1
|
Sohrab SS, Aly El-Kafrawy S, Mirza Z, Hassan AM, Alsaqaf F, Azhar EI. In silico prediction and experimental validation of siRNAs targeting ORF1ab of MERS-CoV in Vero cell line. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:1348-1355. [PMID: 33519276 PMCID: PMC7833792 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.11.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus is well known to cause respiratory syndrome and this virus was identified and isolated for the first time from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2012 from infected patient. In this report, we have conducted the in-silico prediction, designing and evaluation of siRNAs targeting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus orf1ab gene to inhibit the virus replication. By using bioinformatics software, total twenty-one functional, off-target reduced siRNA were selected from four hundred and sixty-two siRNAs based on their greater potency and specificity. We have evaluated only seven siRNAs to analyze their performance and efficacy as antivirals by reverse transfection approach in Vero cells. There was no cytotoxicity of siRNAs at various concentrations was observed in Vero cells. Based on the real-time PCR results, better inhibition of viral replication was observed in the siRNA-1 and 4 as compared to other siRNAs. The results generated from this work provided suitable information about the efficacy of siRNAs which encouraged us to further evaluate the remaining siRNAs to determine their inhibitory effect on the virus replication. We concluded that the insilico prediction and designing resulted in the screening of potential siRNAs with better efficiency, and strength. This can be used to develop oligonucleotide-based antiviral therapeutics against MERS-CoV in the near future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sayed Sartaj Sohrab
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Post Box No-80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sherif Aly El-Kafrawy
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Post Box No-80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zeenat Mirza
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed M Hassan
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Post Box No-80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatima Alsaqaf
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Post Box No-80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Esam Ibraheem Azhar
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Post Box No-80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sohrab SS, El-Kafrawy SA, Mirza Z, Hassan AM, Alsaqaf F, Azhar EI. Designing and evaluation of MERS-CoV siRNAs in HEK-293 cell line. J Infect Public Health 2020; 14:238-243. [PMID: 33493920 PMCID: PMC7771261 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2020.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The MERS-CoV was identified for the first time from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2012 from a hospitalized patient. This virus has now been spread to 27 countries with a total of 858 deaths and 2494 confirmed cases and has become a serious concern for the human population. Camels are well known for the transmission of the virus to the human population. Methods In this report, we have discussed the designing, prediction, and evaluation of potential siRNAs against the orf1ab gene of MERS-CoV. The online software was used to predict and design the siRNAs and finally, total twenty-one siRNA were filtered out from four hundred and sixty-two sIRNAs as per their scoring and specificity criteria. We have used only ten siRNAs to evaluate their cytotoxicity and efficacy by reverse transfection approach in HEK-293-T cell lines. Results Based on the results and data generated; no cytotoxicity was observed for any siRNAs at various concentrations in HEK-293-T cells. The ct value of real-time PCR showed the inhibition of viral replication in siRNA-1, 2, 4, 6, and 9. The data generated provided the preliminary information and encouraged us to evaluate the remaining siRNAs separately as well as in combination to analyses the replication of MERS-CoV inhibition in other cell lines. Conclusion Based on the results obtained; it is concluded that the prediction of siRNAs using online software resulted in the filtration of potential siRNAs with high accuracy and strength. This technology can be used to design and develop antiviral therapy not only for MERS-CoV but also against other viruses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sayed Sartaj Sohrab
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Post Box, No-80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Sherif Aly El-Kafrawy
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Post Box, No-80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zeenat Mirza
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed M Hassan
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Post Box, No-80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatima Alsaqaf
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Post Box, No-80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Esam Ibraheem Azhar
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Post Box, No-80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang H, Harmon M, Radoshitzky SR, Soloveva V, Kane CD, Duplantier AJ, Ogungbe IV. Vinyl Sulfone-Based Inhibitors of Nonstructural Protein 2 Block the Replication of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus. ACS Med Chem Lett 2020; 11:2139-2145. [PMID: 33214821 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.0c00215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases like those caused by arboviruses such as Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) pose a serious threat to public health systems. Development of medical countermeasures against emerging infectious diseases are of utmost importance. In this work, an acrylate and vinyl sulfone-based chemical series was investigated as promising starting scaffolds against VEEV and as inhibitors of the cysteine protease domain of VEEV's nonstructural protein 2 (nsP2). Primary screen and dose response studies were performed to evaluate the potency and cytotoxicity of the compounds. The results provide structural insights into a new class of potent nonpeptidic covalent inhibitors of nsP2 cysteine protease represented by compound 11 (VEEV TrD, EC50 = 2.4 μM (HeLa), 1.6 μM (Vero E6)). These results may facilitate the evolution of the compounds into selective and broad-spectrum anti-alphaviral drug leads.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huaisheng Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Atmospheric Sciences, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi 39217-0095, United States
| | - Moeshia Harmon
- Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Atmospheric Sciences, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi 39217-0095, United States
| | - Sheli R. Radoshitzky
- The Geneva Foundation, Countermeasure Development Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Frederick, Maryland 21702-5011, United States
| | - Veronica Soloveva
- Cherokee Nation Assurance, Countermeasure Development Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Frederick, Maryland 21702-5011, United States
| | - Christopher D. Kane
- Research Program Office, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Frederick, Maryland 21702-5011, United States
| | - Allen J. Duplantier
- Cherokee Nation Assurance, Countermeasure Development Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Frederick, Maryland 21702-5011, United States
| | - Ifedayo Victor Ogungbe
- Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Atmospheric Sciences, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi 39217-0095, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nguyen TH, Haese NN, Madadi N, Sarkar S, Bonin K, Streblow CE, Taft-Benz S, Tower NA, Rasmussen L, Bostwick R, Augelli-Szafran CE, Suto MJ, Morrison TE, DeFilippis V, Heise MT, Streblow DN, Pathak AK. Studies on Dibenzylamines as Inhibitors of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:2014-2028. [PMID: 31257853 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Alphaviruses are arthropod-transmitted members of the Togaviridae family that can cause severe disease in humans, including debilitating arthralgia and severe neurological complications. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or antiviral therapies directed against the alphaviruses, and care is limited to treating disease symptoms. A phenotypic cell-based high-throughput screen was performed to identify small molecules that inhibit the replication of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV). The compound, 1-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-N-(3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzyl)ethan-1-amine (1), was identified as a highly active, potent inhibitor of VEEV with an effective concentration for 90% inhibition of virus (EC90) of 0.89 μM and 7.49 log reduction in virus titers at 10 μM concentration. These data suggest that further investigation of compound 1 as an antiviral therapeutic against VEEV, and perhaps other alphaviruses, is warranted. Experiments suggested that the antiviral activity of compound 1 is directed at an early step in the VEEV replication cycle by blocking viral RNA and protein synthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa H. Nguyen
- Chemistry Department, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35205, United States
| | - Nicole N. Haese
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, Oregon 97006, United States
| | - Nikhil Madadi
- Chemistry Department, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35205, United States
| | - Sanjay Sarkar
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Kiley Bonin
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, Oregon 97006, United States
| | - Cassilyn E. Streblow
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, Oregon 97006, United States
| | - Sharon Taft-Benz
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Nichole A. Tower
- High-Throughput Screening Center, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35205, United States
| | - Lynn Rasmussen
- High-Throughput Screening Center, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35205, United States
| | - Robert Bostwick
- High-Throughput Screening Center, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35205, United States
| | - Corinne E. Augelli-Szafran
- Chemistry Department, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35205, United States
| | - Mark J. Suto
- Chemistry Department, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35205, United States
| | - Thomas E. Morrison
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12800 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Victor DeFilippis
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, Oregon 97006, United States
| | - Mark T. Heise
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Daniel N. Streblow
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, Oregon 97006, United States
| | - Ashish K. Pathak
- Chemistry Department, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35205, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Morazzani EM, Compton JR, Leary DH, Berry AV, Hu X, Marugan JJ, Glass PJ, Legler PM. Proteolytic cleavage of host proteins by the Group IV viral proteases of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus and Zika virus. Antiviral Res 2019; 164:106-122. [PMID: 30742841 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Revised: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The alphaviral nonstructural protein 2 (nsP2) cysteine proteases (EC 3.4.22.-) are essential for the proteolytic processing of the nonstructural (ns) polyprotein and are validated drug targets. A common secondary role of these proteases is to antagonize the effects of interferon (IFN). After delineating the cleavage site motif of the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) nsP2 cysteine protease, we searched the human genome to identify host protein substrates. Here we identify a new host substrate of the VEEV nsP2 protease, human TRIM14, a component of the mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) signalosome. Short stretches of homologous host-pathogen protein sequences (SSHHPS) are present in the nonstructural polyprotein and TRIM14. A 25-residue cyan-yellow fluorescent protein TRIM14 substrate was cleaved in vitro by the VEEV nsP2 protease and the cleavage site was confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry. A TRIM14 cleavage product also was found in VEEV-infected cell lysates. At least ten other Group IV (+)ssRNA viral proteases have been shown to cleave host proteins involved in generating the innate immune responses against viruses, suggesting that the integration of these short host protein sequences into the viral protease cleavage sites may represent an embedded mechanism of IFN antagonism. This interference mechanism shows several parallels with those of CRISPR/Cas9 and RNAi/RISC, but with a protease recognizing a protein sequence common to both the host and pathogen. The short host sequences embedded within the viral genome appear to be analogous to the short phage sequences found in a host's CRISPR spacer sequences. To test this algorithm, we applied it to another Group IV virus, Zika virus (ZIKV), and identified cleavage sites within human SFRP1 (secreted frizzled related protein 1), a retinal Gs alpha subunit, NT5M, and Forkhead box protein G1 (FOXG1) in vitro. Proteolytic cleavage of these proteins suggests a possible link between the protease and the virus-induced phenotype of ZIKV. The algorithm may have value for selecting cell lines and animal models that recapitulate virus-induced phenotypes, predicting host-range and susceptibility, selecting oncolytic viruses, identifying biomarkers, and de-risking live virus vaccines. Inhibitors of the proteases that utilize this mechanism may both inhibit viral replication and alleviate suppression of the innate immune responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elaine M Morazzani
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jaimee R Compton
- Center for Bio/molecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA
| | - Dagmar H Leary
- Center for Bio/molecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA
| | | | - Xin Hu
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Juan J Marugan
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Pamela J Glass
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Patricia M Legler
- Center for Bio/molecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
| |
Collapse
|