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de La Vega MA, Xiii A, Massey S, Spengler JR, Kobinger GP, Woolsey C. An update on nonhuman primate usage for drug and vaccine evaluation against filoviruses. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024:1-27. [PMID: 39090822 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2386100] [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: 06/23/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Due to their faithful recapitulation of human disease, nonhuman primates (NHPs) are considered the gold standard for evaluating drugs against Ebolavirus and other filoviruses. The long-term goal is to reduce the reliance on NHPs with more ethical alternatives. In silico simulations and organoid models have the potential to revolutionize drug testing by providing accurate, human-based systems that mimic disease processes and drug responses without the ethical concerns associated with animal testing. However, as these emerging technologies are still in their developmental infancy, NHP models are presently needed for late-stage evaluation of filovirus vaccines and drugs, as they provide critical insights into the efficacy and safety of new medical countermeasures. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors introduce available NHP models and examine the existing literature on drug discovery for all medically significant filoviruses in corresponding models. EXPERT OPINION A deliberate shift toward animal-free models is desired to align with the 3Rs of animal research. In the short term, the use of NHP models can be refined and reduced by enhancing replicability and publishing negative data. Replacement involves a gradual transition, beginning with the selection and optimization of better small animal models; advancing organoid systems, and using in silico models to accurately predict immunological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Antoine de La Vega
- Galveston National Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Ara Xiii
- Galveston National Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Shane Massey
- Office of Regulated Nonclinical Studies, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Jessica R Spengler
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Gary P Kobinger
- Galveston National Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Courtney Woolsey
- Galveston National Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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Sword J, Lee JH, Castro MA, Solomon J, Aiosa N, Reza SMS, Chu WT, Johnson JC, Bartos C, Cooper K, Jahrling PB, Johnson RF, Calcagno C, Crozier I, Kuhn JH, Hensley LE, Feuerstein IM, Mani V. Computed Tomography Imaging for Monitoring of Marburg Virus Disease: a Nonhuman Primate Proof-Of-Concept Study. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0349422. [PMID: 37036346 PMCID: PMC10269526 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03494-22] [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: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Marburg virus (MARV) is a highly virulent zoonotic filovirid that causes Marburg virus disease (MVD) in humans. The pathogenesis of MVD remains poorly understood, partially due to the low number of cases that can be studied, the absence of state-of-the-art medical equipment in areas where cases are reported, and limitations on the number of animals that can be safely used in experimental studies under maximum containment animal biosafety level 4 conditions. Medical imaging modalities, such as whole-body computed tomography (CT), may help to describe disease progression in vivo, potentially replacing ethically contentious and logistically challenging serial euthanasia studies. Towards this vision, we performed a pilot study, during which we acquired whole-body CT images of 6 rhesus monkeys before and 7 to 9 days after intramuscular MARV exposure. We identified imaging abnormalities in the liver, spleen, and axillary lymph nodes that corresponded to clinical, virological, and gross pathological hallmarks of MVD in this animal model. Quantitative image analysis indicated hepatomegaly with a significant reduction in organ density (indicating fatty infiltration of the liver), splenomegaly, and edema that corresponded with gross pathological and histopathological findings. Our results indicated that CT imaging could be used to verify and quantify typical MVD pathogenesis versus altered, diminished, or absent disease severity or progression in the presence of candidate medical countermeasures, thus possibly reducing the number of animals needed and eliminating serial euthanasia. IMPORTANCE Marburg virus (MARV) is a highly virulent zoonotic filovirid that causes Marburg virus disease (MVD) in humans. Much is unknown about disease progression and, thus, prevention and treatment options are limited. Medical imaging modalities, such as whole-body computed tomography (CT), have the potential to improve understanding of MVD pathogenesis. Our study used CT to identify abnormalities in the liver, spleen, and axillary lymph nodes that corresponded to known clinical signs of MVD in this animal model. Our results indicated that CT imaging and analyses could be used to elucidate pathogenesis and possibly assess the efficacy of candidate treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Sword
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Ji Hyun Lee
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Marcelo A. Castro
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeffrey Solomon
- Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Nina Aiosa
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Syed M. S. Reza
- Center for Infectious Disease Imaging, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Winston T. Chu
- Center for Infectious Disease Imaging, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Joshua C. Johnson
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher Bartos
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Kurt Cooper
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Peter B. Jahrling
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
- Emerging Viral Pathogens Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Reed F. Johnson
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
- Emerging Viral Pathogens Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Claudia Calcagno
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Ian Crozier
- Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jens H. Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Lisa E. Hensley
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Irwin M. Feuerstein
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Venkatesh Mani
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland, USA
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Kar SS, Dhar AK, Palei NN, Bhatt S. Small-molecule oligonucleotides as smart modality for antiviral therapy: a medicinal chemistry perspective. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:1091-1110. [PMID: 37584172 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Small-molecule oligonucleotides could be exploited therapeutically to silence the expression of viral infection-causing genes, and a few of them are now in clinical trials for the management of viral infections. The most challenging aspect of these oligonucleotides' therapeutic success involves their delivery. Thus medicinal chemistry strategies are inevitable to avoid degradation by serum nucleases, avoid kidney clearance and improve cellular uptake. Recently small-molecule oligonucleotide design has opened up new avenues to improve the treatment of drug-resistant viral infections, along with the development of COVID-19 medicines. This review is directed toward the recent advances in rational design, mechanism of action, structure-activity relationships and future perspective of the small-molecule oligonucleotides targeting viral infections, including COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidhartha S Kar
- Institute of Pharmacy & Technology, Salipur, Cuttack, Odisha, 754202, India
| | - Arghya Kusum Dhar
- School of Pharmacy, The Neotia University, Sarisa, D.H. Road, 24 Pgs (South) West Bengal, 743368, India
| | - Narahari N Palei
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Lucknow Campus, Uttar Pradesh, 226010, India
| | - Shvetank Bhatt
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, Dr Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, Pune, Maharashtra, 411038, India
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Markin VA. Marburg virus and the disease it causes. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, EPIDEMIOLOGY AND IMMUNOBIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.36233/0372-9311-273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Over the 50 years since its discovery, many properties of the Marburg virus have been studied, but no reliable medical remedies of preventing and treating the infection it causes have been developed, although it can potentially cause large-scale epidemics.
Marburg fever is relevant due to the risk of importation to other countries. The source of infection in nature is bats (reservoir) and monkeys (intermediate host), and the routes of transmission are aerosol, contact and alimentary. The mortality rate in recent outbreaks has reached 90%. In convalescents the causative agent was identified in tears, semen, and liver biopsies weeks and months after recovery.
The lack of therapeutic and prophylactic antiviral drugs, high rates of mortality, infectivity, the ability of aerosol contamination, and a high epidemic potential all together define Marburg fever as a serious global threat to international health. The development of medical protection against this infection should be an urgent task of ensuring the biological safety of the population of the Russian Federation.
The most promising ways to develop vaccines against Marburg fever are the construction of recombinants based on adenovirus, vesicular stomatitis virus or alphavirus replicon, DNA vaccines. A reliable protective effect of the chemotherapy drug remdesivir in combination with human antibodies, as well as an etiotropic drug with an antisense mechanism of action and an interferon inducer has been shown. In model experiments with pseudovirus, fundamentally new ways of developing pathogen inhibitors were found preventing its exit from cells, as well as the construction of anti-gene-binding Fab fragments that inhibit the synthesis of viral RNA.
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Abir MH, Rahman T, Das A, Etu SN, Nafiz IH, Rakib A, Mitra S, Emran TB, Dhama K, Islam A, Siyadatpanah A, Mahmud S, Kim B, Hassan MM. Pathogenicity and virulence of Marburg virus. Virulence 2022; 13:609-633. [PMID: 35363588 PMCID: PMC8986239 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2054760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Marburg virus (MARV) has been a major concern since 1967, with two major outbreaks occurring in 1998 and 2004. Infection from MARV results in severe hemorrhagic fever, causing organ dysfunction and death. Exposure to fruit bats in caves and mines, and human-to-human transmission had major roles in the amplification of MARV outbreaks in African countries. The high fatality rate of up to 90% demands the broad study of MARV diseases (MVD) that correspond with MARV infection. Since large outbreaks are rare for MARV, clinical investigations are often inadequate for providing the substantial data necessary to determine the treatment of MARV disease. Therefore, an overall review may contribute to minimizing the limitations associated with future medical research and improve the clinical management of MVD. In this review, we sought to analyze and amalgamate significant information regarding MARV disease epidemics, pathophysiology, and management approaches to provide a better understanding of this deadly virus and the associated infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehedy Hasan Abir
- Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Tanjilur Rahman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Ayan Das
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Silvia Naznin Etu
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Iqbal Hossain Nafiz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Ahmed Rakib
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Saikat Mitra
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Talha Bin Emran
- Department of Pharmacy, BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Ariful Islam
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY, USA
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Abolghasem Siyadatpanah
- Ferdows School of Paramedical and Health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Shafi Mahmud
- Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Bonlgee Kim
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan
- Queensland Alliance for One Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
- Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram, Bangladesh
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Liu CH, Hu YT, Wong SH, Lin LT. Therapeutic Strategies against Ebola Virus Infection. Viruses 2022; 14:v14030579. [PMID: 35336986 PMCID: PMC8954160 DOI: 10.3390/v14030579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the 2014–2016 epidemic, Ebola virus (EBOV) has spread to several countries and has become a major threat to global health. EBOV is a risk group 4 pathogen, which imposes significant obstacles for the development of countermeasures against the virus. Efforts have been made to develop anti-EBOV immunization and therapeutics, with three vaccines and two antibody-based therapeutics approved in recent years. Nonetheless, the high fatality of Ebola virus disease highlights the need to continuously develop antiviral strategies for the future management of EBOV outbreaks in conjunction with vaccination programs. This review aims to highlight potential EBOV therapeutics and their target(s) of inhibition, serving as a summary of the literature to inform readers of the novel candidates available in the continued search for EBOV antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Hsuan Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
| | - Yee-Tung Hu
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
| | - Shu Hui Wong
- International Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
| | - Liang-Tzung Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
- Correspondence:
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7
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Antisense Oligonucleotide-Based Therapy of Viral Infections. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13122015. [PMID: 34959297 PMCID: PMC8707165 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13122015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based therapeutics have demonstrated their efficacy in the treatment of various diseases and vaccine development. Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) technology exploits a single-strand short oligonucleotide to either cause target RNA degradation or sterically block the binding of cellular factors or machineries to the target RNA. Chemical modification or bioconjugation of ASOs can enhance both its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic performance, and it enables customization for a specific clinical purpose. ASO-based therapies have been used for treatment of genetic disorders, cancer and viral infections. In particular, ASOs can be rapidly developed for newly emerging virus and their reemerging variants. This review discusses ASO modifications and delivery options as well as the design of antiviral ASOs. A better understanding of the viral life cycle and virus-host interactions as well as advances in oligonucleotide technology will benefit the development of ASO-based antiviral therapies.
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Plant-based vaccine research development against viral diseases with emphasis on Ebola virus disease: A review study. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2021; 60:261-267. [PMID: 34481336 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Ebola virus infection results in the fast onset of severe acute haemorrhagic fever with high mortality. The Ebola virus is labelled as a category A pathogen. Vaccines against the Ebola virus (EBOV) are essential for everyone, and an expansion in the arena of vaccine synthesis; especially, plant-based vaccine development has drawn attention. To express the heterologous protein for plant-based vectors, both RNA and DNA viruses have been adapted. Among the different approaches of plant-based vaccine technologies, the agroinfiltration method, which was initially established to investigate plant-virus interactions, has been considered an effective method to produce monoclonal antibodies against EBOV. The effectiveness of plants as bioreactors of vaccine/monoclonal antibodies development could be well-thought-out to attend the obligatory mandate. The review confers recent progress in the production of plant-based vaccines and antibody treatments against the Ebola virus disease, thereby alleviating public health alarms associated with EBOV.
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Abstract
Despite numerous viral outbreaks in the last decade, including a devastating global pandemic, diagnostic and therapeutic technologies remain severely lacking. CRISPR-Cas systems have the potential to address these critical needs in the response against infectious disease. Initially discovered as the bacterial adaptive immune system, these systems provide a unique opportunity to create programmable, sequence-specific technologies for detection of viral nucleic acids and inhibition of viral replication. This review summarizes how CRISPR-Cas systems-in particular the recently discovered DNA-targeting Cas12 and RNA-targeting Cas13, both possessing a unique trans-cleavage activity-are being harnessed for viral diagnostics and therapies. We further highlight the numerous technologies whose development has accelerated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A. Freije
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA,Ph.D. Program in Virology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Corresponding author
| | - Pardis C. Sabeti
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA,Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA,Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Corresponding author
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10
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Isono M, Furuyama W, Kuroda M, Kondoh T, Igarashi M, Kajihara M, Yoshida R, Manzoor R, Okuya K, Miyamoto H, Feldmann H, Marzi A, Sakaitani M, Nanbo A, Takada A. A biaryl sulfonamide derivative as a novel inhibitor of filovirus infection. Antiviral Res 2020; 183:104932. [PMID: 32946918 PMCID: PMC11075116 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Ebolaviruses and marburgviruses, members of the family Filoviridae, are known to cause fatal diseases often associated with hemorrhagic fever. Recent outbreaks of Ebola virus disease in West African countries and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have made clear the urgent need for the development of therapeutics and vaccines against filoviruses. Using replication-incompetent vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotyped with the Ebola virus (EBOV) envelope glycoprotein (GP), we screened a chemical compound library to obtain new drug candidates that inhibit filoviral entry into target cells. We discovered a biaryl sulfonamide derivative that suppressed in vitro infection mediated by GPs derived from all known human-pathogenic filoviruses. To determine the inhibitory mechanism of the compound, we monitored each entry step (attachment, internalization, and membrane fusion) using lipophilic tracer-labeled ebolavirus-like particles and found that the compound efficiently blocked fusion between the viral envelope and the endosomal membrane during cellular entry. However, the compound did not block the interaction of GP with the Niemann-Pick C1 protein, which is believed to be the receptor of filoviruses. Using replication-competent VSVs pseudotyped with EBOV GP, we selected escape mutants and identified two EBOV GP amino acid residues (positions 47 and 66) important for the interaction with this compound. Interestingly, these amino acid residues were located at the base region of the GP trimer, suggesting that the compound might interfere with the GP conformational change required for membrane fusion. These results suggest that this biaryl sulfonamide derivative is a novel fusion inhibitor and a possible drug candidate for the development of a pan-filovirus therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao Isono
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Wakako Furuyama
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Makoto Kuroda
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tatsunari Kondoh
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Manabu Igarashi
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Global Station for Zoonosis Control, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Kajihara
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Reiko Yoshida
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Rashid Manzoor
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kosuke Okuya
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hiroko Miyamoto
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Heinz Feldmann
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Andrea Marzi
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | | | - Asuka Nanbo
- The National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Ayato Takada
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Global Station for Zoonosis Control, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
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11
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Jain S, Khaiboullina SF, Baranwal M. Immunological Perspective for Ebola Virus Infection and Various Treatment Measures Taken to Fight the Disease. Pathogens 2020; 9:E850. [PMID: 33080902 PMCID: PMC7603231 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9100850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebolaviruses, discovered in 1976, belongs to the Filoviridae family, which also includes Marburg and Lloviu viruses. They are negative-stranded RNA viruses with six known species identified to date. Ebola virus (EBOV) is a member of Zaire ebolavirus species and can cause the Ebola virus disease (EVD), an emerging zoonotic disease that results in homeostatic imbalance and multi-organ failure. There are three EBOV outbreaks documented in the last six years resulting in significant morbidity (> 32,000 cases) and mortality (> 13,500 deaths). The potential factors contributing to the high infectivity of this virus include multiple entry mechanisms, susceptibility of the host cells, employment of multiple immune evasion mechanisms and rapid person-to-person transmission. EBOV infection leads to cytokine storm, disseminated intravascular coagulation, host T cell apoptosis as well as cell mediated and humoral immune response. In this review, a concise recap of cell types targeted by EBOV and EVD symptoms followed by detailed run-through of host innate and adaptive immune responses, virus-driven regulation and their combined effects contributing to the disease pathogenesis has been presented. At last, the vaccine and drug development initiatives as well as challenges related to the management of infection have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahil Jain
- Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala 147004, Punjab, India;
| | - Svetlana F. Khaiboullina
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia
| | - Manoj Baranwal
- Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala 147004, Punjab, India;
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12
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Duplantier AJ, Shurtleff AC, Miller C, Chiang CY, Panchal RG, Sunay M. Combating biothreat pathogens: ongoing efforts for countermeasure development and unique challenges. DRUG DISCOVERY TARGETING DRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA 2020. [PMCID: PMC7258707 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-818480-6.00007-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Research to discover and develop antibacterial and antiviral drugs with potent activity against pathogens of biothreat concern presents unique methodological and process-driven challenges. Herein, we review laboratory approaches for finding new antibodies, antibiotics, and antiviral molecules for pathogens of biothreat concern. Using high-throughput screening techniques, molecules that directly inhibit a pathogen’s entry, replication, or growth can be identified. Alternatively, molecules that target host proteins can be interesting targets for development when countering biothreat pathogens, due to the modulation of the host immune response or targeting proteins that interfere with the pathways required by the pathogen for replication. Monoclonal and cocktail antibody therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration for countering anthrax and under development for treatment of Ebola virus infection are discussed. A comprehensive tabular review of current in vitro, in vivo, pharmacokinetic and efficacy datasets has been presented for biothreat pathogens of greatest concern. Finally, clinical trials and animal rule or traditional drug approval pathways are also reviewed. Opinions; interpretations; conclusions; and recommendations are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the US Army.
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13
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Araújo D, Azevedo NM, Barbosa A, Almeida C, Rodrigues ME, Henriques M, Silva S. Application of 2'-OMethylRNA' Antisense Oligomer to Control Candida albicans EFG1 Virulence Determinant. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 18:508-517. [PMID: 31671344 PMCID: PMC6838528 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Antisense oligomers and their analogs have been successfully utilized to silence gene expression for the treatment of many human diseases; however, the control of yeast’s virulence determinants has never been exploited before. In this sense, this work is based on the key hypothesis that if a pathogen’s genetic sequence is a determinant of virulence, it will be possible to synthesize a nucleic acid mimic based on antisense therapy (AST) that will bind to the mRNA produced, blocking its translation into protein and, consequently, reducing the pathogen virulence phenotype. EFG1 is an important determinant of virulence that is involved in the regulation of the Candida albicans switch from yeast to filamentous form. Thus, our main goal was to design and synthesize an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting the EFG1 mRNA and to validate its in vitro applicability. The results show that the anti-EFG1 2′-OMethylRNA (2′OMe) oligomer was able to significantly reduce the levels of EFG1 gene expression and of Efg1p protein translation (both approximately 60%), as well as effectively prevent filamentation of C. albicans cells (by 80%). Moreover, it was verified that anti-EFG1 2′OMe keeps the efficacy in different simulated human body fluids. Undeniably, this work provides potentially valuable information for future research into the management of Candida infections, regarding the development of a credible and alternative method to control C. albicans infections, based on AST methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Araújo
- LIBRO-Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Miguel Azevedo
- LIBRO-Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Barbosa
- LIBRO-Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Carina Almeida
- LIBRO-Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Rua dos Lagidos, Lugar da Madalena, Vairão, 4485-655 Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Maria Elisa Rodrigues
- LIBRO-Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Mariana Henriques
- LIBRO-Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Sónia Silva
- LIBRO-Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
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14
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Cui Q, Cheng H, Xiong R, Zhang G, Du R, Anantpadma M, Davey RA, Rong L. Identification of Diaryl-Quinoline Compounds as Entry Inhibitors of Ebola Virus. Viruses 2018; 10:v10120678. [PMID: 30513600 PMCID: PMC6315506 DOI: 10.3390/v10120678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus is the causative agent of Ebola virus disease in humans. The lethality of Ebola virus infection is about 50%, supporting the urgent need to develop anti-Ebola drugs. Glycoprotein (GP) is the only surface protein of the Ebola virus, which is functionally critical for the virus to attach and enter the host cells, and is a promising target for anti-Ebola virus drug development. In this study, using the recombinant HIV-1/Ebola pseudovirus platform we previously established, we evaluated a small molecule library containing various quinoline compounds for anti-Ebola virus entry inhibitors. Some of the quinoline compounds specifically inhibited the entry of the Ebola virus. Among them, compound SYL1712 was the most potent Ebola virus entry inhibitor with an IC50 of ~1 μM. The binding of SYL1712 to the vial glycoprotein was computationally modeled and was predicted to interact with specific residues of GP. We used the time of the addition assay to show that compound SYL1712 blocks Ebola GP-mediated entry. Finally, consistent with being an Ebola virus entry inhibitor, compound SYL1712 inhibited infectious Ebola virus replication in tissue culture under biosafety level 4 containment, with an IC50 of 2 μM. In conclusion, we identified several related molecules with a diaryl-quinoline scaffold as potential anti-EBOV entry inhibitors, which can be further optimized for anti-Ebola drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Cui
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
| | - Han Cheng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
| | - Rui Xiong
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, and UICentre, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
| | - Gang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Function of Natural Medicine, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Ruikun Du
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China.
| | - Manu Anantpadma
- Department of Virology and Immunology, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University, National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, 401P, 620 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Robert A Davey
- Department of Virology and Immunology, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University, National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, 401P, 620 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Lijun Rong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
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15
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Abstract
Infectious disease represent the most significant threat to human health. Significant geologic cataclysmic events have caused the extinction of countless species, but these “Wrath of God” events predate the emergence of Homo sapiens. Pandemic infections have accompanied the rise of human civilization frequently re-occurring leaving a lasting imprint on human history punctuated by profound loss of life. Emerging infections become endemic and are here to stay marking their presence with an annual death toll. Each decade brings a new onslaught of emerging infectious agents. We are surprised again and again but are never prepared. The long-term consequences often remain unrecognized and are always inconvenient including cancer, cardiovascular disease and immune associated diseases that threaten our health. Reliance on clusters of clinical symptoms in the face of diverse and non-descriptive viral infection symptoms is a foolhardy form of crisis management. Viral success is based on rapid replication resulting in large numbers. Single-stranded RNA viruses with their high replication error rate represent a paradigm for resilience.
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16
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Coffin KM, Liu J, Warren TK, Blancett CD, Kuehl KA, Nichols DK, Bearss JJ, Schellhase CW, Retterer CJ, Weidner JM, Radoshitzky SR, Brannan JM, Cardile AP, Dye JM, Palacios G, Sun MG, Kuhn JH, Bavari S, Zeng X. Persistent Marburg Virus Infection in the Testes of Nonhuman Primate Survivors. Cell Host Microbe 2018; 24:405-416.e3. [PMID: 30173956 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Sexual transmission of filoviruses was first reported in 1968 after an outbreak of Marburg virus (MARV) disease and recently caused flare-ups of Ebola virus disease in the 2013-2016 outbreak. How filoviruses establish testicular persistence and are shed in semen remain unknown. We discovered that persistent MARV infection of seminiferous tubules, an immune-privileged site that harbors sperm production, is a relatively common event in crab-eating macaques that survived infection after antiviral treatment. Persistence triggers severe testicular damage, including spermatogenic cell depletion and inflammatory cell invasion. MARV mainly persists in Sertoli cells, leading to breakdown of the blood-testis barrier formed by inter-Sertoli cell tight junctions. This disruption is accompanied by local infiltration of immunosuppressive CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. Our study elucidates cellular events associated with testicular persistence that may promote sexual transmission of filoviruses and suggests that targeting immunosuppression may be warranted to clear filovirus persistence in damaged immune-privileged sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla M Coffin
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jun Liu
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Travis K Warren
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Candace D Blancett
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Kathleen A Kuehl
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Donald K Nichols
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jeremy J Bearss
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Christopher W Schellhase
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Cary J Retterer
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jessica M Weidner
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Sheli R Radoshitzky
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jennifer M Brannan
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Anthony P Cardile
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - John M Dye
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Gustavo Palacios
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Mei G Sun
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jens H Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Sina Bavari
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Xiankun Zeng
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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17
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Dhama K, Karthik K, Khandia R, Chakraborty S, Munjal A, Latheef SK, Kumar D, Ramakrishnan MA, Malik YS, Singh R, Malik SVS, Singh RK, Chaicumpa W. Advances in Designing and Developing Vaccines, Drugs, and Therapies to Counter Ebola Virus. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1803. [PMID: 30147687 PMCID: PMC6095993 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV), a member of the family Filoviridae, is responsible for causing Ebola virus disease (EVD) (formerly named Ebola hemorrhagic fever). This is a severe, often fatal illness with mortality rates varying from 50 to 90% in humans. Although the virus and associated disease has been recognized since 1976, it was only when the recent outbreak of EBOV in 2014-2016 highlighted the danger and global impact of this virus, necessitating the need for coming up with the effective vaccines and drugs to counter its pandemic threat. Albeit no commercial vaccine is available so far against EBOV, a few vaccine candidates are under evaluation and clinical trials to assess their prophylactic efficacy. These include recombinant viral vector (recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector, chimpanzee adenovirus type 3-vector, and modified vaccinia Ankara virus), Ebola virus-like particles, virus-like replicon particles, DNA, and plant-based vaccines. Due to improvement in the field of genomics and proteomics, epitope-targeted vaccines have gained top priority. Correspondingly, several therapies have also been developed, including immunoglobulins against specific viral structures small cell-penetrating antibody fragments that target intracellular EBOV proteins. Small interfering RNAs and oligomer-mediated inhibition have also been verified for EVD treatment. Other treatment options include viral entry inhibitors, transfusion of convalescent blood/serum, neutralizing antibodies, and gene expression inhibitors. Repurposed drugs, which have proven safety profiles, can be adapted after high-throughput screening for efficacy and potency for EVD treatment. Herbal and other natural products are also being explored for EVD treatment. Further studies to better understand the pathogenesis and antigenic structures of the virus can help in developing an effective vaccine and identifying appropriate antiviral targets. This review presents the recent advances in designing and developing vaccines, drugs, and therapies to counter the EBOV threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Kumaragurubaran Karthik
- Central University Laboratory, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, India
| | - Rekha Khandia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India
| | - Sandip Chakraborty
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Agartala, India
| | - Ashok Munjal
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India
| | - Shyma K. Latheef
- Immunology Section, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Deepak Kumar
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | | | - Yashpal Singh Malik
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Rajendra Singh
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Satya Veer Singh Malik
- Division of Veterinary Public Health, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, India
| | - Raj Kumar Singh
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Wanpen Chaicumpa
- Center of Research Excellence on Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine SIriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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18
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Nan Y, Zhang YJ. Antisense Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino Oligomers as Novel Antiviral Compounds. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:750. [PMID: 29731743 PMCID: PMC5920040 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMO) are short single-stranded DNA analogs that are built upon a backbone of morpholine rings connected by phosphorodiamidate linkages. As uncharged nucleic acid analogs, PMO bind to complementary sequences of target mRNA by Watson–Crick base pairing to block protein translation through steric blockade. PMO interference of viral protein translation operates independently of RNase H. Meanwhile, PMO are resistant to a variety of enzymes present in biologic fluids, a characteristic that makes them highly suitable for in vivo applications. Notably, PMO-based therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration which is now a hallmark for PMO-based antisense therapy. In this review, the development history of PMO, delivery methods for improving cellular uptake of neutrally charged PMO molecules, past studies of PMO antagonism against RNA and DNA viruses, PMO target selection, and remaining questions of PMO antiviral strategies are discussed in detail and new insights are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Nan
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.,Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Yan-Jin Zhang
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
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20
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Fang PY, Bowman JC, Gómez Ramos L, Hsiao C, Williams LD. RNA: packaged and protected by VLPs. RSC Adv 2018; 8:21399-21406. [PMID: 35539947 PMCID: PMC9080931 DOI: 10.1039/c8ra02084a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
VLP packaging is most efficient for compact RNA, and protects RNA against assault by small diffusible damaging agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Yu Fang
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Atlanta
- USA
| | - Jessica C. Bowman
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Atlanta
- USA
| | - Lizzette M. Gómez Ramos
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Atlanta
- USA
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
| | - Chiaolong Hsiao
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences
- National Taiwan University
- Taipei 10617
- Republic of China
| | - Loren Dean Williams
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Atlanta
- USA
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21
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Prologue. MOLECULAR BASIS OF RESILIENCE 2018. [PMCID: PMC7120650 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-98164-2_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
All living things are associated with a boundary defined ecological niche. Steady state conditions are rarely constant but evolutionary adaptation is too slow to adapt to daily threats so a surrogate variation mechanism is necessary. The genome defines the most basic instructions for life so that a molecular biology perspective provides the foundation for understanding resilience. Variations in the expression of RNA offers rapid variation and this book proposes this is the basis of resilience. This book attempts to illuminate mechanisms of resilience beginning with elaborating threats leading to disruption in steady state conditions. Recognition of threats and defense systems are described followed by adaptive changes in gene expression that refine responses. Finally, environmental conditions are discussed that serve to dampen the adaptive response oscillator to disruptive threats at the level of RNA expression. This prologue is intended to acquaint the reader with my background and the genesis of optimism for an idea that the benefit of transcriptome plasticity is resilience. I grew up in several National Parks, remote regions of the United States that are set aside to preserve natural environments. I attended 12 schools by the time I graduated from high school, a fact that forced me to develop personal resilience. My career path as a scientist followed a path from ecologist to pharmacologist to molecular biologist. I was a professor that transitioned to biotechnology ensuring research subjects involving very diverse in subject matter so I appreciate the value of plasticity.
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22
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Purcell O, Opdensteinen P, Chen W, Lowenhaupt K, Brown A, Hermann M, Cao J, Tenhaef N, Kallweit E, Kastilan R, Sinskey AJ, Perez-Pinera P, Buyel JF, Lu TK. Production of Functional Anti-Ebola Antibodies in Pichia pastoris. ACS Synth Biol 2017; 6:2183-2190. [PMID: 28786662 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The 2013-2016 Ebola outbreak highlighted the limited treatment options and lack of rapid response strategies for emerging pathogen outbreaks. Here, we propose an efficient development cycle using glycoengineered Pichia pastoris to produce monoclonal antibody cocktails against pathogens. To enable rapid genetic engineering of P. pastoris, we introduced a genomic landing pad for reliable recombinase-mediated DNA integration. We then created strains expressing each of the three monoclonal antibodies that comprise the ZMapp cocktail, and demonstrated that the secreted antibodies bind to the Ebola virus glycoprotein by immunofluorescence assay. We anticipate that this approach could accelerate the production of therapeutics against future pathogen outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Purcell
- Synthetic
Biology Center, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer
Science, Department of Biological Engineering, 500 Technology Square, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Patrick Opdensteinen
- Department
of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Forckenbeckstraβe 6, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - William Chen
- Synthetic
Biology Center, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer
Science, Department of Biological Engineering, 500 Technology Square, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Ky Lowenhaupt
- Synthetic
Biology Center, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer
Science, Department of Biological Engineering, 500 Technology Square, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Alexander Brown
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Mario Hermann
- Synthetic
Biology Center, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer
Science, Department of Biological Engineering, 500 Technology Square, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jicong Cao
- Synthetic
Biology Center, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer
Science, Department of Biological Engineering, 500 Technology Square, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Niklas Tenhaef
- Department
of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Eric Kallweit
- Department
of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Robin Kastilan
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Forckenbeckstraβe 6, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Anthony J. Sinskey
- Department
of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Pablo Perez-Pinera
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Johannes F. Buyel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Forckenbeckstraβe 6, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Institute
for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg
1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Timothy K. Lu
- Synthetic
Biology Center, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer
Science, Department of Biological Engineering, 500 Technology Square, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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23
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Khan FN, Qazi S, Tanveer K, Raza K. A review on the antagonist Ebola: A prophylactic approach. Biomed Pharmacother 2017; 96:1513-1526. [PMID: 29208326 PMCID: PMC7126370 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.11.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV), a member of Filoviridae virus family under the genus Ebolavirus, has emerged as a dangerous and potential threat to human health globally. It causes a severe and deadly hemorrhagic fever in humans and other mammals, called Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). In recent outbreaks of EVD, there has been loss of large numbers of individual’s life. Therefore, EBOV has attracted researchers and increased interests in developing new models for virus evolution, and therapies. The EBOV interacts with the immune system of the host which led to understand how the virus functions and effects immune system behaviour. This article presents an exhaustive review on Ebola research which includes EVD illness, symptoms, transmission patterns, patho-physiology conditions, development of antiviral agents and vaccines, resilient health system, dynamics and mathematical model of EBOV, challenges and prospects for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Nazish Khan
- Computational Intelligence and Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Sahar Qazi
- Computational Intelligence and Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Khushnuma Tanveer
- Computational Intelligence and Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Khalid Raza
- Computational Intelligence and Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India.
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24
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Singh RK, Dhama K, Malik YS, Ramakrishnan MA, Karthik K, Khandia R, Tiwari R, Munjal A, Saminathan M, Sachan S, Desingu PA, Kattoor JJ, Iqbal HMN, Joshi SK. Ebola virus - epidemiology, diagnosis, and control: threat to humans, lessons learnt, and preparedness plans - an update on its 40 year's journey. Vet Q 2017; 37:98-135. [PMID: 28317453 DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2017.1309474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV) is an extremely contagious pathogen and causes lethal hemorrhagic fever disease in man and animals. The recently occurred Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks in the West African countries have categorized it as an international health concern. For the virus maintenance and transmission, the non-human primates and reservoir hosts like fruit bats have played a vital role. For curbing the disease timely, we need effective therapeutics/prophylactics, however, in the absence of any approved vaccine, timely diagnosis and monitoring of EBOV remains of utmost importance. The technologically advanced vaccines like a viral-vectored vaccine, DNA vaccine and virus-like particles are underway for testing against EBOV. In the absence of any effective control measure, the adaptation of high standards of biosecurity measures, strict sanitary and hygienic practices, strengthening of surveillance and monitoring systems, imposing appropriate quarantine checks and vigilance on trade, transport, and movement of visitors from EVD endemic countries remains the answer of choice for tackling the EBOV spread. Herein, we converse with the current scenario of EBOV giving due emphasis on animal and veterinary perspectives along with advances in diagnosis and control strategies to be adopted, lessons learned from the recent outbreaks and the global preparedness plans. To retrieve the evolutionary information, we have analyzed a total of 56 genome sequences of various EBOV species submitted between 1976 and 2016 in public databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kumar Singh
- a ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- b Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Yashpal Singh Malik
- c Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | | | - Kumaragurubaran Karthik
- e Divison of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Rekha Khandia
- f Department of Biochemistry and Genetics , Barkatullah University , Bhopal , India
| | - Ruchi Tiwari
- g Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology , College of Veterinary Sciences, Deen Dayal Upadhayay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalay Evum Go-Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU) , Mathura , India
| | - Ashok Munjal
- f Department of Biochemistry and Genetics , Barkatullah University , Bhopal , India
| | - Mani Saminathan
- b Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Swati Sachan
- h Immunology Section, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | | | - Jobin Jose Kattoor
- c Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute , Bareilly , India
| | - Hafiz M N Iqbal
- i School of Engineering and Science, Tecnologico de Monterrey , Monterrey , Mexico
| | - Sunil Kumar Joshi
- j Cellular Immunology Lab , Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics , School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences, Old Dominion University , Norfolk , VA , USA
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25
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Development of small-molecule viral inhibitors targeting various stages of the life cycle of emerging and re-emerging viruses. Front Med 2017; 11:449-461. [PMID: 29170916 PMCID: PMC7089273 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-017-0589-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, unexpected outbreaks of infectious diseases caused by emerging and re-emerging viruses have become more frequent, which is possibly due to environmental changes. These outbreaks result in the loss of life and economic hardship. Vaccines and therapeutics should be developed for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. In this review, we summarize and discuss the latest progress in the development of small-molecule viral inhibitors against highly pathogenic coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Ebola virus, and Zika virus. These viruses can interfere with the specific steps of viral life cycle by blocking the binding between virus and host cells, disrupting viral endocytosis, disturbing membrane fusion, and interrupting viral RNA replication and translation, thereby demonstrating potent therapeutic effect against various emerging and re-emerging viruses. We also discuss some general strategies for developing small-molecule viral inhibitors.
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26
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Thi EP, Mire CE, Lee AC, Geisbert JB, Ursic-Bedoya R, Agans KN, Robbins M, Deer DJ, Cross RW, Kondratowicz AS, Fenton KA, MacLachlan I, Geisbert TW. siRNA rescues nonhuman primates from advanced Marburg and Ravn virus disease. J Clin Invest 2017; 127:4437-4448. [PMID: 29106386 DOI: 10.1172/jci96185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Ebolaviruses and marburgviruses belong to the family Filoviridae and cause high lethality in infected patients. There are currently no licensed filovirus vaccines or antiviral therapies. The development of broad-spectrum therapies against members of the Marburgvirus genus, including Marburg virus (MARV) and Ravn virus (RAVV), is difficult because of substantial sequence variability. RNAi therapeutics offer a potential solution, as identification of conserved target nucleotide sequences may confer activity across marburgvirus variants. Here, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery of a single nucleoprotein-targeting (NP-targeting) siRNA in nonhuman primates at advanced stages of MARV or RAVV disease to mimic cases in which patients begin treatment for fulminant disease. Sixteen rhesus monkeys were lethally infected with MARV or RAVV and treated with NP siRNA-LNP, with MARV-infected animals beginning treatment four or five days after infection and RAVV-infected animals starting treatment three or six days after infection. While all untreated animals succumbed to disease, NP siRNA-LNP treatment conferred 100% survival of RAVV-infected macaques, even when treatment began just 1 day prior to the death of the control animals. In MARV-infected animals, day-4 treatment initiation resulted in 100% survival, and day-5 treatment resulted in 50% survival. These results identify a single siRNA therapeutic that provides broad-spectrum protection against both MARV and RAVV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily P Thi
- Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Chad E Mire
- Galveston National Laboratory and.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Amy Ch Lee
- Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Joan B Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory and.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Krystle N Agans
- Galveston National Laboratory and.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Marjorie Robbins
- Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Daniel J Deer
- Galveston National Laboratory and.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Robert W Cross
- Galveston National Laboratory and.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Karla A Fenton
- Galveston National Laboratory and.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Ian MacLachlan
- Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Thomas W Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory and.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
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27
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Novel Stable Ebola Virus Minigenome Replicon Reveals Remarkable Stability of the Viral Genome. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.01316-17. [PMID: 28878087 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01316-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV) causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and other primates with a high case fatality rate. No approved drug or vaccine of EBOV is available, which necessitates better understanding of the virus life cycle. Studies on EBOV have been hampered because experimentations involving live virus are restricted to biosafety level 4 (BSL4) laboratories. The EBOV minigenome system has provided researchers with the opportunity to study EBOV under BSL2 conditions. Here, we developed a novel EBOV minigenome replicon which, to our knowledge, is the first EBOV cell culture system that can stably replicate and transcribe the EBOV minigenome. The minigenomic RNA harboring a Gaussia luciferase and hygromycin-resistant marker can replicate for months in a helper cell stably expressing viral nucleoprotein (NP), viral protein 35 (VP35), VP30, and L proteins. Quantification of viral RNA (vRNA), cRNA, and mRNA levels of the EBOV minigenome demonstrated that the stable EBOV replicon had much-more-active minigenome replication than previously developed transient-transfection-based EBOV minigenome systems, which recapitulate viral primary transcription more than genome replication. Interestingly, minigenome replication in the stable EBOV replicon cells was insensitive to interferon treatment or RNA interference. Moreover, RNase digestion of the replicon cell lysates revealed the remarkably stable nature of the EBOV minigenomic vRNA ribonucleoprotein complex, which may help improve understanding of EBOV persistence in convalescent patients.IMPORTANCE The scope and severity of the recent Ebola outbreak in Western Africa justified a more comprehensive investigation of the causative risk group 4 agent Ebola virus (EBOV). Study of EBOV replication and antiviral development can be facilitated by developing a cell culture system that allows experimentation under biosafety level 2 conditions. Here, we developed a novel stable EBOV minigenome replicon which, to our knowledge, is the first EBOV cell culture system that can stably replicate and transcribe the EBOV minigenome. The replicon system had more-active genome replication than previously developed transient-transfection-based EBOV minigenome systems, providing a convenient surrogate system to study EBOV replication. Furthermore, self-replicating minigenomic vRNA in the replicon cells displayed strong stability in response to interferon treatment, RNA silencing, and RNase digestion, which may provide an explanation for the persistence of EBOV in survivors.
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Bixler SL, Duplantier AJ, Bavari S. Discovering Drugs for the Treatment of Ebola Virus. CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2017; 9:299-317. [PMID: 28890666 PMCID: PMC5570806 DOI: 10.1007/s40506-017-0130-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of review Ebola virus, a member of the Filoviridae family, is a causative agent of severe viral hemorrhagic fever in humans. Over the past 40 years, the virus has been linked to several high mortality outbreaks in Africa with the recent West African outbreak resulting in over 11,000 deaths. This review provides a summary of the status of the drug discovery and development process for therapeutics for Ebola virus disease, with a focus on the strategies being used and the challenges facing each stage of the process. Recent findings Despite the wealth of in vitro efficacy data, preclinical data in animal models, and human clinical data, no therapeutics have been approved for the treatment of Ebola virus disease. However, several promising candidates, such as ZMapp and GS-5734, have advanced into ongoing clinical trials. Summary The gravity of the 2014-2016 outbreak spurred a heightened effort to identify and develop new treatments for Ebola virus disease, including small molecules, immunotherapeutics, host factors, and clinical disease management options. Disclaimer Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and are not necessarily endoresed by the U.S. Army.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra L Bixler
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter St, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
| | - Allen J Duplantier
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter St, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
| | - Sina Bavari
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter St, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
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29
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Dowall SD, Jacquot F, Landon J, Rayner E, Hall G, Carbonnelle C, Raoul H, Pannetier D, Cameron I, Coxon R, Al Abdulla I, Hewson R, Carroll MW. Post-exposure treatment of non-human primates lethally infected with Ebola virus with EBOTAb, a purified ovine IgG product. Sci Rep 2017. [PMID: 28642489 PMCID: PMC5481440 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03910-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite sporadic outbreaks of Ebola virus (EBOV) over the last 4 decades and the recent public health emergency in West Africa, there are still no approved vaccines or therapeutics for the treatment of acute EBOV disease (EVD). In response to the 2014 outbreak, an ovine immunoglobulin therapy was developed, termed EBOTAb. After promising results in the guinea pig model of EBOV infection, EBOTAb was tested in the cynomolgus macaque non-human primate model of lethal EBOV infection. To ensure stringent therapeutic testing conditions to replicate likely clinical usage, EBOTAb was first delivered 1, 2 or 3 days post-challenge with a lethal dose of EBOV. Results showed a protective effect of EBOTAb given post-exposurally, with survival rates decreasing with increasing time after challenge. Viremia results demonstrated that EBOTAb resulted in a decreased circulation of EBOV in the bloodstream. Additionally, assay of liver enzymes and histology analysis of local tissues identified differences between EBOTAb-treated and untreated groups. The results presented demonstrate that EBOTAb conferred protection against EBOV when given post-exposure and should be explored and developed further as a potential intervention strategy for future outbreaks, which are likely to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart D Dowall
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Frédéric Jacquot
- Laboratoire P4, INSERM Jean Merieux, 21 Avenue Tony Garnier, Lyon, France
| | - John Landon
- MicroPharm Ltd, Station Road, Newcastle Emlyn, Dyfed, SA38 9BY, UK
| | - Emma Rayner
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Graham Hall
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | | | - Hervé Raoul
- Laboratoire P4, INSERM Jean Merieux, 21 Avenue Tony Garnier, Lyon, France
| | - Delphine Pannetier
- Laboratoire P4, INSERM Jean Merieux, 21 Avenue Tony Garnier, Lyon, France
| | - Ian Cameron
- MicroPharm Ltd, Station Road, Newcastle Emlyn, Dyfed, SA38 9BY, UK
| | - Ruth Coxon
- MicroPharm Ltd, Station Road, Newcastle Emlyn, Dyfed, SA38 9BY, UK
| | | | - Roger Hewson
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Miles W Carroll
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK.
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30
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Connor J, Kobinger G, Olinger G. Therapeutics Against Filovirus Infection. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2017; 411:263-290. [PMID: 28653190 DOI: 10.1007/82_2017_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Therapies for filovirus infections are urgently needed. The paradoxical issue facing therapies is the need for rigorous safety and efficacy testing, adhering to the principle tenant of medicine to do no harm, while responding to the extreme for a treatment option during an outbreak. Supportive care remains a primary goal for infected patients. Years of research into filoviruses has provided possible medical interventions ranging from direct antivirals, host-factor supportive approaches, and passive immunity. As more basic research is directed toward understanding these pathogens and their impact on the host, effective approaches to treat patients during infection will be identified. The ability to manage outbreaks with medical interventions beyond supportive care will require clinical trial design that will balance the benefits of the patient and scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Connor
- Department of Microbiology, National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University School of Medicine, 620 Albany Street, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| | - Gary Kobinger
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Universite Laval, 2705 Boulevard Laurier, RC-709, Ville de Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Gene Olinger
- Department of Medicine, National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University School of Medicine, 620 Albaney Street, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
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Pettit DK, Rogers RS, Arthur K, Brodsky Y, Clark RH, Crowell C, Ennis J, Gillespie A, Gillespie R, Livingston B, Nalbandian E, Pace D, Smidt P, Pauly M, Timmons K, Trentalange M, Whaley KJ, Zeitlin L, Thomas JN. CHO cell production and sequence improvement in the 13C6FR1 anti-Ebola antibody. MAbs 2016; 8:347-57. [PMID: 26761424 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2015.1127492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
From March 2014 through February 2015, the Ebola virus spread rapidly in West Africa, resulting in almost 30,000 infections and approximately 10,000 deaths. With no approved therapeutic options available, an experimental antibody cocktail known as ZMapp™ was administered to patients on a limited compassionate-use basis. The supply of ZMapp™ was highly constrained at the time because it was in preclinical development and a novel production system (tobacco plants) was being used for manufacturing. To increase the production of ZMapp™ for an uncertain future demand, a consortium was formed in the fall of 2014 to quickly manufacture these anti-Ebola antibodies in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells using bioreactors for production at a scale appropriate for thousands of doses. As a result of the efforts of this consortium, valuable lessons were learned about the processing of the antibodies in a CHO-based system. One of the ZMapp™ cocktail antibodies, known as c13C6FR1, had been sequence-optimized in the framework region for production in tobacco and engineered as a chimeric antibody. When transfected into CHO cells with the unaltered sequence, 13C6FR1 was difficult to process. This report describes efforts to produce 13C6FR1 and the parental murine hybridoma sequence, 13C6mu, in CHO cells, and provides evidence for the insertion of a highly conserved framework amino acid that improved the physical properties necessary for high-level expression and purification. Furthermore, it describes the technical and logistical lessons learned that may be beneficial in the event of a future Ebola virus or other pandemic viral outbreaks where mAbs are considered potential therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jane Ennis
- c Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc , San Diego , CA USA
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32
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Cardile AP, Warren TK, Martins KA, Reisler RB, Bavari S. Will There Be a Cure for Ebola? Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2016; 57:329-348. [PMID: 27959624 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010716-105055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Despite the unprecedented Ebola virus outbreak response in West Africa, no Ebola medical countermeasures have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. However, multiple valuable lessons have been learned about the conduct of clinical research in a resource-poor, high risk-pathogen setting. Numerous therapeutics were explored or developed during the outbreak, including repurposed drugs, nucleoside and nucleotide analogues (BCX4430, brincidofovir, favipiravir, and GS-5734), nucleic acid-based drugs (TKM-Ebola and AVI-7537), and immunotherapeutics (convalescent plasma and ZMapp). We review Ebola therapeutics progress in the aftermath of the West Africa Ebola virus outbreak and attempt to offer a glimpse of a path forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony P Cardile
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland 21702;
| | - Travis K Warren
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland 21702;
| | - Karen A Martins
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland 21702;
| | - Ronald B Reisler
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland 21702;
| | - Sina Bavari
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland 21702;
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33
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Trad MA, Naughton W, Yeung A, Mazlin L, O'sullivan M, Gilroy N, Fisher DA, Stuart RL. Ebola virus disease: An update on current prevention and management strategies. J Clin Virol 2016; 86:5-13. [PMID: 27893999 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2016.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2016] [Revised: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is characterised by systemic viral replication, immuno-suppression, abnormal inflammatory responses, large volume fluid and electrolyte losses, and high mortality in under-resourced settings. There are various therapeutic strategies targeting EVD including vaccines utilizing different antigen delivery methods, antibody-based therapies and antiviral drugs. These therapies remain experimental, but received attention following their use particularly in cases treated outside West Africa during the 2014-15 outbreak, in which 20 (80%) out of 25 patients survived. Emerging data from current trials look promising and are undergoing further study, however optimised supportive care remains the key to reducing mortality from EVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Trad
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia; Medecins Sans Frontieres, Paris, France.
| | - W Naughton
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - A Yeung
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - L Mazlin
- Medecins Sans Frontieres, Brussels, Belgium
| | - M O'sullivan
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Pathology West, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - N Gilroy
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Pathology West, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia
| | - D A Fisher
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore; Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - R L Stuart
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
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Rivera A, Messaoudi I. Molecular mechanisms of Ebola pathogenesis. J Leukoc Biol 2016; 100:889-904. [PMID: 27587404 PMCID: PMC6608070 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.4ri0316-099rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebola viruses (EBOVs) and Marburg viruses (MARVs) are among the deadliest human viruses, as highlighted by the recent and widespread Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa, which was the largest and longest epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in history, resulting in significant loss of life and disruptions across multiple continents. Although the number of cases has nearly reached its nadir, a recent cluster of 5 cases in Guinea on March 17, 2016, has extended the enhanced surveillance period to June 15, 2016. New, enhanced 90-d surveillance windows replaced the 42-d surveillance window to ensure the rapid detection of new cases that may arise from a missed transmission chain, reintroduction from an animal reservoir, or more important, reemergence of the virus that has persisted in an EVD survivor. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of EBOV pathogenesis, describe vaccine and therapeutic candidates in clinical trials, and discuss mechanisms of viral persistence and long-term health sequelae for EVD survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Rivera
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Ilhem Messaoudi
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
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35
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Balmith M, Faya M, Soliman MES. Ebola virus: A gap in drug design and discovery - experimental and computational perspective. Chem Biol Drug Des 2016; 89:297-308. [PMID: 27637475 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.12870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The Ebola virus, formally known as the Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is an acute viral syndrome causing sporadic outbreaks that have ravaged West Africa. Due to its extreme virulence and highly transmissible nature, Ebola has been classified as a category A bioweapon organism. Only recently have vaccine or drug regimens for the Ebola virus been developed, including Zmapp and peptides. In addition, existing drugs which have been repurposed toward anti-Ebola virus activity have been re-examined and are seen to be promising candidates toward combating Ebola. Drug development involving computational tools has been widely employed toward target-based drug design. Screening large libraries have greatly stimulated research toward effective anti-Ebola virus drug regimens. Current emphasis has been placed on the investigation of host proteins and druggable viral targets. There is a huge gap in the literature regarding guidelines in the discovery of Ebola virus inhibitors, which may be due to the lack of information on the Ebola drug targets, binding sites, and mechanism of action of the virus. This review focuses on Ebola virus inhibitors, drugs which could be repurposed to combat the Ebola virus, computational methods which study drug-target interactions as well as providing further insight into the mode of action of the Ebola virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Balmith
- Molecular Modeling and Drug Design Research Group, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Mbuso Faya
- Molecular Modeling and Drug Design Research Group, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Mahmoud E S Soliman
- Molecular Modeling and Drug Design Research Group, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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36
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Abstract
The discovery of an ever-expanding plethora of coding and non-coding RNAs with nodal and causal roles in the regulation of lung physiology and disease is reinvigorating interest in the clinical utility of the oligonucleotide therapeutic class. This is strongly supported through recent advances in nucleic acids chemistry, synthetic oligonucleotide delivery and viral gene therapy that have succeeded in bringing to market at least three nucleic acid-based drugs. As a consequence, multiple new candidates such as RNA interference modulators, antisense, and splice switching compounds are now progressing through clinical evaluation. Here, manipulation of RNA for the treatment of lung disease is explored, with emphasis on robust pharmacological evidence aligned to the five pillars of drug development: exposure to the appropriate tissue, binding to the desired molecular target, evidence of the expected mode of action, activity in the relevant patient population and commercially viable value proposition.
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37
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Vashist A, Kaushik A, Vashist A, Jayant RD, Tomitaka A, Ahmad S, Gupta YK, Nair M. Recent trends on hydrogel based drug delivery systems for infectious diseases. Biomater Sci 2016; 4:1535-1553. [PMID: 27709137 PMCID: PMC5162423 DOI: 10.1039/c6bm00276e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Since centuries, the rapid spread and cure of infectious diseases have been a major concern to the progress and survival of humans. These diseases are a global burden and the prominent cause for worldwide deaths and disabilities. Nanomedicine has emerged as the most excellent tool to eradicate and halt their spread. Various nanoformulations (NFs) using advanced nanotechnology are in demand. Recently, hydrogel and nanogel based drug delivery devices have posed new prospects to simulate the natural intelligence of various biological systems. Owing to their unique porous interpenetrating network design, hydrophobic drug incorporation and stimulus sensitivity hydrogels owe excellent potential as targeted drug delivery systems. The present review is an attempt to highlight the recent trends of hydrogel based drug delivery systems for the delivery of therapeutic agents and diagnostics for major infectious diseases including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), malaria, tuberculosis, influenza and ebola. Future prospects and challenges are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arti Vashist
- Center of Personalized Nanomedicine, Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Department of Immunology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL-33199, USA.
| | - Ajeet Kaushik
- Center of Personalized Nanomedicine, Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Department of Immunology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL-33199, USA.
| | - Atul Vashist
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Rahul Dev Jayant
- Center of Personalized Nanomedicine, Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Department of Immunology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL-33199, USA.
| | - Asahi Tomitaka
- Center of Personalized Nanomedicine, Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Department of Immunology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL-33199, USA.
| | - Sharif Ahmad
- Materials Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Y K Gupta
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Madhavan Nair
- Center of Personalized Nanomedicine, Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Department of Immunology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL-33199, USA.
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38
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Martyushev A, Nakaoka S, Sato K, Noda T, Iwami S. Modelling Ebola virus dynamics: Implications for therapy. Antiviral Res 2016; 135:62-73. [PMID: 27743917 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Revised: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/09/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV) causes a severe, often fatal Ebola virus disease (EVD), for which no approved antivirals exist. Recently, some promising anti-EBOV drugs, which are experimentally potent in animal models, have been developed. However, because the quantitative dynamics of EBOV replication in humans is uncertain, it remains unclear how much antiviral suppression of viral replication affects EVD outcome in patients. Here, we developed a novel mathematical model to quantitatively analyse human viral load data obtained during the 2000/01 Uganda EBOV outbreak and evaluated the effects of different antivirals. We found that nucleoside analogue- and siRNA-based therapies are effective if a therapy with a >50% inhibition rate is initiated within a few days post-symptom-onset. In contrast, antibody-based therapy requires not only a higher inhibition rate but also an earlier administration, especially for otherwise fatal cases. Our results demonstrate that an appropriate choice of EBOV-specific drugs is required for effective EVD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Martyushev
- Centre for Vascular Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Shinji Nakaoka
- Institute of Industrial Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 1538505, Japan
| | - Kei Sato
- Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Kyoto, 6068507, Japan; CREST, JST, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 3320012, Japan
| | - Takeshi Noda
- Laboratory of Ultrastructural Virology, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 6068507, Japan; CREST, JST, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 3320012, Japan; PRESTO, JST, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 3320012, Japan.
| | - Shingo Iwami
- Mathematical Biology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 8128581, Japan; PRESTO, JST, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 3320012, Japan; CREST, JST, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 3320012, Japan.
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O'Hearn AE, Voorhees MA, Fetterer DP, Wauquier N, Coomber MR, Bangura J, Fair JN, Gonzalez JP, Schoepp RJ. Serosurveillance of viral pathogens circulating in West Africa. Virol J 2016; 13:163. [PMID: 27716429 PMCID: PMC5048616 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-016-0621-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sub-Saharan Africa is home to a variety of pathogens, but disease surveillance and the healthcare infrastructure necessary for proper management and control are severely limited. Lassa virus, the cause of Lassa fever, a severe hemorrhagic fever in humans is endemic in West Africa. In Sierra Leone at the Kenema Government Hospital Lassa Diagnostic Laboratory, up to 70 % of acute patient samples suspected of Lassa fever test negative for Lassa virus infection. This large amount of acute undiagnosed febrile illness can be attributed in part to an array of hemorrhagic fever and arthropod-borne viruses causing disease that goes undetected and untreated. Methods To better define the nature and extent of viral pathogens infecting the Sierra Leonean population, we developed a multiplexed MAGPIX® assay to detect IgG antibodies against Lassa, Ebola, Marburg, Rift Valley fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever viruses as well as pan-assays for flaviviruses and alphaviruses. This assay was used to survey 675 human serum samples submitted to the Lassa Diagnostic Laboratory between 2007 and 2014. Results In the study population, 50.2 % were positive for Lassa virus, 5.2 % for Ebola virus, 10.7 % for Marburg virus, 1.8 % for Rift Valley fever virus, 2.0 % for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, 52.9 % for flaviviruses and 55.8 % for alphaviruses. Conclusions These data exemplify the importance of disease surveillance and differential diagnosis for viral diseases in Sierra Leone. We demonstrate the endemic nature of some of these viral pathogens in the region and suggest that unrecognized outbreaks of viral infection have occurred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen E O'Hearn
- Diagnostic Systems Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5011, USA
| | - Matthew A Voorhees
- Diagnostic Systems Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5011, USA
| | - David P Fetterer
- Statistics Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | | | - Moinya R Coomber
- Kenema Government Hospital, Lassa Diagnostic Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | | | - Randal J Schoepp
- Diagnostic Systems Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5011, USA.
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Teimoori S, Seesuay W, Jittavisutthikul S, Chaisri U, Sookrung N, Densumite J, Saelim N, Chulanetra M, Maneewatch S, Chaicumpa W. Human transbodies to VP40 inhibit cellular egress of Ebola virus-like particles. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 479:245-252. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.09.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Madelain V, Nguyen THT, Olivo A, de Lamballerie X, Guedj J, Taburet AM, Mentré F. Ebola Virus Infection: Review of the Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Properties of Drugs Considered for Testing in Human Efficacy Trials. Clin Pharmacokinet 2016; 55:907-23. [PMID: 26798032 PMCID: PMC5680399 DOI: 10.1007/s40262-015-0364-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The 2014-2015 outbreak of Ebola virus disease is the largest epidemic to date in terms of the number of cases, deaths, and affected areas. In October 2015, no antiviral agents had proven antiviral efficacy in patients. However, in September 2014, the World Health Organization inventoried and has since regularly updated a list of potential drug candidates with demonstrated antiviral efficacy in in vitro or animal models. This includes agents belonging to various therapeutic classes, namely direct antiviral agents (favipiravir and BCX4430), a combination of antibodies (ZMapp), type I interferons, RNA interference-based drugs (TKM-Ebola and AVI-7537), and anticoagulant drugs (rNAPc2). Here, we review the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic information presently available for these drugs, using data obtained in healthy volunteers for pharmacokinetics and data obtained in human clinical trials or animal models for pharmacodynamics. Future studies evaluating these drugs in clinical trials are critical to confirm their efficacy in humans, propose appropriate doses, and evaluate the possibility of treatment combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Madelain
- INSERM, IAME, UMR 1137, Paris, France
- Université Paris Diderot, IAME, UMR 1137, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Thi Huyen Tram Nguyen
- INSERM, IAME, UMR 1137, Paris, France
- Université Paris Diderot, IAME, UMR 1137, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Anaelle Olivo
- Hospital Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, DHU Hepatinov, INSERM U1184, Center for Immunology of Viral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases, Université Paris-Sud, Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Xavier de Lamballerie
- Aix Marseille Université, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", Marseille, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Jérémie Guedj
- INSERM, IAME, UMR 1137, Paris, France
- Université Paris Diderot, IAME, UMR 1137, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Marie Taburet
- Hospital Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, DHU Hepatinov, INSERM U1184, Center for Immunology of Viral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases, Université Paris-Sud, Kremlin Bicêtre, France
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Post-exposure treatment of Ebola virus disease in guinea pigs using EBOTAb, an ovine antibody-based therapeutic. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30497. [PMID: 27465308 PMCID: PMC4964638 DOI: 10.1038/srep30497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV) is highly pathogenic, with a predisposition to cause outbreaks in human populations accompanied by significant mortality. An ovine polyclonal antibody therapy has been developed against EBOV, named EBOTAb. When tested in the stringent guinea pig model of EBOV disease, EBOTAb has been shown to confer protection at levels of 83.3%, 50% and 33.3% when treatment was first started on days 3, 4 and 5 post-challenge, respectively. These timepoints of when EBOTAb treatment was initiated correspond to when levels of EBOV are detectable in the circulation and thus mimic when treatment would likely be initiated in human infection. The effects of EBOTAb were compared with those of a monoclonal antibody cocktail, ZMapp, when delivered on day 3 post-challenge. Results showed ZMapp to confer complete protection against lethal EBOV challenge in the guinea pig model at this timepoint. The data reported demonstrate that EBOTAb is an effective treatment against EBOV disease, even when delivered late after infection.
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Sully EK, Geller BL. Antisense antimicrobial therapeutics. Curr Opin Microbiol 2016; 33:47-55. [PMID: 27375107 PMCID: PMC5069135 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2016.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Revised: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Antisense antimicrobial therapeutics are synthetic oligomers that silence expression of specific genes. This specificity confers an advantage over broad-spectrum antibiotics by avoiding unintended effects on commensal bacteria. The sequence-specificity and short length of antisense antimicrobials also pose little risk to human gene expression. Because antisense antimicrobials are a platform technology, they can be rapidly designed and synthesized to target almost any microbe. This reduces drug discovery time, and provides flexibility and a rational approach to drug development. Recent work has shown that antisense technology has the potential to address the antibiotic-resistance crisis, since resistance mechanisms for standard antibiotics apparently have no effect on antisense antimicrobials. Here, we describe current reports of antisense antimicrobials targeted against viruses, parasites, and bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin K Sully
- Department of Microbiology, 226 Nash Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-3804, USA
| | - Bruce L Geller
- Department of Microbiology, 226 Nash Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-3804, USA.
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Ebola Virus Disease: Therapeutic and Potential Preventative Opportunities. Microbiol Spectr 2016; 4. [PMID: 27337455 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.ei10-0014-2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic in West Africa was unprecedented in its geographical distribution, scale, and toll on public health infrastructure. Standard public health measures were rapidly overwhelmed, and many projections on outbreak progression through the region were dire. At the beginning of the outbreak there were no treatments or vaccines that had been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing EVD, limiting health care providers to offer supportive care under extremely challenging circumstances and at great risk to themselves. Over time, however, drugs and vaccines in the development pipeline were prioritized based on all available research data and were moved forward for evaluation in clinical trials to demonstrate safety and efficacy. The armamentarium against EVD eventually included biologics such as monoclonal antibodies, convalescent plasma, and vaccines as well as small molecule therapeutics such as small interfering RNAs and nucleoside analogs. This article provides a high-level overview of the interventions and prophylactics considered for use in the outbreak and discusses the challenges faced when attempting to deploy investigational countermeasures in the midst of an evolving epidemic.
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Vetter P, Dayer JA, Schibler M, Allegranzi B, Brown D, Calmy A, Christie D, Eremin S, Hagon O, Henderson D, Iten A, Kelley E, Marais F, Ndoye B, Pugin J, Robert-Nicoud H, Sterk E, Tapper M, Siegrist CA, Kaiser L, Pittet D. The 2014–2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa: Hands On. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2016. [PMCID: PMC4858848 DOI: 10.1186/s13756-016-0112-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The International Consortium for Prevention and Infection Control (ICPIC) organises a biannual conference (ICPIC) on various subjects related to infection prevention, treatment and control. During ICPIC 2015, held in Geneva in June 2015, a full one-day session focused on the 2014–2015 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa. This article is a non-exhaustive compilation of these discussions. It concentrates on lessons learned and imagining a way forward for the communities most affected by the epidemic. The reader can access video recordings of all lectures delivered during this one-day session, as referenced. Topics include the timeline of the international response, linkages between the dynamics of the epidemic and infection prevention and control, the importance of community engagement, and updates on virology, diagnosis, treatment and vaccination issues. The paper also includes discussions from public health, infectious diseases, critical care and infection control experts who cared for patients with EVD in Africa, in Europe, and in the United Sates and were involved in Ebola preparedness in both high- and low-resource settings and countries. This review concludes that too little is known about the pathogenesis and treatment of EVD, therefore basic and applied research in this area are urgently required. Furthermore, it is clear that epidemic preparedness needs to improve globally, in particular through the strengthening of health systems at local and national levels. There is a strong need for culturally sensitive approaches to public health which could be designed and delivered by social scientists and medical professionals working together. As of December 2015, this epidemic killed more than 11,000 people and infected more than 28,000; it has also generated more than 17,000 survivors and orphans, many of whom face somatic and psychological complications. The continued treatment and rehabilitation of these people is a public health priority, which also requires an integration of specific medical and social science approaches, not always available in West Africa.
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Wan J, Bauman JA, Graziewicz MA, Sazani P, Kole R. Oligonucleotide therapeutics in cancer. Cancer Treat Res 2016; 158:213-33. [PMID: 24222360 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-31659-3_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in pre-mRNA splicing can have profound effects on gene expression and lead to cellular transformation. Oligonucleotide therapeutics are drugs that manipulate gene expression and improve the disease state. Antisense oligonucleotides hybridize with a target mRNA to downregulate gene expression via an RNase H-dependent mechanism. Additionally, RNase H-independent splice switching oligonucleotides (SSO) modulate alternative or aberrant splicing, to favor the therapeutically relevant splicing product. This chapter summarizes the progress made in the application of these oligonucleotide drugs in the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wan
- AVI Biopharma, 3450 Monte Villa Parkway, Bothell, WA 98021, USA
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Validation of the Filovirus Plaque Assay for Use in Preclinical Studies. Viruses 2016; 8:113. [PMID: 27110807 PMCID: PMC4848606 DOI: 10.3390/v8040113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
A plaque assay for quantitating filoviruses in virus stocks, prepared viral challenge inocula and samples from research animals has recently been fully characterized and standardized for use across multiple institutions performing Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) studies. After standardization studies were completed, Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)-compliant plaque assay method validation studies to demonstrate suitability for reliable and reproducible measurement of the Marburg Virus Angola (MARV) variant and Ebola Virus Kikwit (EBOV) variant commenced at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). The validation parameters tested included accuracy, precision, linearity, robustness, stability of the virus stocks and system suitability. The MARV and EBOV assays were confirmed to be accurate to ±0.5 log10 PFU/mL. Repeatability precision, intermediate precision and reproducibility precision were sufficient to return viral titers with a coefficient of variation (%CV) of ≤30%, deemed acceptable variation for a cell-based bioassay. Intraclass correlation statistical techniques for the evaluation of the assay’s precision when the same plaques were quantitated by two analysts returned values passing the acceptance criteria, indicating high agreement between analysts. The assay was shown to be accurate and specific when run on Nonhuman Primates (NHP) serum and plasma samples diluted in plaque assay medium, with negligible matrix effects. Virus stocks demonstrated stability for freeze-thaw cycles typical of normal usage during assay retests. The results demonstrated that the EBOV and MARV plaque assays are accurate, precise and robust for filovirus titration in samples associated with the performance of GLP animal model studies.
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Delayed Time-to-Treatment of an Antisense Morpholino Oligomer Is Effective against Lethal Marburg Virus Infection in Cynomolgus Macaques. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004456. [PMID: 26901785 PMCID: PMC4764691 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Marburg virus (MARV) is an Ebola-like virus in the family Filovirdae that causes sporadic outbreaks of severe hemorrhagic fever with a case fatality rate as high as 90%. AVI-7288, a positively charged antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMOplus) targeting the viral nucleoprotein gene, was evaluated as a potential therapeutic intervention for MARV infection following delayed treatment of 1, 24, 48, and 96 h post-infection (PI) in a nonhuman primate lethal challenge model. A total of 30 cynomolgus macaques were divided into 5 groups of 6 and infected with 1,830 plaque forming units of MARV subcutaneously. AVI-7288 was administered by bolus infusion daily for 14 days at 15 mg/kg body weight. Survival was the primary endpoint of the study. While none (0 of 6) of the saline group survived, 83–100% of infected monkeys survived when treatment was initiated 1, 24, 48, or 96 h post-infection (PI). The antisense treatment also reduced serum viremia and inflammatory cytokines in all treatment groups compared to vehicle controls. The antibody immune response to virus was preserved and tissue viral antigen was cleared in AVI-7288 treated animals. These data show that AVI-7288 protects NHPs against an otherwise lethal MARV infection when treatment is initiated up to 96 h PI. Marburg virus (MARV) is a filovirus closely related to Ebola virus and similarly causes hemorrhagic fever in humans. MARV is endemic throughout parts of tropical Africa. Severe outbreaks of Marburg virus disease (MVD) have occurred involving hundreds of human cases. No effective MARV antiviral therapies are available. In this study, we used a positive charged phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMOplus) targeting the mRNA of the MARV nucleoprotein gene as a medical countermeasure to treat disease in a lethal nonhuman primate model of MVD. The intravenous treatment regimen was well tolerated with no treatment related adverse effects. We showed that when using this antisense treatment, serum virus levels decreased and 83–100% of the animals survived, even when the treatment was delayed as much as 96 hours after infection. None of the untreated animals survived the viral challenge in this model. Our results suggest that antisense therapies, such as PMOs, hold great promise for the treatment of severe viral diseases such as MVD.
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Cross-Reactive and Potent Neutralizing Antibody Responses in Human Survivors of Natural Ebolavirus Infection. Cell 2016; 164:392-405. [PMID: 26806128 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2015] [Revised: 10/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have suggested that antibody-mediated protection against the Ebolaviruses may be achievable, but little is known about whether or not antibodies can confer cross-reactive protection against viruses belonging to diverse Ebolavirus species, such as Ebola virus (EBOV), Sudan virus (SUDV), and Bundibugyo virus (BDBV). We isolated a large panel of human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against BDBV glycoprotein (GP) using peripheral blood B cells from survivors of the 2007 BDBV outbreak in Uganda. We determined that a large proportion of mAbs with potent neutralizing activity against BDBV bind to the glycan cap and recognize diverse epitopes within this major antigenic site. We identified several glycan cap-specific mAbs that neutralized multiple ebolaviruses, including SUDV, and a cross-reactive mAb that completely protected guinea pigs from the lethal challenge with heterologous EBOV. Our results provide a roadmap to develop a single antibody-based treatment effective against multiple Ebolavirus infections.
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50
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Ebola vaccine, therapeutics, and diagnostics. Uirusu 2016; 66:63-72. [PMID: 28484180 DOI: 10.2222/jsv.66.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Ebolaviruses, members of the family Filoviridae, cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates, with human case fatality rates of up to 90%. No effective prophylaxis or treatment for Ebola virus disease (EVD) is yet commercially available. During the latest outbreak of EVD in West Africa, several unapproved drugs were used for the treatment of patients. This outbreak has indeed accelerated efforts to develop antiviral strategies and some of the vaccine and drug candidates have undergone clinical trials. This article reviews previous researches and recent advances on the development of vaccine, therapeutics, and diagnostics for EVD.
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