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Li S, Mu R, Guo X. Defensins regulate cell cycle: Insights of defensins on cellular proliferation and division. Life Sci 2024; 349:122740. [PMID: 38777302 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122740] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Defensins are a class of small antimicrobial peptides that play a crucial role against pathogens. However, recent research has highlighted defensins exhibit the ability to influence cell cycle checkpoints, promoting or inhibiting specific phases such as G1 arrest or S/M transition. By regulating the cell cycle, defensins impact the proliferation of normal and cancerous cells, with implications for cancer development and progression. Dysregulation of defensin expression can disrupt the delicate balance of cell cycle regulation, leading to uncontrolled cell growth and an increased risk of tumor formation. Defensins contribute to the resolution of inflammation, stimulate angiogenesis, and enhance the migration and proliferation of cells involved in tissue repair. Furthermore, The ability of defensins to respond to microenvironmental changes further demonstrates the significance of these peptides in host defense mechanisms and immune function. By adjusting their expression, defensins continue to combat pathogens effectively and maintain homeostasis within the body. This review highlights the multifaceted role of defensins in regulating the cell cycle and their broader implications in cancer progression, tissue repair, and microenvironmental response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Li
- Institute of Wound Prevention and Treatment, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201318, China.
| | - Rongrong Mu
- Affiliated Hospital of Sichuan Nursing Vocational College, The Third People's Hospital of Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xueqin Guo
- Department of Pathology, Gaomi City People's Hospital, Gaomi 261500, China
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2
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Tomkinson S, Triscott C, Schenk E, Foey A. The Potential of Probiotics as Ingestible Adjuvants and Immune Modulators for Antiviral Immunity and Management of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19. Pathogens 2023; 12:928. [PMID: 37513775 PMCID: PMC10384479 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Probiotic bacteria are able to modulate general antiviral responsiveness, including barrier functionality and innate and adaptive immune responses. The COVID-19 pandemic, resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection, has created a need to control and treat this viral infection and its ensuing immunopathology with a variety of approaches; one such approach may involve the administration of probiotic bacteria. As with most viral infections, its pathological responses are not fully driven by the virus, but are significantly contributed to by the host's immune response to viral infection. The potential adoption of probiotics in the treatment of COVID-19 will have to appreciate the fine line between inducing antiviral immunity without over-provoking immune inflammatory responses resulting in host-derived immunopathological tissue damage. Additionally, the effect exerted on the immune system by SARS-CoV-2 evasion strategies will also have to be considered when developing a robust response to this virus. This review will introduce the immunopathology of COVID-19 and the immunomodulatory effects of probiotic strains, and through their effects on a range of respiratory pathogens (IAV, SARS-CoV, RSV), as well as SARS-CoV-2, will culminate in a focus on how these bacteria can potentially manipulate both infectivity and immune responsiveness via barrier functionality and both innate and adaptive immunity. In conclusion, the harnessing of induction and augmentation of antiviral immunity via probiotics may not only act as an ingestible adjuvant, boosting immune responsiveness to SARS-CoV-2 infection at the level of barrier integrity and innate and adaptive immunity, but also act prophylactically to prevent infection and enhance protection afforded by current vaccine regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Tomkinson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Cloe Triscott
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Emily Schenk
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Andrew Foey
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
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3
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Durairajan SSK, Singh AK, Saravanan UB, Namachivayam M, Radhakrishnan M, Huang JD, Dhodapkar R, Zhang H. Gastrointestinal Manifestations of SARS-CoV-2: Transmission, Pathogenesis, Immunomodulation, Microflora Dysbiosis, and Clinical Implications. Viruses 2023; 15:1231. [PMID: 37376531 DOI: 10.3390/v15061231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical manifestation of COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in the respiratory system of humans is widely recognized. There is increasing evidence suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 possesses the capability to invade the gastrointestinal (GI) system, leading to the manifestation of symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and GI lesions. These symptoms subsequently contribute to the development of gastroenteritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Nevertheless, the pathophysiological mechanisms linking these GI symptoms to SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unelucidated. During infection, SARS-CoV-2 binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and other host proteases in the GI tract during the infection, possibly causing GI symptoms by damaging the intestinal barrier and stimulating inflammatory factor production, respectively. The symptoms of COVID-19-induced GI infection and IBD include intestinal inflammation, mucosal hyperpermeability, bacterial overgrowth, dysbiosis, and changes in blood and fecal metabolomics. Deciphering the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and understanding its exacerbation may provide insights into disease prognosis and pave the way for the discovery of potential novel targets for disease prevention or treatment. Besides the usual transmission routes, SARS-CoV-2 can also be transmitted via the feces of an infected person. Hence, it is crucial to implement preventive and control measures in order to mitigate the fecal-to-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Within this context, the identification and diagnosis of GI tract symptoms during these infections assume significance as they facilitate early detection of the disease and the development of targeted therapeutics. The present review discusses the receptors, pathogenesis, and transmission of SARS-CoV-2, with a particular focus on the induction of gut immune responses, the influence of gut microbes, and potential therapeutic targets against COVID-19-induced GI infection and IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abhay Kumar Singh
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Tiruvarur 610005, India
| | - Udhaya Bharathy Saravanan
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Tiruvarur 610005, India
| | - Mayurikaa Namachivayam
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Tiruvarur 610005, India
| | - Moorthi Radhakrishnan
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Tiruvarur 610005, India
| | - Jian-Dong Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Rahul Dhodapkar
- Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Government of India, Puducherry 605006, India
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 999077, China
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Bhandu P, Verma H, Raju B, Narendra G, Choudhary S, Singh M, Singh PK, Silakari O. Identification of natural peptides from "PlantPepDB" database as anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents: A protein-protein docking approach. PHYTOMEDICINE PLUS : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 3:100446. [PMID: 37033295 PMCID: PMC10065049 DOI: 10.1016/j.phyplu.2023.100446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A global pandemic owing to COVID-19 infection has created havoc in the entire world. The etiological agent responsible for this viral outbreak is classified as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Still, there's no specific drug or preventive medication to treat SARS-CoV-2. This study was designed to demonstrate the efficacy of some anti-viral peptides obtained from a plant database i.e., PlantPepDB as potential ACE-2-Spike (S) protein complex neutralizers using a structure-based drug designing approach. METHOD A total of 83 anti-viral plant peptides were screened from a peptide database i.e. PlantPepDB based on their reported anti-viral activities against various viral strains. In order to screen peptides that may potentially interfere with ACE-2 and S complex formation, molecular docking studies were conducted using the flare module of Cresset software and subsequently, analysed the crucial interactions between the peptides and S complexes and ACE-2/S complex. Herein, the interactions and docking scores obtained for ACE-2/S complex were considered as references. The S-peptides complexes which displayed superior interactions and docking scores than reference complex i.e., ACE2-S were considered as final hits. The Molecular dynamics studies were conducted for a period of 30 ns for each of the final hit/S complex to understand the interaction stability and binding mechanism of designed peptides. RESULTS The molecular docking results revealed that five peptides including Cycloviolacin Y3, Cycloviolacin Y1, White cloud bean defensin, Putative defensin 3.1, and Defensin D1 showed superior docking scores (i.e. -1372.5 kJ/mol to -1232.6 kJ/mol) when docked at the ACE2 binding site of S-protein than score obtained for the complex of ACE-2 and S protein i.e. -1183.4 kJ/mol. Moreover, these top five peptides manifested key interactions required to prevent the binding of S protein with ACE2. The molecular dynamics simulation study revealed that two of these five peptides i.e. Cycloviolacin Y3 and Cycloviolacin Y1 displayed minimal RMSD fluctuations. CONCLUSIONS The current structure-based drug-designing approach shows the possible role of anti-viral plant peptides as potential molecules to be explored at the initial stage of viral pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Bhandu
- Molecular Modeling Lab (MML), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | - Himanshu Verma
- Molecular Modeling Lab (MML), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | - Baddipadige Raju
- Molecular Modeling Lab (MML), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | - Gera Narendra
- Molecular Modeling Lab (MML), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | - Shalki Choudhary
- Molecular Modeling Lab (MML), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | - Manmeet Singh
- Molecular Modeling Lab (MML), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar Singh
- Faculty of Medicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, FI-20014, Finland
| | - Om Silakari
- Molecular Modeling Lab (MML), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
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Rani P, Kapoor B, Gulati M, Atanasov AG, Alzahrani Q, Gupta R. Antimicrobial peptides: A plausible approach for COVID-19 treatment. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:473-487. [PMID: 35255763 PMCID: PMC8935455 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2050693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which emerged as a major public health threat, has affected >400 million people globally leading to >5 million mortalities to date. Treatments of COVID-19 are still to be developed as the available therapeutic approaches are not able to combat the virus causing the disease (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2; SARS-CoV-2) satisfactorily. However, antiviral peptides (AVPs) have demonstrated prophylactic and therapeutic effects against many coronaviruses (CoVs). AREAS COVERED This review critically discusses various types of AVPs evaluated for the treatment of COVID-19 along with their mechanisms of action. Furthermore, the peptides inhibiting the entry of the virus by targeting its binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) or integrins, fusion mechanism as well as activation of proteolytic enzymes (cathepsin L, transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), or furin) are also discussed. EXPERT OPINION Although extensively investigated, successful treatment of COVID-19 is still a challenge due to emergence of virus mutants. Antiviral peptides are anticipated to be blockbuster drugs for the management of this serious infection because of their formulation and therapeutic advantages. Although they may act on different pathways, AVPs having a multi-targeted approach are considered to have the upper hand in the management of this infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Rani
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Bhupinder Kapoor
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Monica Gulati
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Atanas G Atanasov
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Digital Health and Patient Safety, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Magdalenka, Poland.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Qushmua Alzahrani
- Department of Pharmacy/Nursing/Medicine Health and Environment, University of the Region of Joinville (UNIVILLE) volunteer researcher, Joinville, Brazil
| | - Reena Gupta
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
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Qiao Q, Bai R, Song W, Gao H, Zhang M, Lu J, Hong M, Zhang X, Sun P, Zhang Q, Zhao P. Human α-defensin 5 suppressed colon cancer growth by targeting PI3K pathway. Exp Cell Res 2021; 407:112809. [PMID: 34487729 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Defensins are highly conserved antimicrobial peptides, which ubiquitously expressed in different species. In addition to the functions in host defense, their aberrant expression have also been documented in cancerous tissue including breast cancer, lung caner and renal carcinoma etc. Whereas, roles of Defensin Alpha 5 (DEFA5) in colon cancer has not been explored. Bioinformatic analysis was used to study the expression of DEFA5 and its correlation with clinical outcomes; Western blot, qPCR, Co-immunoprecipitation, xenograft models were used to the study the molecular mechanism. Decreased expression of DEFA5 at protein level was observed in colon tissues. Colon cancer cell lines proliferation and colony formation capacity were significantly suppressed by DEFA5 overexpression. Moreover, in vivo tumor growth in nude mice was also suppressed by DEFA5 overexpression, suggesting a tumor suppressor role of DEFA5 in colon cancer. Mechanistically, DEFA5 directly binds to the subunits of PI3K complex, thus attenuates the downstream signaling transduction, leads to delayed cell growth and metastasis. Collectively, we concluded that DEFA5 showed an inhibitory effect in colon cancer cell growth and may serve as a potential tumor suppressor in colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Qiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, No.1, Tongdao North Street, Huimin District, Hohhot, 010050, PR China.
| | - Ruixia Bai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Inner Mongolia People's Hospital, Zhaowuda Road, Hohhot, 010018, PR China.
| | - Wanying Song
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Haining Gao
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Minyu Zhang
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Jingkun Lu
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Mei Hong
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Peng Sun
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Qian Zhang
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, 1#, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010050, PR China.
| | - Pengwei Zhao
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
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Awang T, Pongprayoon P. The penetration of human defensin 5 (HD5) through bacterial outer membrane: simulation studies. J Mol Model 2021; 27:291. [PMID: 34546425 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-021-04915-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Human α-defensin 5 (HD5) is one of cationic antimicrobial peptides which plays a crucial role in an innate immune system in human body. HD5 shows the killing activity against a broad spectrum of pathogenic bacteria by making a pore in a bacterial membrane and penetrating into a cytosol. Nonetheless, its pore-forming mechanisms remain unclear. Thus, in this work, the constant-velocity steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulation was used to simulate the permeation of a dimeric HD5 into a gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS) membrane model. Arginine-rich HD5 is found to strongly interact with a LPS surface. Upon arrival, arginines on HD5 interact with lipid A head groups (a top part of LPS) and then drag these charged moieties down into a hydrophobic core resulting in the formation of water-filled pore. Although all arginines are found to interact with a membrane, Arg13 and Arg32 appear to play a dominant role in the HD5 adsorption on a gram-negative membrane. Furthermore, one chain of a dimeric HD5 is required for HD5 adhesion. The interactions of arginine-lipid A head groups play a major role in adhering a cationic HD5 on a membrane surface and retarding a HD5 passage in the meantime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadsanee Awang
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Prapasiri Pongprayoon
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand. .,Center for Advanced Studies in Nanotechnology for Chemical, Food and Agricultural Industries, KU Institute for Advanced Studies, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
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8
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Are Host Defense Peptides and Their Derivatives Ready to be Part of the Treatment of the Next Coronavirus Pandemic? Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2021; 69:25. [PMID: 34529143 PMCID: PMC8444179 DOI: 10.1007/s00005-021-00630-9] [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] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The term host defense peptides arose at the beginning to refer to those peptides that are part of the host’s immunity. Because of their broad antimicrobial capacity and immunomodulatory activity, nowadays, they emerge as a hope to combat resistant multi-drug microorganisms and emerging viruses, such as the case of coronaviruses. Since the beginning of this century, coronaviruses have been part of different outbreaks and a pandemic, and they will be surely part of the next pandemics, this review analyses whether these peptides and their derivatives are ready to be part of the treatment of the next coronavirus pandemic.
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9
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Lv L, Zhang L. Host proviral and antiviral factors for SARS-CoV-2. Virus Genes 2021; 57:475-488. [PMID: 34510331 PMCID: PMC8435179 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-021-01869-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Throughout the viral life cycle, interplays between cellular host factors and virus determine the infectious capacity of the virus. The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a great threat to human life and health. Extensive studies identified a number of host proviral and antiviral factors for SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and cellular factors during virus entry and replication. Our review will highlight the future direction of study on the infection and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2, as well as novel therapeutic strategies and effective antiviral targets for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Lv
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China.,Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China
| | - Leiliang Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China. .,Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China.
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10
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Gao B, Zhu S. A Fungal Defensin Targets the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Receptor-Binding Domain. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:553. [PMID: 34356932 PMCID: PMC8304516 DOI: 10.3390/jof7070553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) elicited by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is calling for novel targeted drugs. Since the viral entry into host cells depends on specific interactions between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the viral Spike protein and the membrane-bound monocarboxypeptidase angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the development of high affinity RBD binders to compete with human ACE2 represents a promising strategy for the design of therapeutics to prevent viral entry. Here, we report the discovery of such a binder and its improvement via a combination of computational and experimental approaches. The binder micasin, a known fungal defensin from the dermatophytic fungus Microsporum canis with antibacterial activity, can dock to the crevice formed by the receptor-binding motif (RBM) of RBD via an extensive shape complementarity interface (855.9 Å2 in area) with numerous hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding interactions. Using microscale thermophoresis (MST) technique, we confirmed that micasin and its C-terminal γ-core derivative with multiple predicted interacting residues exhibited a low micromolar affinity to RBD. Expanding the interface area of micasin through a single point mutation to 970.5 Å2 accompanying an enhanced hydrogen bond network significantly improved its binding affinity by six-fold. Our work highlights the naturally occurring fungal defensins as an emerging resource that may be suitable for the development into antiviral agents for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shunyi Zhu
- Group of Peptide Biology and Evolution, State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China;
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