgel Rocha CA. In silico approaches for drug repurposing in oncology: Protocol for a scoping review of existing evidence. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271002. [PMID: 35797386 PMCID: PMC9262171 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug repurposing has been applied in the biomedical field to optimize the use of existing drugs, leading to a more efficient allocation of research resources. In oncology, this approach is particularly interesting, considering the high cost related to the discovery of new drugs with therapeutic potential. Computational methods have been applied to predict associations between drugs and their targets. However, drug repurposing has not always been promising and its efficiency has yet to be proven. Therefore, the present scoping review protocol was developed to screen the literature on how in silico strategies can be implemented in drug repurposing in oncology. The scoping review will be conducted according to the Arksey and O’Malley framework (2005) and the Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations. We will search the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, as well as the grey literature. We will include peer-reviewed research articles involving in silico strategies applied to drug repurposing in oncology, published between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2021. Data will be charted and findings described according to review questions. We will report the scoping review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Review guidelines (PRISMA-ScR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Raphael Ribeiro Cavalcante
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | - Leonardo de Oliveira Siquara da Rocha
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Gisele Vieira Rocha
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Brazil
- D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Salvador, Brazil
| | | | - Pablo Ivan Pereira Ramos
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Brazil
- Center of Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Clarissa Araújo Gurgel Rocha
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Propaedeutics, School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil
- * E-mail: ,
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In Silico Studies on Zinc Oxide Based Nanostructured Oil Carriers with Seed Extracts of Nigella sativa and Pimpinella anisum as Potential Inhibitors of 3CL Protease of SARS-CoV-2. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27134301. [PMID: 35807545 PMCID: PMC9268682 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Coming into the second year of the pandemic, the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants continue to be a serious health hazard globally. A surge in the omicron wave, despite the discovery of the vaccines, has shifted the attention of research towards the discovery and use of bioactive compounds, being potential inhibitors of the viral structural proteins. The present study aimed at the green synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with seed extracts of Nigella sativa and Pimpinella anisum—loaded nanostructured oil carriers (NLC)—using a mixture of olive and black seed essential oils. The synthesized ZnO NLC were extensively characterized. In addition, the constituent compounds in ZnO NLC were investigated as a potential inhibitor for the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro or Mpro) where 27 bioactive constituents, along with ZnO in the nanostructure, were subjected to molecular docking studies. The resultant high-score compounds were further validated by molecular dynamics simulation. The study optimized the compounds dithymoquinone, δ-hederin, oleuropein, and zinc oxide with high docking energy scores (ranging from −7.9 to −9.9 kcal/mol). The RMSD and RMSF data that ensued also mirrored these results for the stability of proteins and ligands. RMSD and RMSF data showed no conformational change in the protein during the MD simulation. Histograms of every simulation trajectory explained the ligand properties and ligand–protein contacts. Nevertheless, further experimental investigations and validation of the selected candidates are imperative to take forward the applicability of the nanostructure as a potent inhibitor of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) for clinical trials.
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Albalawi U, Mustafa M. Current Artificial Intelligence (AI) Techniques, Challenges, and Approaches in Controlling and Fighting COVID-19: A Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:5901. [PMID: 35627437 PMCID: PMC9140632 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has been one of the worst global health crises in the 21st century. The currently available rollout vaccines are not 100% effective for COVID-19 due to the evolving nature of the virus. There is a real need for a concerted effort to fight the virus, and research from diverse fields must contribute. Artificial intelligence-based approaches have proven to be significantly effective in every branch of our daily lives, including healthcare and medical domains. During the early days of this pandemic, artificial intelligence (AI) was utilized in the fight against this virus outbreak and it has played a major role in containing the spread of the virus. It provided innovative opportunities to speed up the development of disease interventions. Several methods, models, AI-based devices, robotics, and technologies have been proposed and utilized for diverse tasks such as surveillance, spread prediction, peak time prediction, classification, hospitalization, healthcare management, heath system capacity, etc. This paper attempts to provide a quick, concise, and precise survey of the state-of-the-art AI-based techniques, technologies, and datasets used in fighting COVID-19. Several domains, including forecasting, surveillance, dynamic times series forecasting, spread prediction, genomics, compute vision, peak time prediction, the classification of medical imaging-including CT and X-ray and how they can be processed-and biological data (genome and protein sequences) have been investigated. An overview of the open-access computational resources and platforms is given and their useful tools are pointed out. The paper presents the potential research areas in AI and will thus encourage researchers to contribute to fighting against the virus and aid global health by slowing down the spread of the virus. This will be a significant contribution to help minimize the high death rate across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umar Albalawi
- Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, University of Tabuk, KSA, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia;
- Industrial Innovation and Robotics Center, University of Tabuk, KSA, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Mustafa
- Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, University of Tabuk, KSA, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia;
- Industrial Innovation and Robotics Center, University of Tabuk, KSA, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia
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