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Shum MHH, Lee Y, Tam L, Xia H, Chung OLW, Guo Z, Lam TTY. Binding affinity between coronavirus spike protein and human ACE2 receptor. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:759-770. [PMID: 38304547 PMCID: PMC10831124 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) pose a major risk to global public health due to their ability to infect diverse animal species and potential for emergence in humans. The CoV spike protein mediates viral entry into the cell and plays a crucial role in determining the binding affinity to host cell receptors. With particular emphasis on α- and β-coronaviruses that infect humans and domestic animals, current research on CoV receptor use suggests that the exploitation of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor poses a significant threat for viral emergence with pandemic potential. This review summarizes the approaches used to study binding interactions between CoV spike proteins and the human ACE2 (hACE2) receptor. Solid-phase enzyme immunoassays and cell binding assays allow qualitative assessment of binding but lack quantitative evaluation of affinity. Surface plasmon resonance, Bio-layer interferometry, and Microscale Thermophoresis on the other hand, provide accurate affinity measurement through equilibrium dissociation constants (KD). In silico modeling predicts affinity through binding structure modeling, protein-protein docking simulations, and binding energy calculations but reveals inconsistent results due to the lack of a standardized approach. Machine learning and deep learning models utilize simulated and experimental protein-protein interaction data to elucidate the critical residues associated with CoV binding affinity to hACE2. Further optimization and standardization of existing approaches for studying binding affinity could aid pandemic preparedness. Specifically, prioritizing surveillance of CoVs that can bind to human receptors stands to mitigate the risk of zoonotic spillover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Ho-Hin Shum
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yang Lee
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Immunology and Infection (C2i), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Leighton Tam
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hui Xia
- Department of Chemistry, South University of Science and Technology of China, China
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Oscar Lung-Wa Chung
- Department of Chemistry, South University of Science and Technology of China, China
| | - Zhihong Guo
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tommy Tsan-Yuk Lam
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Immunology and Infection (C2i), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
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Cao C, Mehmood A, Li D. Molecular dynamic simulation reveals spider antimicrobial peptide Latarcin-1 and human eosinophil cationic protein as peptide inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 variants. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:5858-5868. [PMID: 37938133 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2274514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 has rapidly proliferated around 180 countries, and new cases are reported frequently. No peptide medication has been developed that can reliably block SARS-CoV-2 infection. The investigation focuses on the crucial host receptors angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) , which can bind receptor-binding domain (RBD) on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S). To investigate the inhibitory effects of human Eosinophil Cationic Protein (hECP) and Latarcin-1 (L1)on SARS-CoV-2 infection, we have selected them as research subjects. Further, we ran extensive molecular dynamics simulations to bring the docked peptide-ACE2 complex into its equilibrium state. The outcomes were then evaluated with g_MMPBSA and interaction analysis. We have also considered the Delta and Omicron variants to examine these peptides' inhibitory effects. The experimental findings revealed an enhanced capability of L1 and hECP as SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors, occupying hot spots and numerous key residues in ACE2. These include ASP30, ASP38, GLU35 and GLU75, which significantly inhibit the binding of RBD and ACE2 and are effective against two common variants in a similar manner. In addition, this study can serve as a springboard for future research on SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Cao
- Institute of Biothermal Science and Technology, School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, P.R. China
- AI Research Center, Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Aamir Mehmood
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Daixi Li
- Institute of Biothermal Science and Technology, School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, P.R. China
- AI Research Center, Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
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3
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Bai H, Zhang X, Gong T, Ma J, Zhang P, Cai Z, Ren D, Zhang C. A systematic mutation analysis of 13 major SARS-CoV-2 variants. Virus Res 2024; 345:199392. [PMID: 38729218 PMCID: PMC11112362 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 evolves constantly with various novel mutations. Due to their enhanced infectivity, transmissibility and immune evasion, a comprehensive understanding of the association between these mutations and the respective functional changes is crucial. However, previous mutation studies of major SARS-CoV-2 variants remain limited. Here, we performed systematic analyses of full-length amino acids mutation, phylogenetic features, protein physicochemical properties, molecular dynamics and immune escape as well as pseudotype virus infection assays among thirteen major SARS-CoV-2 variants. We found that Omicron exhibited the most abundant and complex mutation sites, higher indices of hydrophobicity and flexibility than other variants. The results of molecular dynamics simulation suggest that Omicron has the highest number of hydrogen bonds and strongest binding free energy between the S protein and ACE2 receptor. Furthermore, we revealed 10 immune escape sites in 13 major variants, some of them were reported previously, but four of which (i.e. 339/373/477/496) are first reported to be specific to Omicron, whereas 462 is specific to Epslion. The infectivity of these variants was confirmed by the pseudotype virus infection assays. Our findings may help us understand the functional consequences of the mutations within various variants and the underlying mechanisms of the immune escapes conferred by the S proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Bai
- The MED-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Building 21, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi'an 710000, China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Center for Molecular Diagnosis and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang 330006, China; Jiangxi Provincial Center for Advanced Diagnostic Technology and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China; Department of Medical Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 DongYue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China
| | - Tian Gong
- Center for Molecular Diagnosis and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang 330006, China; Jiangxi Provincial Center for Advanced Diagnostic Technology and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China; Department of Medical Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 DongYue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China
| | - Junpeng Ma
- Center for Molecular Diagnosis and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang 330006, China; Jiangxi Provincial Center for Advanced Diagnostic Technology and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China; Department of Medical Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 DongYue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Center for Molecular Diagnosis and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang 330006, China; Jiangxi Provincial Center for Advanced Diagnostic Technology and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China; Department of Medical Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 DongYue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China
| | - Zeqiong Cai
- The MED-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Building 21, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi'an 710000, China
| | - Doudou Ren
- The MED-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Building 21, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi'an 710000, China
| | - Chengsheng Zhang
- The MED-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Building 21, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi'an 710000, China; Center for Molecular Diagnosis and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang 330006, China; Jiangxi Provincial Center for Advanced Diagnostic Technology and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China; Department of Medical Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 DongYue Dadao, Nanchang 330209, China.
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4
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Nguyen HT, Falzarano D, Gerdts V, Liu Q. Construction and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particle expressed by recombinant baculovirus BacMam. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0095924. [PMID: 38916311 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00959-24] [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: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to evolve to give rise to variants of concern that can escape vaccine-induced immunity. As such, more effective vaccines are urgently needed. In this study, we evaluated virus-like particle (VLP) as a vaccine platform for SARS-CoV-2. The spike, envelope, and membrane proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain were expressed by a single recombinant baculovirus BacMam and assembled into VLPs in cell culture. The morphology and size of the SARS-CoV-2 VLP as shown by transmission electron microscopy were similar to the authentic SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. In a mouse trial, two intramuscular immunizations of the VLP BacMam with no adjuvant elicited spike-specific binding antibodies in both sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. Importantly, BacMam VLP-vaccinated mouse sera showed neutralization activity against SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped lentivirus. Our results indicated that the SARS-CoV-2 VLP BacMam stimulated spike-specific immune responses with neutralization activity. IMPORTANCE Although existing vaccines have significantly mitigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, none of the vaccines can induce sterilizing immunity. The spike protein is the main component of all approved vaccines for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) due primarily to its ability to induce neutralizing antibodies. The conformation of the spike protein in the vaccine formulation should be critical for the efficacy of a vaccine. By way of closely resembling the authentic virions, virus-like particles (VLPs) should render the spike protein in its natural conformation. To this end, we utilized the baculovirus vector, BacMam, to express virus-like particles consisting of the spike, membrane, and envelope proteins of SARS-CoV-2. We demonstrated the immunogenicity of our VLP vaccine with neutralizing activity. Our data warrant further evaluation of the virus-like particles as a vaccine candidate in protecting against virus challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Trong Nguyen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Darryl Falzarano
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Volker Gerdts
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Qiang Liu
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Vaccinology and Immunotherapeutics, School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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5
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Lei L, Pan W, Shou X, Shao Y, Ye S, Zhang J, Kolliputi N, Shi L. Nanomaterials-assisted gene editing and synthetic biology for optimizing the treatment of pulmonary diseases. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:343. [PMID: 38890749 PMCID: PMC11186260 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02627-w] [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: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of nanomaterials in gene editing and synthetic biology has emerged as a pivotal strategy in the pursuit of refined treatment methodologies for pulmonary disorders. This review discusses the utilization of nanomaterial-assisted gene editing tools and synthetic biology techniques to promote the development of more precise and efficient treatments for pulmonary diseases. First, we briefly outline the characterization of the respiratory system and succinctly describe the principal applications of diverse nanomaterials in lung ailment treatment. Second, we elaborate on gene-editing tools, their configurations, and assorted delivery methods, while delving into the present state of nanomaterial-facilitated gene-editing interventions for a spectrum of pulmonary diseases. Subsequently, we briefly expound on synthetic biology and its deployment in biomedicine, focusing on research advances in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary conditions against the backdrop of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Finally, we summarize the extant lacunae in current research and delineate prospects for advancement in this domain. This holistic approach augments the development of pioneering solutions in lung disease treatment, thereby endowing patients with more efficacious and personalized therapeutic alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanjie Lei
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, China
| | - Wenjie Pan
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325200, China
| | - Xin Shou
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, China
| | - Yunyuan Shao
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, China
| | - Shuxuan Ye
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, China
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210046, China
| | - Narasaiah Kolliputi
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Liyun Shi
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, China.
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6
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Chang-Rabley E, van Zelm MC, Ricotta EE, Edwards ESJ. An Overview of the Strategies to Boost SARS-CoV-2-Specific Immunity in People with Inborn Errors of Immunity. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:675. [PMID: 38932404 PMCID: PMC11209597 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has heightened concerns about immunological protection, especially for individuals with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). While COVID-19 vaccines elicit strong immune responses in healthy individuals, their effectiveness in IEI patients remains unclear, particularly against new viral variants and vaccine formulations. This uncertainty has led to anxiety, prolonged self-isolation, and repeated vaccinations with uncertain benefits among IEI patients. Despite some level of immune response from vaccination, the definition of protective immunity in IEI individuals is still unknown. Given their susceptibility to severe COVID-19, strategies such as immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT) and monoclonal antibodies have been employed to provide passive immunity, and protection against both current and emerging variants. This review examines the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and antibody-based therapies in IEI patients, their capacity to recognize viral variants, and the necessary advances required for the ongoing protection of people with IEIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Chang-Rabley
- The Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Menno C. van Zelm
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
- The Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Centre for Primary Immunodeficiencies in Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Emily E. Ricotta
- The Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniform Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Emily S. J. Edwards
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
- The Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Centre for Primary Immunodeficiencies in Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
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Ives CM, Nguyen L, Fogarty CA, Harbison AM, Durocher Y, Klassen J, Fadda E. Role of N343 glycosylation on the SARS-CoV-2 S RBD structure and co-receptor binding across variants of concern. eLife 2024; 13:RP95708. [PMID: 38864493 PMCID: PMC11168744 DOI: 10.7554/elife.95708] [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] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Glycosylation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein represents a key target for viral evolution because it affects both viral evasion and fitness. Successful variations in the glycan shield are difficult to achieve though, as protein glycosylation is also critical to folding and structural stability. Within this framework, the identification of glycosylation sites that are structurally dispensable can provide insight into the evolutionary mechanisms of the shield and inform immune surveillance. In this work, we show through over 45 μs of cumulative sampling from conventional and enhanced molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, how the structure of the immunodominant S receptor binding domain (RBD) is regulated by N-glycosylation at N343 and how this glycan's structural role changes from WHu-1, alpha (B.1.1.7), and beta (B.1.351), to the delta (B.1.617.2), and omicron (BA.1 and BA.2.86) variants. More specifically, we find that the amphipathic nature of the N-glycan is instrumental to preserve the structural integrity of the RBD hydrophobic core and that loss of glycosylation at N343 triggers a specific and consistent conformational change. We show how this change allosterically regulates the conformation of the receptor binding motif (RBM) in the WHu-1, alpha, and beta RBDs, but not in the delta and omicron variants, due to mutations that reinforce the RBD architecture. In support of these findings, we show that the binding of the RBD to monosialylated ganglioside co-receptors is highly dependent on N343 glycosylation in the WHu-1, but not in the delta RBD, and that affinity changes significantly across VoCs. Ultimately, the molecular and functional insight we provide in this work reinforces our understanding of the role of glycosylation in protein structure and function and it also allows us to identify the structural constraints within which the glycosylation site at N343 can become a hotspot for mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 S glycan shield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum M Ives
- Department of Chemistry, Maynooth UniversityMaynoothIreland
| | - Linh Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, University of AlbertaEdmontonCanada
| | - Carl A Fogarty
- Department of Chemistry, Maynooth UniversityMaynoothIreland
| | | | - Yves Durocher
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, Life Sciences Division, National Research Council CanadaQuébecCanada
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Université de MontréalQuébecCanada
| | - John Klassen
- Department of Chemistry, University of AlbertaEdmontonCanada
| | - Elisa Fadda
- School of Biological Sciences, University of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
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Shin WR, Kim DY, Kim SY, Ahn G, Park DY, Min J, Ahn JY, Kim YH. In vitro and in vivo validation of the antiviral effect of hCypA against SARS-CoV-2 via binding to the RBD of spike protein. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1805-1816. [PMID: 38532628 PMCID: PMC11184304 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 has stimulated the rapid development of new biological therapeutics to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, this remains a challenging task. In a previous study using structural analysis, we revealed that human cyclophilin A inhibits the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells by interfering with the interaction of the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 on the host cell surface, highlighting its potential for antiviral therapy. For a comprehensive experimental validation, in this study, we verified the antiviral effects of human cyclophilin A against SARS-CoV-2, including its variants, using in vitro assays and experiments on an in vivo mouse model. Human cyclophilin A demonstrated a highly effective antiviral effect, with an 85% survival rate upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. It also reduced viral titers, inflammation in the lungs and brain, and cytokine release in the serum, suggesting a controlled immune response and potentially faster recovery. Overall, our study provides insights into the potential of human cyclophilin A as a therapeutic agent against SARS-CoV-2, which should guide future clinical trials that might provide an additional therapeutic option for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo-Ri Shin
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju 28644, South Korea; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, 210 S 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Do-Young Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju 28644, South Korea
| | - Sang Yong Kim
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Shin Ansan University, Danwon-Gu, Ansan 15435, Republic of Korea
| | - Gna Ahn
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju 28644, South Korea; Center for Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Young Park
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju 28644, South Korea
| | - Jiho Min
- Graduate School of Semiconductor and Chemical Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-Gu Jeonju, Jeonbuk 54896, South Korea.
| | - Ji-Young Ahn
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju 28644, South Korea.
| | - Yang-Hoon Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju 28644, South Korea.
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9
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Tai LT, Yeh CY, Chang YJ, Liu JF, Hsu KC, Cheng JC, Lu CH. Discovery of Novel Spike Inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6105. [PMID: 38892294 PMCID: PMC11172837 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116105] [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: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current coronavirus disease pandemic. With the rapid evolution of variant strains, finding effective spike protein inhibitors is a logical and critical priority. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been identified as the functional receptor for SARS-CoV-2 viral entry, and thus related therapeutic approaches associated with the spike protein-ACE2 interaction show a high degree of feasibility for inhibiting viral infection. Our computer-aided drug design (CADD) method meticulously analyzed more than 260,000 compound records from the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI) database, to identify potential spike inhibitors. The spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) was chosen as the target protein for our virtual screening process. In cell-based validation, SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus carrying a reporter gene was utilized to screen for effective compounds. Ultimately, compounds C2, C8, and C10 demonstrated significant antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, with estimated EC50 values of 8.8 μM, 6.7 μM, and 7.6 μM, respectively. Using the above compounds as templates, ten derivatives were generated and robust bioassay results revealed that C8.2 (EC50 = 5.9 μM) exhibited the strongest antiviral efficacy. Compounds C8.2 also displayed inhibitory activity against the Omicron variant, with an EC50 of 9.3 μM. Thus, the CADD method successfully discovered lead compounds binding to the spike protein RBD that are capable of inhibiting viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Te Tai
- Industrial Development Graduate Program of College of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300193, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yun Yeh
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 404333, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jen Chang
- The Ph.D. Program of Biotechnology and Biomedical Industry, China Medical University, Taichung 404333, Taiwan
| | - Ju-Fang Liu
- School of Oral Hygiene, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Cheng Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
| | - Ju-Chien Cheng
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung 404333, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hao Lu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300193, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300193, Taiwan
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-Devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300193, Taiwan
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10
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Carrascosa-Sàez M, Marqués MC, Geller R, Elena SF, Rahmeh A, Dufloo J, Sanjuán R. Cell type-specific adaptation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike. Virus Evol 2024; 10:veae032. [PMID: 38779130 PMCID: PMC11110937 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veae032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) can infect various human tissues and cell types, principally via interaction with its cognate receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). However, how the virus evolves in different cellular environments is poorly understood. Here, we used experimental evolution to study the adaptation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike to four human cell lines expressing different levels of key entry factors. After twenty passages of a spike-expressing recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), cell-type-specific phenotypic changes were observed and sequencing allowed the identification of sixteen adaptive spike mutations. We used VSV pseudotyping to measure the entry efficiency, ACE2 affinity, spike processing, TMPRSS2 usage, and entry pathway usage of all the mutants, alone or in combination. The fusogenicity of the mutant spikes was assessed with a cell-cell fusion assay. Finally, mutant recombinant VSVs were used to measure the fitness advantage associated with selected mutations. We found that the effects of these mutations varied across cell types, both in terms of viral entry and replicative fitness. Interestingly, two spike mutations (L48S and A372T) that emerged in cells expressing low ACE2 levels increased receptor affinity, syncytia induction, and entry efficiency under low-ACE2 conditions. Our results demonstrate specific adaptation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike to different cell types and have implications for understanding SARS-CoV-2 tissue tropism and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Carrascosa-Sàez
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio). University of Valencia—CSIC, Paterna, 46980, Spain
| | - María-Carmen Marqués
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio). University of Valencia—CSIC, Paterna, 46980, Spain
| | - Ron Geller
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio). University of Valencia—CSIC, Paterna, 46980, Spain
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV), CSIC and CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Valencia 46010, Spain
| | - Santiago F Elena
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio). University of Valencia—CSIC, Paterna, 46980, Spain
- The Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
| | - Amal Rahmeh
- Departament de Medicina i Ciències de La Vida (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Jérémy Dufloo
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio). University of Valencia—CSIC, Paterna, 46980, Spain
| | - Rafael Sanjuán
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio). University of Valencia—CSIC, Paterna, 46980, Spain
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11
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Vajdi M, Karimi A, Hassanizadeh S, Farhangi MA, Bagherniya M, Askari G, Roufogalis BD, Davies NM, Sahebkar A. Effect of polyphenols against complications of COVID-19: current evidence and potential efficacy. Pharmacol Rep 2024; 76:307-327. [PMID: 38498260 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-024-00585-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic that started in 2019 and resulted in significant morbidity and mortality continues to be a significant global health challenge, characterized by inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune system dysfunction.. Developing therapies for preventing or treating COVID-19 remains an important goal for pharmacology and drug development research. Polyphenols are effective against various viral infections and can be extracted and isolated from plants without losing their therapeutic potential. Researchers have developed methods for separating and isolating polyphenols from complex matrices. Polyphenols are effective in treating common viral infections, including COVID-19, and can also boost immunity. Polyphenolic-based antiviral medications can mitigate SARS-CoV-2 enzymes vital to virus replication and infection. Individual polyphenolic triterpenoids, flavonoids, anthraquinonoids, and tannins may also inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 protease. Polyphenol pharmacophore structures identified to date can explain their action and lead to the design of novel anti-COVID-19 compounds. Polyphenol-containing mixtures offer the advantages of a well-recognized safety profile with few known severe side effects. However, studies to date are limited, and further animal studies and randomized controlled trials are needed in future studies. The purpose of this study was to review and present the latest findings on the therapeutic impact of plant-derived polyphenols on COVID-19 infection and its complications. Exploring alternative approaches to traditional therapies could aid in developing novel drugs and remedies against coronavirus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Vajdi
- Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Arash Karimi
- Traditional Medicine and Hydrotherapy Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Shirin Hassanizadeh
- Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mahdieh Abbasalizad Farhangi
- Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Bagherniya
- Department of Community Nutrition, Food Security Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Anesthesia and Critical Care Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Askari
- Department of Community Nutrition, Food Security Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Anesthesia and Critical Care Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Basil D Roufogalis
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Neal M Davies
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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12
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Arevalo-Romero JA, Chingaté-López SM, Camacho BA, Alméciga-Díaz CJ, Ramirez-Segura CA. Next-generation treatments: Immunotherapy and advanced therapies for COVID-19. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26423. [PMID: 38434363 PMCID: PMC10907543 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in 2019 following prior outbreaks of coronaviruses like SARS and MERS in recent decades, underscoring their high potential of infectivity in humans. Insights from previous outbreaks of SARS and MERS have played a significant role in developing effective strategies to mitigate the global impact of SARS-CoV-2. As of January 7, 2024, there have been 774,075,242 confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide. To date, 13.59 billion vaccine doses have been administered, and there have been 7,012,986 documented fatalities (https://www.who.int/) Despite significant progress in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 challenges human defenses, presenting ongoing global challenges. The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 lineages, shaped by mutation and recombination processes, has led to successive waves of infections. This scenario reveals the need for next-generation vaccines as a crucial requirement for ensuring ongoing protection against SARS-CoV-2. This demand calls for formulations that trigger a robust adaptive immune response without leading the acute inflammation linked with the infection. Key mutations detected in the Spike protein, a critical target for neutralizing antibodies and vaccine design -specifically within the Receptor Binding Domain region of Omicron variant lineages (B.1.1.529), currently dominant worldwide, have intensified concerns due to their association with immunity evasion from prior vaccinations and infections. As the world deals with this evolving threat, the narrative extends to the realm of emerging variants, each displaying new mutations with implications that remain largely misunderstood. Notably, the JN.1 Omicron lineage is gaining global prevalence, and early findings suggest it stands among the immune-evading variants, a characteristic attributed to its mutation L455S. Moreover, the detrimental consequences of the novel emergence of SARS-CoV-2 lineages bear a particularly critical impact on immunocompromised individuals and older adults. Immunocompromised individuals face challenges such as suboptimal responses to COVID-19 vaccines, rendering them more susceptible to severe disease. Similarly, older adults have an increased risk of severe disease and the presence of comorbid conditions, find themselves at a heightened vulnerability to develop COVID-19 disease. Thus, recognizing these intricate factors is crucial for effectively tailoring public health strategies to protect these vulnerable populations. In this context, this review aims to describe, analyze, and discuss the current progress of the next-generation treatments encompassing immunotherapeutic approaches and advanced therapies emerging as complements that will offer solutions to counter the disadvantages of the existing options. Preliminary outcomes show that these strategies target the virus and address the immunomodulatory responses associated with COVID-19. Furthermore, the capacity to promote tissue repair has been demonstrated, which can be particularly noteworthy for immunocompromised individuals who stand as vulnerable actors in the global landscape of coronavirus infections. The emerging next-generation treatments possess broader potential, offering protection against a wide range of variants and enhancing the ability to counter the impact of the constant evolution of the virus. Furthermore, advanced therapies are projected as potential treatment alternatives for managing Chronic Post-COVID-19 syndromeand addressing its associated long-term complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Andrea Arevalo-Romero
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Ingeniería Celular y Molecular, Instituto Distrital de Ciencia, Biotecnología e Innovación en Salud, IDCBIS, 111611, Bogotá, DC, Colombia
- Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 110231, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Sandra M. Chingaté-López
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Ingeniería Celular y Molecular, Instituto Distrital de Ciencia, Biotecnología e Innovación en Salud, IDCBIS, 111611, Bogotá, DC, Colombia
| | - Bernardo Armando Camacho
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Ingeniería Celular y Molecular, Instituto Distrital de Ciencia, Biotecnología e Innovación en Salud, IDCBIS, 111611, Bogotá, DC, Colombia
| | - Carlos Javier Alméciga-Díaz
- Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 110231, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Cesar A. Ramirez-Segura
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Ingeniería Celular y Molecular, Instituto Distrital de Ciencia, Biotecnología e Innovación en Salud, IDCBIS, 111611, Bogotá, DC, Colombia
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13
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Feinstein P. Coronavirus Spike-RBD Variants Differentially Bind to the Human ACE2 Receptor. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.07.583944. [PMID: 38496407 PMCID: PMC10942415 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.07.583944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 betacoronavirus infects people through binding the human Angiotensin Receptor 2 (ACE2), followed by import into a cell utilizing the Transmembrane Protease, Serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and Furin cofactors. Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 extracellular spike protein has suggested critical amino acids necessary for binding within a 197-residue portion, the receptor binding domain (RBD). A cell-based assay between a membrane tethered RBD-GFP fusion protein and the membrane bound ACE2-Cherry fusion protein allowed for mutational intersection of both RBD and ACE2 proteins. Data shows Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants have altered dependency on the amino terminus of ACE2 protein and suggests multiple epitopes on both proteins stabilize their interactions at the Nt and internal region of ACE2. In contrast, the H-CoV-NL63 RBD is only dependent on the ACE2 internal region for binding. A peptide inhibitor approach to this internal region thus far have failed to block binding of RBDs to ACE2, suggesting that several binding regions on ACE2 are sufficient to allow functional interactions. In sum, the RBD binding surface of ACE2 appears relatively fluid and amenable to bind a range of novel variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Feinstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10065
- The Graduate Center Programs in Biochemistry, Biology and CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016
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14
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Ozawa T, Ikeda Y, Chen L, Suzuki R, Hoshino A, Noguchi A, Kita S, Anraku Y, Igarashi E, Saga Y, Inasaki N, Taminishi S, Sasaki J, Kirita Y, Fukuhara H, Maenaka K, Hashiguchi T, Fukuhara T, Hirabayashi K, Tani H, Kishi H, Niimi H. Rational in silico design identifies two mutations that restore UT28K SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody activity against Omicron BA.1. Structure 2024; 32:263-272.e7. [PMID: 38228146 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 rapidly mutates and acquires resistance to neutralizing antibodies. We report an in-silico-designed antibody that restores the neutralizing activity of a neutralizing antibody. Our previously generated antibody, UT28K, exhibited broad neutralizing activity against mutant variants; however, its efficacy against Omicron BA.1 was compromised by the mutation. Using previously determined structural information, we designed a modified-UT28K (VH T28R/N57D), UT28K-RD targeting the mutation site. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated the efficacy of UT28K-RD in neutralizing Omicron BA.1. Although the experimentally determined structure partially differed from the predicted model, our study serves as a successful case of antibody design, wherein the predicted amino acid substitution enhanced the recognition of the previously elusive Omicron BA.1. We anticipate that numerous similar cases will be reported, showcasing the potential of this approach for improving protein-protein interactions. Our findings will contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for highly mutable viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuhiko Ozawa
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan; Center for Advanced Antibody Drug Development, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
| | - Yoshiki Ikeda
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University, Yoshidahonnmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Liuan Chen
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Rigel Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (HU-IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Hoshino
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akira Noguchi
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Kita
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yuki Anraku
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Emiko Igarashi
- Department of Virology, Toyama Institute of Health, Toyama, Japan
| | - Yumiko Saga
- Department of Virology, Toyama Institute of Health, Toyama, Japan
| | - Noriko Inasaki
- Department of Virology, Toyama Institute of Health, Toyama, Japan
| | - Shunta Taminishi
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jiei Sasaki
- Laboratory of Medical Virology, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuhei Kirita
- Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hideo Fukuhara
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (HU-IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Center for Research and Education on Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Division of Pathogen Structure, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Katsumi Maenaka
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (HU-IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Center for Research and Education on Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Division of Pathogen Structure, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Global Station for Biosurfaces and Drug Discovery, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takao Hashiguchi
- Laboratory of Medical Virology, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takasuke Fukuhara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (HU-IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Japan; AMED-CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenichi Hirabayashi
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hideki Tani
- Department of Virology, Toyama Institute of Health, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kishi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan; Center for Advanced Antibody Drug Development, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hideki Niimi
- Center for Advanced Antibody Drug Development, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan; Department of Clinical Laboratory and Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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15
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Broudic K, Laurent S, Perkov V, Simon C, Garinot M, Truchot N, Latour J, Désert P. Nonclinical safety assessment of an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine candidate following repeated administrations and biodistribution. J Appl Toxicol 2024; 44:371-390. [PMID: 37723625 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have demonstrated efficacy against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in humans. mRNA technology holds tremendous potential for rapid control and prevention of emergencies due to its flexibility with respect to production, application, and design for an efficacious and safe use in humans. We assessed the toxicity and biodistribution of MRT5500, an mRNA vaccine encoding for the full-length of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and delivered by lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) containing a novel ionizable lipid, Lipid-1 in preclinical animal models. In the repeated dose toxicity study, rabbits received three intramuscular (IM) injections of MRT5500 at 3-week interval followed by a 4-week observation period. In an exploratory biodistribution study in mice receiving a single IM injection of an mRNA encoding luciferase encapsulated in an LNP containing Lipid-1, the expression of the luciferase protein was monitored in vivo and ex vivo at several time points. In the regulatory biodistribution study in rabbits receiving a single IM injection of MRT5500, the quantification of the mRNA and the ionizable Lipid-1 were monitored in the same organs and time points as in the exploratory biodistribution study. MRT5500 was safe and well-tolerated with a transient acute phase response/inflammation and an expected vaccine-related immunological response, typical of those observed following a vaccine administration. The biodistribution data demonstrated that the mRNA and Lipid-1 components of the vaccine formulations were mainly detected at the injection site and in the draining lymph nodes. These results support the use of MRT5500 and its deployment into clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Broudic
- Research and Development, Sanofi, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | | | | | - Charlene Simon
- Research and Development, Sanofi, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Marie Garinot
- Research and Development, Sanofi, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Nathalie Truchot
- France Safety Assessment SAS, Charles River Laboratories, Saint-Germain-Nuelles, France
| | - Julie Latour
- Research and Development, Sanofi, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Paul Désert
- Research and Development, Sanofi, Marcy l'Etoile, France
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16
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Gossen KR, Zhang M, Nikolov ZL, Fernando SD, King MD. Binding behavior of receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and ivermectin. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2743. [PMID: 38302638 PMCID: PMC10834942 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53086-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), sparked an international debate on effective ways to prevent and treat the virus. Specifically, there were many varying opinions on the use of ivermectin (IVM) throughout the world, with minimal research to support either side. IVM is an FDA-approved antiparasitic drug that was discovered in the 1970s and was found to show antiviral activity. The objective of this study is to examine the binding behavior and rates of association and dissociation between SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD), IVM, and their combination using aminopropylsilane (APS) biosensors as surrogates for the hydrophobic interaction between the viral protein and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors to determine the potential of IVM as a repurposed drug for SARS-CoV-2 prevention and treatment. The IVM, RBD, and combination binding kinetics were analyzed using biolayer interferometry (BLI) and validated with multiple in silico techniques including protein-ligand docking, molecular dynamics simulation, molecular mechanics-generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA), and principal component analysis (PCA). Our results suggest that with increasing IVM concentrations the association rate with the hydrophobic biosensor increases with a simultaneous decrease in dissociation. Significant kinetic changes to RBD, when combined with IVM, were found only at a concentration a thousand times the approved dosage with minimal changes found over a 35-min time period. Our study suggests that IVM is not an effective preventative or treatment method at the currently approved dosage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasidy R Gossen
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2117 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Meiyi Zhang
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2117 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Zivko L Nikolov
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2117 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Sandun D Fernando
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2117 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Maria D King
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2117 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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17
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Yu M, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Wang S, Liu Y, Xu Z, Liu P, Chen Y, Guo R, Meng L, Zhang T, Fan W, Qi X, Gao L, Zhang Y, Cui H, Gao Y. N123I mutation in the ALV-J receptor-binding domain region enhances viral replication ability by increasing the binding affinity with chNHE1. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011928. [PMID: 38324558 PMCID: PMC10878525 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J), a retrovirus, uses its gp85 protein to bind to the receptor, the chicken sodium hydrogen exchanger isoform 1 (chNHE1), facilitating viral invasion. ALV-J is the main epidemic subgroup and shows noteworthy mutations within the receptor-binding domain (RBD) region of gp85, especially in ALV-J layer strains in China. However, the implications of these mutations on viral replication and transmission remain elusive. In this study, the ALV-J layer strain JL08CH3-1 exhibited a more robust replication ability than the prototype strain HPRS103, which is related to variations in the gp85 protein. Notably, the gp85 of JL08CH3-1 demonstrated a heightened binding capacity to chNHE1 compared to HPRS103-gp85 binding. Furthermore, we showed that the specific N123I mutation within gp85 contributed to the enhanced binding capacity of the gp85 protein to chNHE1. Structural analysis indicated that the N123I mutation primarily enhanced the stability of gp85, expanded the interaction interface, and increased the number of hydrogen bonds at the interaction interface to increase the binding capacity between gp85 and chNHE1. We found that the N123I mutation not only improved the viral replication ability of ALV-J but also promoted viral shedding in vivo. These comprehensive data underscore the notion that the N123I mutation increases receptor binding and intensifies viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Yu
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Suyan Wang
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yongzhen Liu
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Xu
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yuntong Chen
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Ru Guo
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Lingzhai Meng
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Wenrui Fan
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaole Qi
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Li Gao
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yanping Zhang
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Hongyu Cui
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yulong Gao
- Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
- National Poultry Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Harbin, China
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18
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Li K, Verma A, Li P, Ortiz ME, Hawkins GM, Schnicker NJ, Szachowicz PJ, Pezzulo AA, Wohlford-Lenane CL, Kicmal T, Meyerholz DK, Gallagher T, Perlman S, McCray PB. Adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 to ACE2 H353K mice reveals new spike residues that drive mouse infection. J Virol 2024; 98:e0151023. [PMID: 38168680 PMCID: PMC10804960 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01510-23] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to cause extraordinary loss of life and economic damage. Animal models of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are needed to better understand disease pathogenesis and evaluate preventive measures and therapies. While mice are widely used to model human disease, mouse angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) does not bind the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to mediate viral entry. To overcome this limitation, we "humanized" mouse Ace2 using CRISPR gene editing to introduce a single amino acid substitution, H353K, predicted to facilitate S protein binding. While H353K knockin Ace2 (mACE2H353K) mice supported SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication, they exhibited minimal disease manifestations. Following 30 serial passages of ancestral SARS-CoV-2 in mACE2H353K mice, we generated and cloned a more virulent virus. A single isolate (SARS2MA-H353K) was prepared for detailed studies. In 7-11-month-old mACE2H353K mice, a 104 PFU inocula resulted in diffuse alveolar disease manifested as edema, hyaline membrane formation, and interstitial cellular infiltration/thickening. Unexpectedly, the mouse-adapted virus also infected standard BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice and caused severe disease. The mouse-adapted virus acquired five new missense mutations including two in spike (K417E, Q493K), one each in nsp4, nsp9, and M and a single nucleotide change in the 5' untranslated region. The Q493K spike mutation arose early in serial passage and is predicted to provide affinity-enhancing molecular interactions with mACE2 and further increase the stability and affinity to the receptor. This new model and mouse-adapted virus will be useful to evaluate COVID-19 disease and prophylactic and therapeutic interventions.IMPORTANCEWe developed a new mouse model with a humanized angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) locus that preserves native regulatory elements. A single point mutation in mouse ACE2 (H353K) was sufficient to confer in vivo infection with ancestral severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 virus. Through in vivo serial passage, a virulent mouse-adapted strain was obtained. In aged mACE2H353K mice, the mouse-adapted strain caused diffuse alveolar disease. The mouse-adapted virus also infected standard BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, causing severe disease. The mouse-adapted virus acquired five new missense mutations including two in spike (K417E, Q493K), one each in nsp4, nsp9, and M and a single nucleotide change in the 5' untranslated region. The Q493K spike mutation arose early in serial passage and is predicted to provide affinity-enhancing molecular interactions with mACE2 and further increase the stability and affinity to the receptor. This new model and mouse-adapted virus will be useful to evaluate COVID-19 disease and prophylactic and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Abhishek Verma
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Pengfei Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Miguel E. Ortiz
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Grant M. Hawkins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Peter J. Szachowicz
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | | | | | - Tom Kicmal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Tom Gallagher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Stanley Perlman
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Paul B. McCray
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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19
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Devitt G, Johnson PB, Hanrahan N, Lane SIR, Vidale MC, Sheth B, Allen JD, Humbert MV, Spalluto CM, Hervé RC, Staples K, West JJ, Forster R, Divecha N, McCormick CJ, Crispin M, Hempler N, Malcolm GPA, Mahajan S. Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 Inactivation Using UVC Laser Radiation. ACS PHOTONICS 2024; 11:42-52. [PMID: 38249683 PMCID: PMC10797618 DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.3c00828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) has had a tremendous impact on humanity. Prevention of transmission by disinfection of surfaces and aerosols through a chemical-free method is highly desirable. Ultraviolet C (UVC) light is uniquely positioned to achieve inactivation of pathogens. We report the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 virus by UVC radiation and explore its mechanisms. A dose of 50 mJ/cm2 using a UVC laser at 266 nm achieved an inactivation efficiency of 99.89%, while infectious virions were undetectable at 75 mJ/cm2 indicating >99.99% inactivation. Infection by SARS-CoV-2 involves viral entry mediated by the spike glycoprotein (S), and viral reproduction, reliant on translation of its genome. We demonstrate that UVC radiation damages ribonucleic acid (RNA) and provide in-depth characterization of UVC-induced damage of the S protein. We find that UVC severely impacts SARS-CoV- 2 spike protein's ability to bind human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) and this correlates with loss of native protein conformation and aromatic amino acid integrity. This report has important implications for the design and development of rapid and effective disinfection systems against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Devitt
- School
of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
- School
of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
- Institute
for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Peter B. Johnson
- School
of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
- Institute
for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Niall Hanrahan
- School
of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
- Institute
for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Simon I. R. Lane
- School
of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
- Institute
for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Magdalena C. Vidale
- School
of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Bhavwanti Sheth
- School
of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Joel D. Allen
- School
of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Maria V. Humbert
- Clinical
and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton,
Sir Henry Wellcome Laboratories, University
Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, United
Kingdom
- University
of Cambridge, MRC Toxicology Unit, Cambridge, CB2 1QR, United Kingdom
| | - Cosma M. Spalluto
- Clinical
and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton,
Sir Henry Wellcome Laboratories, University
Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, United
Kingdom
- Southampton
NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Southampton
General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, United
Kingdom
| | - Rodolphe C. Hervé
- School
of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Karl Staples
- Clinical
and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton,
Sir Henry Wellcome Laboratories, University
Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, United
Kingdom
- Wessex Investigational
Sciences Hub, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, United Kingdom
- Southampton
NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Southampton
General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, United
Kingdom
| | - Jonathan J. West
- Institute
for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
- Cancer
Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University
of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, United
Kingdom
| | - Robert Forster
- M Squared
Lasers, Limited, 1 K
Campus, West of Scotland Science Park, Glasgow, G20 0SP, United
Kingdom
| | - Nullin Divecha
- School
of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. McCormick
- Clinical
and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton,
Sir Henry Wellcome Laboratories, University
Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, United
Kingdom
| | - Max Crispin
- School
of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Nils Hempler
- M Squared
Lasers, Limited, 1 K
Campus, West of Scotland Science Park, Glasgow, G20 0SP, United
Kingdom
| | - Graeme P. A. Malcolm
- M Squared
Lasers, Limited, 1 K
Campus, West of Scotland Science Park, Glasgow, G20 0SP, United
Kingdom
| | - Sumeet Mahajan
- School
of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
- Institute
for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
- Department
of Biotechnology, Inland Norway University
of Applied Sciences, Holsetgata 22, N-2317 Hamar, Norway
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20
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Pérez-Massón B, Quintana-Pérez Y, Tundidor Y, Pérez-Martínez D, Castro-Martínez C, Pupo-Meriño M, Orosa I, Relova-Hernández E, Villegas R, Guirola O, Rojas G. Studying SARS-CoV-2 interactions using phage-displayed receptor binding domain as a model protein. Sci Rep 2024; 14:712. [PMID: 38184672 PMCID: PMC10771503 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50450-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) mediates viral entry into human cells through its interaction with angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Most neutralizing antibodies elicited by infection or vaccination target this domain. Such a functional relevance, together with large RBD sequence variability arising during viral spreading, point to the need of exploring the complex landscape of interactions between RBD-derived variants, ACE2 and antibodies. The current work was aimed at developing a simple platform to do so. Biologically active and antigenic Wuhan-Hu-1 RBD, as well as mutated RBD variants found in nature, were successfully displayed on filamentous phages. Mutational scanning confirmed the global plasticity of the receptor binding motif within RBD, highlighted residues playing a critical role in receptor binding, and identified mutations strengthening the interaction. The ability of vaccine-induced antibodies to inhibit ACE2 binding of many mutated RBD variants, albeit at different extents, was shown. Amino acid replacements which could compromise such inhibitory potential were underscored. The expansion of our approach could be the starting point for a large-scale phage-based exploration of diversity within RBD of SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses, useful to understand structure-function relationships, to engineer RBD proteins, and to anticipate changes to watch during viral evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Pérez-Massón
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, Havana, Cuba
| | - Yazmina Quintana-Pérez
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, Havana, Cuba
| | - Yaima Tundidor
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, Havana, Cuba
| | - Dayana Pérez-Martínez
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, Havana, Cuba
| | - Camila Castro-Martínez
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, Havana, Cuba
| | - Mario Pupo-Meriño
- Universidad de Ciencias Informáticas, Carretera a San Antonio de los Baños, km 2 1/2, Torrens, Boyeros, CP 19370, Havana, Cuba
| | - Ivette Orosa
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, Havana, Cuba
| | - Ernesto Relova-Hernández
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, Havana, Cuba
| | - Rosmery Villegas
- Universidad de Ciencias Informáticas, Carretera a San Antonio de los Baños, km 2 1/2, Torrens, Boyeros, CP 19370, Havana, Cuba
| | - Osmany Guirola
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Ave 31 E/158 y 190, Cubanacán, Playa, CP 11300, Havana, Cuba
| | - Gertrudis Rojas
- Center of Molecular Immunology, Calle 216 esq 15, apartado 16040, Atabey, Playa, CP 11300, Havana, Cuba.
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21
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Esquivel Gomez LR, Weber A, Kocher A, Kühnert D. Recombination-aware phylogenetic analysis sheds light on the evolutionary origin of SARS-CoV-2. Sci Rep 2024; 14:541. [PMID: 38177346 PMCID: PMC10766966 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50952-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 can infect human cells through the recognition of the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. This affinity is given by six amino acid residues located in the variable loop of the receptor binding domain (RBD) within the Spike protein. Genetic recombination involving bat and pangolin Sarbecoviruses, and natural selection have been proposed as possible explanations for the acquisition of the variable loop and these amino acid residues. In this study we employed Bayesian phylogenetics to jointly reconstruct the phylogeny of the RBD among human, bat and pangolin Sarbecoviruses and detect recombination events affecting this region of the genome. A recombination event involving RaTG13, the closest relative of SARS-CoV-2 that lacks five of the six residues, and an unsampled Sarbecovirus lineage was detected. This result suggests that the variable loop of the RBD didn't have a recombinant origin and the key amino acid residues were likely present in the common ancestor of SARS-CoV-2 and RaTG13, with the latter losing five of them probably as the result of recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Roger Esquivel Gomez
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group (tide), Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (Formerly MPI for the Science of Human History), Jena, Germany.
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
- Phylogenomics Unit, Center for Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Research, Robert Koch Institute, Wildau, Germany.
| | - Ariane Weber
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group (tide), Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (Formerly MPI for the Science of Human History), Jena, Germany
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arthur Kocher
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group (tide), Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (Formerly MPI for the Science of Human History), Jena, Germany
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Denise Kühnert
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group (tide), Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (Formerly MPI for the Science of Human History), Jena, Germany.
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
- Phylogenomics Unit, Center for Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Research, Robert Koch Institute, Wildau, Germany.
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22
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Feng H, Yang L, Yang H, Cheng D, Li M, Song E, Xu T. A cardiotoxicity-eliminated ACE2 variant as a pan-inhibitor against coronavirus cell invasion. Mol Ther 2024; 32:218-226. [PMID: 37974399 PMCID: PMC10787150 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Human recombinant ACE2 (hrACE2) has been highly anticipated as a successful COVID-19 treatment; however, its potential to cause cardiac side effects has given rise to many concerns. Here, we developed a cardiotoxicity-eliminated hrACE2 variant, which had four mutation sites within hrACE2 (H345L, H374L, H378L, H505L) and was named as hrACE2-4mu. hrACE2-4mu has a consistent binding affinity with the variant SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins (SPs) and an efficient ability to block SP-induced SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells. In golden hamsters, injection of purified wild-type (WT) hrACE2 rescues the early stages of pneumonia caused by the SPs of the WT, delta, and omicron variants with reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. However, long-term injection of WT hrACE2 induces undesired cardiac fibrosis, as demonstrated by upregulated fibronectin and collagen expression. Our newly developed hrACE2-4mu showed similar protective abilities against a series of coronavirus cell invasions as WT hrACE2, meanwhile it did not cause apparent cardiac side effects. Thus, we generated a cardiotoxicity-eliminated variant of hrACE2 as a pan-inhibitor against coronavirus cell invasion, providing a potential novel strategy for the treatment of COVID-19 and other coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Feng
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Linpu Yang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hang Yang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Dongwan Cheng
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Min Li
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Eli Song
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Tao Xu
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou 510005, China; Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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23
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Bharadwaj A, Kaur R, Gupta S. Emerging Treatment Approaches for COVID-19 Infection: A Critical Review. Curr Mol Med 2024; 24:435-448. [PMID: 37070448 DOI: 10.2174/1566524023666230417112543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
In the present scenario, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has imposed enormous damage on human survival and the global financial system. It has been estimated that around 111 million people all around the world have been infected, and about 2.47 million people died due to this pandemic. The major symptoms were sneezing, coughing, cold, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, and multi-organ failure associated 1with SARS-CoV-2. Currently, two key problems, namely insufficient attempts to develop drugs against SARSCoV-2 and the lack of any biological regulating process, are mostly responsible for the havoc caused by this virus. Henceforth, developing a few novel drugs is urgently required to cure this pandemic. It has been noticed that the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is caused by two main events: infection and immune deficiency, that occur during the pathological process. Antiviral medication can treat both the virus and the host cells. Therefore, in the present review, the major approaches for the treatment have been divided into "target virus" and "target host" groups. These two mechanisms primarily rely on drug repositioning, novel approaches, and possible targets. Initially, we discussed the traditional drugs per the physicians' recommendations. Moreover, such therapeutics have no potential to fight against COVID-19. After that, detailed investigation and analysis were conducted to find some novel vaccines and monoclonal antibodies and conduct a few clinical trials to check their effectiveness against SARSCoV- 2 and mutant strains. Additionally, this study presents the most successful methods for its treatment, including combinatorial therapy. Nanotechnology was studied to build efficient nanocarriers to overcome the traditional constraints of antiviral and biological therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alok Bharadwaj
- Department of Biotechnology, GLA University, Mathura, 281406, UP, India
| | - Rasanpreet Kaur
- Department of Biotechnology, GLA University, Mathura, 281406, UP, India
| | - Saurabh Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology, GLA University, Mathura, 281406, UP, India
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24
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Singh Dagur H, Behmard E, Rajakumara E, Barzegari E. Identifying potent inhibitory phytocompounds from Lagerstroemia speciosa against SARS-Coronavirus-2: structure-based virtual screening. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:806-818. [PMID: 37170794 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2205942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing spillover of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) calls for expedited countermeasure through developing therapeutics from natural reservoirs and/or the use of less time-consuming drug discovery methodologies. This study aims to apply these approaches to identify potential blockers of the virus from the longstanding medicinal herb, Lagerstroemia speciosa, through comprehensive computational-based screening. Nineteen out of 22 L. speciosa phytochemicals were selected on the basis of their pharmacokinetic properties. SARS-CoV-2 Main protease (Mpro), RNA-directed RNA polymerase (RdRp), Envelope viroporin protein (Evp) and receptor-binding domain of Spike glycoprotein (S-RBD), as well as the human receptor Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (hACE2) were chosen as targets. The screening was performed by molecular docking, followed by 100-ns molecular dynamic simulations and free energy calculations. 24-Methylene cycloartanol acetate (24MCA) was found as the best inhibitor for both Evp and RdRp, and sitosterol acetate (SA) as the best hit for Mpro, S-RBD and hACE2. Dynamic simulations, binding mode analyses, free energy terms and share of key amino acids in protein-drug interactions confirmed the stable binding of these phytocompounds to the hotspot sites on the target proteins. With their possible multi-targeting capability, the introduced phytoligands might offer promising lead compounds for persistent fight with the rapidly evolving coronavirus. Therefore, experimental verification of their safety and efficacy is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanuman Singh Dagur
- Macromolecular Structural Biology Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy, Telangana, India
| | - Esmaeil Behmard
- School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Eerappa Rajakumara
- Macromolecular Structural Biology Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy, Telangana, India
| | - Ebrahim Barzegari
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
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25
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Upadhyay V, Panja S, Lucas A, Patrick C, Mallela KMG. Biophysical evolution of the receptor-binding domains of SARS-CoVs. Biophys J 2023; 122:4489-4502. [PMID: 37897042 PMCID: PMC10719049 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
With hundreds of coronaviruses (CoVs) identified in bats that can infect humans, it is essential to understand how CoVs that affected the human population have evolved. Seven known CoVs have infected humans, of which three CoVs caused severe disease with high mortalities: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV emerged in 2002, Middle East respiratory syndrome-CoV in 2012, and SARS-CoV-2 in 2019. SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 belong to the same family, follow the same receptor pathway, and use their receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike protein to bind to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor on the human epithelial cell surface. The sequence of the two RBDs is divergent, especially in the receptor-binding motif that directly interacts with ACE2. We probed the biophysical differences between the two RBDs in terms of their structure, stability, aggregation, and function. Since RBD is being explored as an antigen in protein subunit vaccines against CoVs, determining these biophysical properties will also aid in developing stable protein subunit vaccines. Our results show that, despite RBDs having a similar three-dimensional structure, they differ in their thermodynamic stability. RBD of SARS-CoV-2 is significantly less stable than that of SARS-CoV. Correspondingly, SARS-CoV-2 RBD shows a higher aggregation propensity. Regarding binding to ACE2, less stable SARS-CoV-2 RBD binds with a higher affinity than more stable SARS-CoV RBD. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 RBD is more homogenous in terms of its binding stoichiometry toward ACE2 compared to SARS-CoV RBD. These results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 RBD differs from SARS-CoV RBD in terms of its stability, aggregation, and function, possibly originating from the diverse receptor-binding motifs. Higher aggregation propensity and decreased stability of SARS-CoV-2 RBD warrant further optimization of protein subunit vaccines that use RBD as an antigen by inserting stabilizing mutations or formulation screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaibhav Upadhyay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Sudipta Panja
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Alexandra Lucas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Casey Patrick
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Krishna M G Mallela
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.
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26
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Chinnadurai RK, Ponne S, Chitra L, Kumar R, Thayumanavan P, Subramanian B. Pharmacoinformatic approach to identify potential phytochemicals against SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain in native and variants of concern. Mol Divers 2023; 27:2741-2766. [PMID: 36547813 PMCID: PMC9773690 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-022-10580-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pathogenesis is initiated by the binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2R) on the host cell surface. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the S protein mediates the binding and is more prone to mutations resulting in the generation of different variants. Recently, molecules with the potential to inhibit the interaction of S protein with ACE2R have been of interest due to their therapeutic value. In this context, the present work was performed to identify potential RBD binders from the Indian medicinal plant's phytochemical database through virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamic simulation. Briefly, 1578 compounds filtered from 9596 phytochemicals were chosen for screening against the RBD of the native SARS-CoV-2 S protein. Based on the binding energy, the top 30 compounds were selected and re-docked individually against the native and five variants of concern (VOCs: alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and omicron) of SARS-CoV-2. Four phytochemicals, namely withanolide F, serotobenine, orobanchol, and gibberellin A51, were found to be potential RBD binders in native and all SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Among the four, withanolide F exhibited lower binding energy (- 10.84 to - 8.56 kcal/mol) and better ligand efficiency (- 0.3 to - 0.25) against all forms of RBD and hence was subjected to a 100 ns MD simulation which confirmed its stringent binding to the RBDs in native and VOCs. The study prioritizes withanolide F as a prospective COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease) therapeutic agent based on the observations. It warrants deeper investigations into the four promising leads for understanding their precise therapeutic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kumar Chinnadurai
- Mahatma Gandhi Medical Advanced Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidhyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pondicherry, 607402, India.
| | - Saravanaraman Ponne
- Department of Biotechnology, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, 605014, India
| | - Loganathan Chitra
- Department of Biochemistry, Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu, 636011, India
| | - Rajender Kumar
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Balanehru Subramanian
- School of Biological Sciences, Sri Balaji Vidhyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pondicherry, 607402, India
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27
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Hinkov A, Tsvetkov V, Shkondrov A, Krasteva I, Shishkov S, Shishkova K. Effect of a Total Extract and Saponins from Astragalus glycyphyllos L. on Human Coronavirus Replication In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16525. [PMID: 38003714 PMCID: PMC10671514 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the family Coronaviridae cause diseases in mammals, birds, and wildlife (bats), some of which may be transmissible to humans or specific to humans. In the human population, they can cause a wide range of diseases, mainly affecting the respiratory and digestive systems. In the scientific databases, there are huge numbers of research articles about the antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and anthelmintic activities of medicinal herbs and crops with different ethnobotanical backgrounds. The subject of our research is the antiviral effect of isolated saponins, a purified saponin mixture, and a methanol extract of Astragalus glycyphyllos L. In the studies conducted for the cytotoxic effect of the substances, CC50 (cytotoxic concentration 50) and MTC (maximum tolerable concentration) were determined by the colorimetric method (MTT assay). The virus was cultured in the MDBK cell line. As a result of the experiments carried out on the influence of substances on viral replication (using MTT-based colorimetric assay for detection of human Coronavirus replication inhibition), it was found that the extract and the purified saponin mixture inhibited 100% viral replication. The calculated selective indices are about 13 and 18, respectively. The obtained results make them promising for a preparation with anti-Coronavirus action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Hinkov
- Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Biology, University of Sofia “St. Kl. Ohridski”, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria; (V.T.); (S.S.)
| | - Venelin Tsvetkov
- Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Biology, University of Sofia “St. Kl. Ohridski”, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria; (V.T.); (S.S.)
| | - Aleksandar Shkondrov
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, 2 Dunav St., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria; (A.S.); (I.K.)
| | - Ilina Krasteva
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, 2 Dunav St., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria; (A.S.); (I.K.)
| | - Stoyan Shishkov
- Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Biology, University of Sofia “St. Kl. Ohridski”, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria; (V.T.); (S.S.)
| | - Kalina Shishkova
- Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Biology, University of Sofia “St. Kl. Ohridski”, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria; (V.T.); (S.S.)
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28
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Santo KP, Neimark AV. Adsorption of pulmonary and exogeneous surfactants on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 650:28-39. [PMID: 37392497 PMCID: PMC10279468 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.06.121] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 is transmitted by airborne particles containing virions of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Coronavirus virions represent nanoparticles enveloped by a lipid bilayer decorated by a "crown" of Spike protein protrusions. Virus transmission into the cells is induced by binding of Spike proteins with ACE2 receptors of alveolar epithelial cells. Active clinical search is ongoing for exogenous surfactants and biologically active chemicals capable of hindering virion-receptor binding. Here, we explore by using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations the physico-chemical mechanisms of adsorption of selected pulmonary surfactants, zwitterionic dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline and cholesterol, and exogeneous anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate, on the S1-domain of the Spike protein. We show that surfactants form micellar aggregates that selectively adhere to the specific regions of the S1-domain that are responsible for binding with ACE2 receptors. We find distinctly higher cholesterol adsorption and stronger cholesterol-S1 interactions in comparison with other surfactants, that is consistent with the experimental observations of the effects of cholesterol on COVID-19 infection. Distribution of adsorbed surfactant along the protein residue chain is highly specific and inhomogeneous with preferential adsorption around specific amino acid sequences. We observe preferential adsorption of surfactants on cationic arginine and lysine residues in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) that play an important role in ACE2 binding and are present in higher amounts in Delta and Omicron variants, which may lead to blocking direct Spike-ACE2 interactions. Our findings of strong selective adhesion of surfactant aggregates to Spike proteins have important implications for informing clinical search for therapeutic surfactants for curing and preventing COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kolattukudy P Santo
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Alexander V Neimark
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
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29
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Le K, Kannappan S, Kim T, Lee JH, Lee HR, Kim KK. Structural understanding of SARS-CoV-2 virus entry to host cells. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1288686. [PMID: 38033388 PMCID: PMC10683510 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1288686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a major global health concern associated with millions of fatalities worldwide. Mutant variants of the virus have further exacerbated COVID-19 mortality and infection rates, emphasizing the urgent need for effective preventive strategies. Understanding the viral infection mechanism is crucial for developing therapeutics and vaccines. The entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells is a key step in the infection pathway and has been targeted for drug development. Despite numerous reviews of COVID-19 and the virus, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews focusing on the structural aspects of viral entry. In this review, we analyze structural changes in Spike proteins during the entry process, dividing the entry process into prebinding, receptor binding, proteolytic cleavage, and membrane fusion steps. By understanding the atomic-scale details of viral entry, we can better target the entry step for intervention strategies. We also examine the impacts of mutations in Spike proteins, including the Omicron variant, on viral entry. Structural information provides insights into the effects of mutations and can guide the development of therapeutics and vaccines. Finally, we discuss available structure-based approaches for the development of therapeutics and vaccines. Overall, this review provides a detailed analysis of the structural aspects of SARS-CoV-2 viral entry, highlighting its significance in the development of therapeutics and vaccines against COVID-19. Therefore, our review emphasizes the importance of structural information in combating SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Le
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Institute of Antibacterial Resistance Research and Therapeutics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Shrute Kannappan
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Institute of Antibacterial Resistance Research and Therapeutics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Technology Core Research Institute, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Truc Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Institute of Antibacterial Resistance Research and Therapeutics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Heon Lee
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Technology Core Research Institute, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- School of Advanced Materials and Science Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Ra Lee
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Kyu Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Institute of Antibacterial Resistance Research and Therapeutics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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30
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Treeza M M, Augustine S, Mathew AA, Kanthlal S, Panonummal R. Targeting Viral ORF3a Protein: A New Approach to Mitigate COVID-19 Induced Immune Cell Apoptosis and Associated Respiratory Complications. Adv Pharm Bull 2023; 13:678-687. [PMID: 38022818 PMCID: PMC10676557 DOI: 10.34172/apb.2023.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with SARS-CoV-2 is a growing concern to the global well-being of the public at present. Different amino acid mutations alter the biological and epidemiological characteristics, as well as immune resistance of SARS-CoV-2. The virus-induced pulmonary impairment and inflammatory cytokine storm are directly related to its clinical manifestations. But, the fundamental mechanisms of inflammatory responses are found to be the reason for the death of immune cells which render the host immune system failure. Apoptosis of immune cells is one of the most common forms of programmed cell death induced by the virus for its survival and virulence property. ORF3a, a SARS-CoV-2 accessory viral protein, induces apoptosis in host cells and suppress the defense mechanism. This suggests, inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a protein is a good therapeutic strategy for the treatment in COVID-19 infection by promoting the host immune defense mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minu Treeza M
- Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi-682041, India
| | - Sanu Augustine
- Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi-682041, India
| | | | - S.K. Kanthlal
- Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi-682041, India
| | - Rajitha Panonummal
- Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi-682041, India
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31
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Carter C, Airas J, Gladden H, Miller BR, Parish CA. Exploring the disruption of SARS-CoV-2 RBD binding to hACE2. Front Chem 2023; 11:1276760. [PMID: 37954960 PMCID: PMC10635427 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1276760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic was declared due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Viral infection is caused by the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) and the human ACE2 receptor (hACE2). Previous computational studies have identified repurposed small molecules that target the RBD, but very few have screened drugs in the RBD-hACE2 interface. When studies focus solely on the binding affinity between the drug and the RBD, they ignore the effect of hACE2, resulting in an incomplete analysis. We screened ACE inhibitors and previously identified SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors for binding to the RBD-hACE2 interface, and then conducted 500 ns of unrestrained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of fosinopril, fosinoprilat, lisinopril, emodin, diquafosol, and physcion bound to the interface to assess the binding characteristics of these ligands. Based on MM-GBSA analysis, all six ligands bind favorably in the interface and inhibit the RBD-hACE2 interaction. However, when we repeat our simulation by first binding the drug to the RBD before interacting with hACE2, we find that fosinopril, fosinoprilat, and lisinopril result in a strongly interacting trimeric complex (RBD-drug-hACE2). Hydrogen bonding and pairwise decomposition analyses further suggest that fosinopril is the best RBD inhibitor. However, when lisinopril is bound, it stabilizes the trimeric complex and, therefore, is not an ideal potential drug candidate. Overall, these results reveal important atomistic interactions critical to the binding of the RBD to hACE2 and highlight the significance of including all protein partners in the evaluation of a potential drug candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camryn Carter
- Department of Chemistry, Gottwald Center for the Sciences, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Justin Airas
- Department of Chemistry, Gottwald Center for the Sciences, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Haley Gladden
- Department of Chemistry, Gottwald Center for the Sciences, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Bill R Miller
- Department of Chemistry, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, United States
| | - Carol A Parish
- Department of Chemistry, Gottwald Center for the Sciences, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
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32
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Nagar G, Jain S, Rajurkar M, Lothe R, Rao H, Majumdar S, Gautam M, Rodriguez-Aponte SA, Crowell LE, Love JC, Dandekar P, Puranik A, Gairola S, Shaligram U, Jain R. Large-Scale Purification and Characterization of Recombinant Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Expressed in Yeast. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1602. [PMID: 37897004 PMCID: PMC10610970 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11101602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is an essential component of numerous protein-based vaccines for COVID-19. The receptor-binding domain of this spike protein is a promising antigen with ease of expression in microbial hosts and scalability at comparatively low production costs. This study describes the production, purification, and characterization of RBD of SARS-CoV-2 protein, which is currently in clinical trials, from a commercialization perspective. The protein was expressed in Pichia pastoris in a large-scale bioreactor of 1200 L capacity. Protein capture and purification are conducted through mixed-mode chromatography followed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. This two-step purification process produced RBD with an overall productivity of ~21 mg/L at >99% purity. The protein's primary, secondary, and tertiary structures were also verified using LCMS-based peptide mapping, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The glycoprotein was further characterized for quality attributes such as glycosylation, molecular weight, purity, di-sulfide bonding, etc. Through structural analysis, it was confirmed that the product maintained a consistent quality across different batches during the large-scale production process. The binding capacity of RBD of spike protein was also assessed using human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. A low binding constant range of KD values, ranging between 3.63 × 10-8 to 6.67 × 10-8, demonstrated a high affinity for the ACE2 receptor, revealing this protein as a promising candidate to prevent the entry of COVID-19 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Nagar
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Siddharth Jain
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Meghraj Rajurkar
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Rakesh Lothe
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Harish Rao
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Sourav Majumdar
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Manish Gautam
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Sergio A. Rodriguez-Aponte
- Department of Biological Engineering, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;
| | - Laura E. Crowell
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (L.E.C.); (J.C.L.)
| | - J. Christopher Love
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (L.E.C.); (J.C.L.)
| | - Prajakta Dandekar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai 400019, India;
| | - Amita Puranik
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai 400019, India
| | - Sunil Gairola
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Umesh Shaligram
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Ratnesh Jain
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai 400019, India
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33
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Boshah H, Samkari F, Valle-Pérez AU, Alsawaf SM, Aldoukhi AH, Bilalis P, Alshehri SA, Susapto HH, Hauser CAE. Evaluation of Potential Peptide-Based Inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 and Variants of Concern. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 2023:3892370. [PMID: 37869628 PMCID: PMC10589072 DOI: 10.1155/2023/3892370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has greatly affected all aspect of life. Although several vaccines and pharmaceuticals have been developed against SARS-CoV-2, the emergence of mutated variants has raised several concerns. The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) receptor cell entry mechanism of this virus has not changed despite the vast mutation in emerging variants. Inhibiting the spike protein by which the virus identifies the host ACE2 receptor is a promising therapeutic countermeasure to keep pace with rapidly emerging variants. Here, we synthesized two ACE2-derived peptides, P1 and P25, to target and potentially inhibit SARS-CoV-2 cell entry. These peptides were evaluated in vitro using pseudoviruses that contained the SARS-CoV-2 original spike protein, the Delta-mutated spike protein, or the Omicron spike protein. An in silico investigation was also done for these peptides to evaluate the interaction of the synthesized peptides and the SARS-CoV-2 variants. The P25 peptide showed a promising inhibition potency against the tested pseudoviruses and an even higher inhibition against the Omicron variant. The IC50 of the Omicron variant was 60.8 μM, while the IC50s of the SARS-CoV-2 original strain and the Delta variant were 455.2 μM and 546.4 μM, respectively. The in silico experiments also showed that the amino acid composition design and structure of P25 boosted the interaction with the spike protein. These findings suggest that ACE2-derived peptides, such as P25, have the potential to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 cell entry in vitro. However, further in vivo studies are needed to confirm their therapeutic efficacy against emerging variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hattan Boshah
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- KAUST Smart Health Initiative (KSHI), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faris Samkari
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- KAUST Smart Health Initiative (KSHI), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alexander U. Valle-Pérez
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- KAUST Smart Health Initiative (KSHI), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah M. Alsawaf
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- KAUST Smart Health Initiative (KSHI), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali H. Aldoukhi
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- KAUST Smart Health Initiative (KSHI), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Panayiotis Bilalis
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- KAUST Smart Health Initiative (KSHI), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salwa A. Alshehri
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hepi H. Susapto
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Charlotte A. E. Hauser
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- KAUST Smart Health Initiative (KSHI), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
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34
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Maroli N. Riding the Wave: Unveiling the Conformational Waves from RBD of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein to ACE2. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:8525-8536. [PMID: 37769161 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c04366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
The binding affinity between angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the receptor-binding domain (RBD) plays a crucial role in the transmission and reinfection of SARS-CoV2. Here, microsecond molecular dynamics simulations revealed that point mutations in the RBD domain induced conformational transitions that determined the binding affinity between ACE2 and RBD. These structural changes propagated through the RBD domain, altering the orientation of both ACE2 and RBD residues at the binding site. ACE2 receptor shows significant structural heterogeneity, whereas its binding to the RBD domain indicates a much greater degree of structural homogeneity. The receptor was more flexible in its unbound state with the binding of RBD domains inducing structural transitions. The structural heterogeneity observed in the ACE2 unbound form plays a role in the promiscuity of viral entry, as it may allow the receptor to interact with various related and unrelated ligands. Furthermore, rigidity may be important for stabilizing the complex and ensuring the proper orientation of the RBD-binding interface with ACE2. The greater structural homogeneity observed in the ACE2-RBD complex revealed the effectiveness of neutralizing antibodies and vaccines that are primarily directed toward the RBD-binding interface. The binding of the B38 monoclonal antibody revealed restricted conformational transitions in the RBD and ACE2 receptors, attributed to its potent binding interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Maroli
- Centre for Computational Modeling, Chennai Institute of Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600069, India
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Fryer HA, Hartley GE, Edwards ESJ, Varese N, Boo I, Bornheimer SJ, Hogarth PM, Drummer HE, O'Hehir RE, van Zelm MC. COVID-19 Adenoviral Vector Vaccination Elicits a Robust Memory B Cell Response with the Capacity to Recognize Omicron BA.2 and BA.5 Variants. J Clin Immunol 2023; 43:1506-1518. [PMID: 37322095 PMCID: PMC10499924 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-023-01527-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, novel vaccines have successfully reduced severe disease and death. Despite eliciting lower antibody responses, adenoviral vector vaccines are nearly as effective as mRNA vaccines. Therefore, protection against severe disease may be mediated by immune memory cells. We here evaluated plasma antibody and memory B cells (Bmem) targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) elicited by the adenoviral vector vaccine ChAdOx1 (AstraZeneca), their capacity to bind Omicron subvariants, and compared this to the response to mRNA BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccination. Whole blood was sampled from 31 healthy adults pre-vaccination and 4 weeks after dose one and dose two of ChAdOx1. Neutralizing antibodies (NAb) against SARS-CoV-2 were quantified at each time point. Recombinant RBDs of the Wuhan-Hu-1 (WH1), Delta, BA.2, and BA.5 variants were produced for ELISA-based quantification of plasma IgG and incorporated separately into fluorescent tetramers for flow cytometric identification of RBD-specific Bmem. NAb and RBD-specific IgG levels were over eight times lower following ChAdOx1 vaccination than BNT162b2. In ChAdOx1-vaccinated individuals, median plasma IgG recognition of BA.2 and BA.5 as a proportion of WH1-specific IgG was 26% and 17%, respectively. All donors generated resting RBD-specific Bmem, which were boosted after the second dose of ChAdOx1 and were similar in number to those produced by BNT162b2. The second dose of ChAdOx1 boosted Bmem that recognized VoC, and 37% and 39% of WH1-specific Bmem recognized BA.2 and BA.5, respectively. These data uncover mechanisms by which ChAdOx1 elicits immune memory to confer effective protection against severe COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly A Fryer
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Gemma E Hartley
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Emily S J Edwards
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nirupama Varese
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Immune Therapies Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Irene Boo
- Viral Entry and Vaccines Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - P Mark Hogarth
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Immune Therapies Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Heidi E Drummer
- Viral Entry and Vaccines Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Robyn E O'Hehir
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology Service, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Menno C van Zelm
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology Service, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Wang Y, Guo H, Wang G, Zhai J, Du B. COVID-19 as a Trigger for Type 1 Diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023; 108:2176-2183. [PMID: 36950864 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is usually caused by immune-mediated destruction of islet β cells, and genetic and environmental factors are thought to trigger autoimmunity. Convincing evidence indicates that viruses are associated with T1D development and progression. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of hyperglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, and new diabetes increased, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 may be a trigger for or unmask T1D. Possible mechanisms of β-cell damage include virus-triggered cell death, immune-mediated loss of pancreatic β cells, and damage to β cells because of infection of surrounding cells. This article examines the potential pathways by which SARS-CoV-2 affects islet β cells in these 3 aspects. Specifically, we emphasize that T1D can be triggered by SARS-CoV-2 through several autoimmune mechanisms, including epitope spread, molecular mimicry, and bystander activation. Given that the development of T1D is often a chronic, long-term process, it is difficult to currently draw firm conclusions as to whether SARS-CoV-2 causes T1D. This area needs to be focused on in terms of the long-term outcomes. More in-depth and comprehensive studies with larger cohorts of patients and long-term clinical follow-ups are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichen Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Hui Guo
- Department of Endocrinology, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Gongquan Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Jiawei Zhai
- Department of Cardiology, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Bing Du
- Department of Cardiology, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
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Mahmoudi Azar L, Öncel MM, Karaman E, Soysal LF, Fatima A, Choi SB, Eyupoglu AE, Erman B, Khan AM, Uysal S. Human ACE2 orthologous peptide sequences show better binding affinity to SARS-CoV-2 RBD domain: Implications for drug design. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4096-4109. [PMID: 37671240 PMCID: PMC10475354 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.07.022] [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: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Computational methods coupled with experimental validation play a critical role in the identification of novel inhibitory peptides that interact with viral antigenic determinants. The interaction between the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the helical peptide of human angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) is a necessity for the initiation of viral infection. Herein, natural orthologs of human ACE2 helical peptide were evaluated for competitive inhibitory binding to the viral RBD by use of a computational approach, which was experimentally validated. A total of 624 natural ACE2 orthologous 32-amino acid long peptides were identified through a similarity search. Molecular docking was used to virtually screen and rank the peptides based on binding affinity metrics, benchmarked against human ACE2 peptide docked to the RBD. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were done for the human reference and the Nipponia nippon peptide as it exhibited the highest binding affinity (Gibbs free energy; -14 kcal/mol) predicted from the docking results. The MD simulation confirmed the stability of the assessed peptide in the complex (-12.3 kcal/mol). The top three docked-peptides (from Chitinophaga sancti, Nipponia nippon, and Mus musculus) and the human reference were experimentally validated by use of surface plasmon resonance technology. The human reference exhibited the weakest binding affinity (Kd of 318-441 pM) among the peptides tested, in agreement with the docking prediction, while the peptide from Nipponia nippon was the best, with 267-538-fold higher affinity than the reference. The validated peptides merit further investigation. This work showcases that the approach herein can aid in the identification of inhibitory biosimilar peptides for other viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Mahmoudi Azar
- Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul 34820, Turkiye
| | - Muhammed Miran Öncel
- Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul 34820, Turkiye
| | - Elif Karaman
- Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul 34820, Turkiye
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul 34093, Turkiye
| | - Levent Faruk Soysal
- Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul 34820, Turkiye
| | - Ayesha Fatima
- Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul 34820, Turkiye
| | - Sy Bing Choi
- Centre for Bioinformatics, School of Data Sciences, Perdana University, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia
| | - Alp Ertunga Eyupoglu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Bogazici University, Istanbul 34450 Turkiye
| | - Batu Erman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Bogazici University, Istanbul 34450 Turkiye
| | - Asif M. Khan
- Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul 34820, Turkiye
- Centre for Bioinformatics, School of Data Sciences, Perdana University, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia
| | - Serdar Uysal
- Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul 34820, Turkiye
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Oláh E. Learning from cancer to address COVID-19. Biol Futur 2023:10.1007/s42977-023-00156-5. [PMID: 37410273 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-023-00156-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Patients with cancer have been disproportionately affected by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Knowledge collected during the last three decades of cancer research has helped the medical research community worldwide to respond to many of the challenges raised by COVID-19, during the pandemic. The review, briefly summarizes the underlying biology and risk factors of COVID-19 and cancer, and aims to present recent evidence on cellular and molecular relationship between the two diseases, with a focus on those that are related to the hallmarks of cancer and uncovered in the first less than three years of the pandemic (2020-2022). This may not only help answer the question "Why cancer patients are considered to be at a particularly high risk of developing severe COVID-19 illness?", but also helped treatments of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The last session highlights the pioneering mRNA studies and the breakthrough discovery on nucleoside-modifications of mRNA by Katalin Karikó, which led to the innovation and development of the mRNA-based SARSCoV-2 vaccines saving lives of millions and also opened the door for a new era of vaccines and a new class of therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edit Oláh
- Department of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Oncology, Ráth György u. 7-9, Budapest, 1122, Hungary.
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Andress C, Kappel K, Villena ME, Cuperlovic-Culf M, Yan H, Li Y. DAPTEV: Deep aptamer evolutionary modelling for COVID-19 drug design. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1010774. [PMID: 37406007 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Typical drug discovery and development processes are costly, time consuming and often biased by expert opinion. Aptamers are short, single-stranded oligonucleotides (RNA/DNA) that bind to target proteins and other types of biomolecules. Compared with small-molecule drugs, aptamers can bind to their targets with high affinity (binding strength) and specificity (uniquely interacting with the target only). The conventional development process for aptamers utilizes a manual process known as Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX), which is costly, slow, dependent on library choice and often produces aptamers that are not optimized. To address these challenges, in this research, we create an intelligent approach, named DAPTEV, for generating and evolving aptamer sequences to support aptamer-based drug discovery and development. Using the COVID-19 spike protein as a target, our computational results suggest that DAPTEV is able to produce structurally complex aptamers with strong binding affinities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Andress
- Department of Computer Science, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada
| | - Kalli Kappel
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | | | - Hongbin Yan
- Department of Chemistry, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada
| | - Yifeng Li
- Department of Computer Science, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada
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Sinha A, Sangeet S, Roy S. Evolution of Sequence and Structure of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein: A Dynamic Perspective. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:23283-23304. [PMID: 37426203 PMCID: PMC10324094 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c00944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) enters its host cell through a surface spike protein. The viral spike protein has undergone several modifications/mutations at the genomic level, through which it modulated its structure-function and passed through several variants of concern. Recent advances in high-resolution structure determination and multiscale imaging techniques, cost-effective next-generation sequencing, and development of new computational methods (including information theory, statistical methods, machine learning, and many other artificial intelligence-based techniques) have hugely contributed to the characterization of sequence, structure, function of spike proteins, and its different variants to understand viral pathogenesis, evolutions, and transmission. Laying on the foundation of the sequence-structure-function paradigm, this review summarizes not only the important findings on structure/function but also the structural dynamics of different spike components, highlighting the effects of mutations on them. As dynamic fluctuations of three-dimensional spike structure often provide important clues for functional modulation, quantifying time-dependent fluctuations of mutational events over spike structure and its genetic/amino acidic sequence helps identify alarming functional transitions having implications for enhanced fusogenicity and pathogenicity of the virus. Although these dynamic events are more difficult to capture than quantifying a static, average property, this review encompasses those challenging aspects of characterizing the evolutionary dynamics of spike sequence and structure and their implications for functions.
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Miteva D, Kitanova M, Batselova H, Lazova S, Chervenkov L, Peshevska-Sekulovska M, Sekulovski M, Gulinac M, Vasilev GV, Tomov L, Velikova T. The End or a New Era of Development of SARS-CoV-2 Virus: Genetic Variants Responsible for Severe COVID-19 and Clinical Efficacy of the Most Commonly Used Vaccines in Clinical Practice. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1181. [PMID: 37514997 PMCID: PMC10385722 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11071181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the end of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a global health emergency, the disease is still a global threat. To be able to manage such pandemics in the future, it is necessary to develop proper strategies and opportunities to protect human life. The data on the SARS-CoV-2 virus must be continuously analyzed, and the possibilities of mutation and the emergence of new, more infectious variants must be anticipated, as well as the options of using different preventive and therapeutic techniques. This is because the fast development of severe acute coronavirus 2 syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern have posed a significant problem for COVID-19 pandemic control using the presently available vaccinations. This review summarizes data on the SARS-CoV-2 variants that are responsible for severe COVID-19 and the clinical efficacy of the most commonly used vaccines in clinical practice. The consequences after the disease (long COVID or post-COVID conditions) continue to be the subject of studies and research, and affect social and economic life worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrina Miteva
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", 8 Dragan Tzankov str., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Meglena Kitanova
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", 8 Dragan Tzankov str., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Hristiana Batselova
- Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine, University Hospital "Saint George", Medical University, 6000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Snezhina Lazova
- Pediatric Department, University Hospital "N. I. Pirogov," 21 "General Eduard I. Totleben" Blvd, 1606 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Healthcare, Faculty of Public Health "Prof. Tsekomir Vodenicharov, MD, DSc", Medical University of Sofia, Bialo More 8 str., 1527 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Lyubomir Chervenkov
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Medical University Plovdiv, Bul. Vasil Aprilov 15A, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Monika Peshevska-Sekulovska
- Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Lozenetz, 1407 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Medical Faculty, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, 1407 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Metodija Sekulovski
- Medical Faculty, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, 1407 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Hospital Lozenetz, 1 Kozyak str., 1407 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Milena Gulinac
- Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bul. Vasil Aprilov 15A, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Georgi V Vasilev
- Clinic of Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders, UMHAT "Sv. Georgi", 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Luchesar Tomov
- Department of Informatics, New Bulgarian University, Montevideo 21 str., 1618 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Tsvetelina Velikova
- Medical Faculty, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, 1407 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Yoshizue T, Brindha S, Wongnak R, Takemae H, Oba M, Mizutani T, Kuroda Y. Antisera Produced Using an E. coli-Expressed SARS-CoV-2 RBD and Complemented with a Minimal Dose of Mammalian-Cell-Expressed S1 Subunit of the Spike Protein Exhibits Improved Neutralization. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10583. [PMID: 37445760 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
E. coli-expressed proteins could provide a rapid, cost-effective, and safe antigen for subunit vaccines, provided we can produce them in a properly folded form inducing neutralizing antibodies. Here, we use an E. coli-expressed SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein as a model to examine whether it yields neutralizing antisera with effects comparable to those generated by the S1 subunit of the spike protein (S1 or S1 subunit, thereafter) expressed in mammalian cells. We immunized 5-week-old Jcl-ICR female mice by injecting RBD (30 µg) and S1 subunit (5 µg) according to four schemes: two injections 8 weeks apart with RBD (RBD/RBD), two injections with S1 (S1/S1), one injection with RBD, and the second one with S1 (RBD/S1), and vice versa (S1/RBD). Ten weeks after the first injection (two weeks after the second injection), all combinations induced a strong immune response with IgG titer > 105 (S1/RBD < S1/S1 < RBD/S1 < RBD/RBD). In addition, the neutralization effect of the antisera ranked as S1/RBD~RBD/S1 (80%) > S1/S1 (56%) > RBD/RBD (42%). These results indicate that two injections with E. coli-expressed RBD, or mammalian-cell-produced spike S1 subunit alone, can provide some protection against SARS-CoV-2, but a mixed injection scheme yields significantly higher protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Yoshizue
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakamachi, Koganei-shi 184-8588, Japan
| | - Subbaian Brindha
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakamachi, Koganei-shi 184-8588, Japan
- Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-8-1 Harumi-cho, Fuchu-shi 183-8538, Japan
| | - Rawiwan Wongnak
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakamachi, Koganei-shi 184-8588, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Takemae
- Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-8-1 Harumi-cho, Fuchu-shi 183-8538, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-Cho, Fuchu-shi 183-8509, Japan
| | - Mami Oba
- Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-8-1 Harumi-cho, Fuchu-shi 183-8538, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-Cho, Fuchu-shi 183-8509, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Mizutani
- Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-8-1 Harumi-cho, Fuchu-shi 183-8538, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-Cho, Fuchu-shi 183-8509, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kuroda
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakamachi, Koganei-shi 184-8588, Japan
- Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-8-1 Harumi-cho, Fuchu-shi 183-8538, Japan
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Kaewchim K, Glab-ampai K, Mahasongkram K, Saenlom T, Thepsawat W, Chulanetra M, Choowongkomon K, Sookrung N, Chaicumpa W. Neutralizing and Enhancing Epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD) Identified by Nanobodies. Viruses 2023; 15:1252. [PMID: 37376552 PMCID: PMC10301551 DOI: 10.3390/v15061252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Engineered nanobodies (VHs) to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) were generated using phage display technology. A recombinant Wuhan RBD served as bait in phage panning to fish out nanobody-displaying phages from a VH/VHH phage display library. Sixteen phage-infected E. coli clones produced nanobodies with 81.79-98.96% framework similarity to human antibodies; thus, they may be regarded as human nanobodies. Nanobodies of E. coli clones 114 and 278 neutralized SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in a dose-dependent manner; nanobodies of clones 103 and 105 enhanced the virus's infectivity by increasing the cytopathic effect (CPE) in an infected Vero E6 monolayer. These four nanobodies also bound to recombinant Delta and Omicron RBDs and native SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. The neutralizing VH114 epitope contains the previously reported VYAWN motif (Wuhan RBD residues 350-354). The linear epitope of neutralizing VH278 at Wuhan RBD 319RVQPTESIVRFPNITN334 is novel. In this study, for the first time, we report SARS-CoV-2 RBD-enhancing epitopes, i.e., a linear VH103 epitope at RBD residues 359NCVADVSVLYNSAPFFTFKCYG380, and the VH105 epitope, most likely conformational and formed by residues in three RBD regions that are spatially juxtaposed upon the protein folding. Data obtained in this way are useful for the rational design of subunit SARS-CoV-2 vaccines that should be devoid of enhancing epitopes. VH114 and VH278 should be tested further for clinical use against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanasap Kaewchim
- Graduate Program in Immunology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok 10700, Thailand;
- Center of Research Excellence in Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (K.G.-a.); (K.M.); (T.S.); (W.T.); (M.C.); (N.S.)
| | - Kittirat Glab-ampai
- Center of Research Excellence in Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (K.G.-a.); (K.M.); (T.S.); (W.T.); (M.C.); (N.S.)
| | - Kodchakorn Mahasongkram
- Center of Research Excellence in Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (K.G.-a.); (K.M.); (T.S.); (W.T.); (M.C.); (N.S.)
| | - Thanatsaran Saenlom
- Center of Research Excellence in Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (K.G.-a.); (K.M.); (T.S.); (W.T.); (M.C.); (N.S.)
| | - Watayagorn Thepsawat
- Center of Research Excellence in Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (K.G.-a.); (K.M.); (T.S.); (W.T.); (M.C.); (N.S.)
| | - Monrat Chulanetra
- Center of Research Excellence in Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (K.G.-a.); (K.M.); (T.S.); (W.T.); (M.C.); (N.S.)
| | - Kiattawee Choowongkomon
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
| | - Nitat Sookrung
- Center of Research Excellence in Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (K.G.-a.); (K.M.); (T.S.); (W.T.); (M.C.); (N.S.)
- Biomedical Research Incubator Unit, Department of Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Wanpen Chaicumpa
- Center of Research Excellence in Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok 10700, Thailand; (K.G.-a.); (K.M.); (T.S.); (W.T.); (M.C.); (N.S.)
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Garay E, Fontana D, Villarraza J, Fuselli A, Gugliotta A, Antuña S, Tardivo B, Rodríguez MC, Gastaldi V, Battagliotti JM, Alvarez D, Castro E, Cassataro J, Ceaglio N, Prieto C. Design and characterization of chimeric Rabies-SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles for vaccine purposes. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:3495-3508. [PMID: 37126083 PMCID: PMC10150342 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12545-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Due to the high number of doses required to achieve adequate coverage in the context of COVID-19 pandemics, there is a great need for novel vaccine developments. In this field, there have been research approaches that focused on the production of SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles. These are promising vaccine candidates as their structure is similar to that of native virions but they lack the genome, constituting a biosafe alternative. In order to produce these structures using mammal cells, it has been established that all four structural proteins must be expressed. Here we report the generation and characterization of a novel chimeric virus-like particle (VLP) that can be produced by the expression of a single novel fusion protein that contains SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) ectodomain fused to rabies glycoprotein membrane anchoring region in HEK293 cells. This protein is structurally similar to native S and can autonomously bud forming enveloped VLPs that resemble native virions both in size and in morphology, displaying S ectodomain and receptor binding domain (RBD) on their surface. As a proof of concept, we analyzed the immunogenicity of this vaccine candidate in mice and confirmed the generation of anti-S, anti-RBD, and neutralizing antibodies. KEY POINTS: • A novel fusion rabies glycoprotein containing S ectodomain was designed. • Fusion protein formed cVLPs that were morphologically similar to SARS-CoV-2 virions. • cVLPs induced anti-S, anti-RBD, and neutralizing antibodies in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Garay
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego Fontana
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Javier Villarraza
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Antonela Fuselli
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Agustina Gugliotta
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Antuña
- Biotecnofe S.A. PTLC, Ruta 168 (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Belén Tardivo
- Biotecnofe S.A. PTLC, Ruta 168 (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María Celeste Rodríguez
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Victoria Gastaldi
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Biotecnofe S.A. PTLC, Ruta 168 (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Juan Manuel Battagliotti
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego Alvarez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde" UNSAM-CONICET, Pcia. Buenos Aires, San Martin, Argentina
| | - Eliana Castro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde" UNSAM-CONICET, Pcia. Buenos Aires, San Martin, Argentina
| | - Juliana Cassataro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde" UNSAM-CONICET, Pcia. Buenos Aires, San Martin, Argentina
| | - Natalia Ceaglio
- UNL, CONICET, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Claudio Prieto
- Biotecnofe S.A. PTLC, Ruta 168 (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
- UNL, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences), CBL (Biotechnological Center of Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional 168 - Km 472.4 - C.C. 242 - (S3000ZAA) Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Cellargen Biotech SRL, FBCB (School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences) Biotechnological Development Laboratory, Ciudad Universitaria UNL, (S3000ZAA), Santa Fe, Argentina
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45
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Martins M, do Nascimento GM, Conforti A, Noll JCG, Impellizeri JA, Sanchez E, Wagner B, Lione L, Salvatori E, Pinto E, Compagnone M, Viscount B, Hayward J, Shorrock C, Aurisicchio L, Diel DG. A linear SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine candidate reduces virus shedding in ferrets. Arch Virol 2023; 168:124. [PMID: 36988739 PMCID: PMC10052258 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-023-05746-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused more than 760 million cases and over 6.8 million deaths as of March 2023. Vaccination has been the main strategy used to contain the spread of the virus and to prevent hospitalizations and deaths. Currently, two mRNA-based vaccines and one adenovirus-vectored vaccine have been approved and are available for use in the U.S. population. The versatility, low cost, and rapid production of DNA vaccines provide important advantages over other platforms. Additionally, DNA vaccines efficiently induce both B- and T-cell responses by expressing the antigen within transfected host cells, and the antigen, after being processed into peptides, can associate with MHC class I or II of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to stimulate different T cell responses. However, the efficiency of DNA vaccination needs to be improved for use in humans. Importantly, in vivo DNA delivery combined with electroporation (EP) has been used successfully in the field of veterinary oncology, resulting in high rates of response after electrochemotherapy. Here, we evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of a novel linear SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine candidate delivered by intramuscular injection followed by electroporation (Vet-ePorator™) in ferrets. The linear SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine candidate did not cause unexpected side effects. Additionally, the vaccine elicited neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses on day 42 post-immunization using a low dose of the linear DNA construct in a prime-boost regimen. Most importantly, vaccination significantly reduced shedding of infectious SARS-CoV-2 through oral and nasal secretions in a ferret model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Martins
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Gabriela M do Nascimento
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - Jessica C G Noll
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Bettina Wagner
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Brian Viscount
- Applied DNA Sciences, Inc., New York, NY, USA
- LineaRx, Inc. , New York, NY, USA
| | - James Hayward
- Applied DNA Sciences, Inc., New York, NY, USA
- LineaRx, Inc. , New York, NY, USA
| | - Clay Shorrock
- Applied DNA Sciences, Inc., New York, NY, USA
- LineaRx, Inc. , New York, NY, USA
| | - Luigi Aurisicchio
- Takis Biotech, Rome, Italy
- Evvivax Biotech, Rome, Italy
- Neomatrix Biotech, Rome, Italy
| | - Diego G Diel
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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46
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Andreano E, Paciello I, Pierleoni G, Maccari G, Antonelli G, Abbiento V, Pileri P, Benincasa L, Giglioli G, Piccini G, De Santi C, Sala C, Medini D, Montomoli E, Maes P, Rappuoli R. mRNA vaccines and hybrid immunity use different B cell germlines against Omicron BA.4 and BA.5. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1734. [PMID: 36977711 PMCID: PMC10044118 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37422-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 are characterized by high transmissibility and ability to escape natural and vaccine induced immunity. Here we test the neutralizing activity of 482 human monoclonal antibodies isolated from people who received two or three mRNA vaccine doses or from people vaccinated after infection. The BA.4 and BA.5 variants are neutralized only by approximately 15% of antibodies. Remarkably, the antibodies isolated after three vaccine doses target mainly the receptor binding domain Class 1/2, while antibodies isolated after infection recognize mostly the receptor binding domain Class 3 epitope region and the N-terminal domain. Different B cell germlines are used by the analyzed cohorts. The observation that mRNA vaccination and hybrid immunity elicit a different immunity against the same antigen is intriguing and its understanding may help to design the next generation of therapeutics and vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Andreano
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery (MAD) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Ida Paciello
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery (MAD) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Maccari
- Data Science for Health (DaScH) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Giada Antonelli
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery (MAD) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Valentina Abbiento
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery (MAD) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Piero Pileri
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery (MAD) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Concetta De Santi
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery (MAD) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Claudia Sala
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery (MAD) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Duccio Medini
- Data Science for Health (DaScH) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Emanuele Montomoli
- VisMederi Research S.r.l., Siena, Italy
- VisMederi S.r.l, Siena, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Piet Maes
- KU Leuven, Rega Institute, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rino Rappuoli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
- Fondazione Biotecnopolo di Siena, Siena, Italy.
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47
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Ghoula M, Naceri S, Sitruk S, Flatters D, Moroy G, Camproux AC. Identifying promising druggable binding sites and their flexibility to target the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:2339-2351. [PMID: 36998674 PMCID: PMC10023212 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.03.029] [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: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is crucial for viral infection. The interaction of its receptor-binding domain (RBD) with the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein is required for the virus to enter the host cell. We identified RBD binding sites to block its function with inhibitors by combining the protein structural flexibility with machine learning analysis. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed on unbound or ACE2-bound RBD conformations. Pockets estimation, tracking and druggability prediction were performed on a large sample of simulated RBD conformations. Recurrent druggable binding sites and their key residues were identified by clustering pockets based on their residue similarity. This protocol successfully identified three druggable sites and their key residues, aiming to target with inhibitors for preventing ACE2 interaction. One site features key residues for direct ACE2 interaction, highlighted using energetic computations, but can be affected by several mutations of the variants of concern. Two highly druggable sites, located between the spike protein monomers interface are promising. One weakly impacted by only one Omicron mutation, could contribute to stabilizing the spike protein in its closed state. The other, currently not affected by mutations, could avoid the activation of the spike protein trimer.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ghoula
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INSERM, Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - S Naceri
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INSERM, Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - S Sitruk
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INSERM, Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - D Flatters
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INSERM, Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - G Moroy
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INSERM, Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - A C Camproux
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INSERM, Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, F-75013 Paris, France
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48
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Kaczorek-Łukowska E, Wernike K, Beer M, Blank A, Małaczewska J, Blank M, Jałonicka A, Siwicki AK. No indication for SARS-CoV-2 transmission to pet ferrets, in five cities in Poland, 2021 - antibody testing among ferrets living with owners infected with SARS-CoV-2 or free of infection. Acta Vet Scand 2023; 65:9. [PMID: 36855124 PMCID: PMC9974054 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-023-00672-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in China by the end of 2019 and was responsible for a pandemic in the human population that resulted in millions of deaths worldwide. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the role of animals as spill-over or reservoir hosts was discussed. In addition to cats and dogs, ferrets are becoming increasingly popular as companion animals. Under experimental conditions, ferrets are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and it appears that they can also be infected through contact with a SARS-CoV-2 positive owner. However, there is still little information available regarding these natural infections. Here, we serologically tested samples collected from pet ferrets (n = 45) from Poland between June and September 2021. Of the ferrets that were included in the study, 29% (13/45) had contact with owners with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections. Nevertheless, SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies could not be detected in any of the animals, independent of the infection status of the owner. The obtained results suggest that ferrets cannot be readily infected with SARS-CoV-2 under natural conditions, even after prolonged contact with infected humans. However, due to the rapid mutation rate of this virus, it is important to include ferrets in future monitoring studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edyta Kaczorek-Łukowska
- Department of Microbiology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-719, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Kerstin Wernike
- grid.417834.dInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- grid.417834.dInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Alicja Blank
- grid.412607.60000 0001 2149 6795Department of Microbiology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Joanna Małaczewska
- grid.412607.60000 0001 2149 6795Department of Microbiology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Mirosława Blank
- Association of Friends of Ferrets, Mickiewicza 18a/4, 01-517 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Jałonicka
- PULSVET Specialist Veterinary Clinic, Alternatywy 7/U8, 02-775 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Krzysztof Siwicki
- grid.412607.60000 0001 2149 6795Department of Microbiology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
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49
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Mezhibovsky E, Hoang SH, Szeto S, Roopchand DE. In silico analysis of dietary polyphenols and their gut microbial metabolites suggest inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection, replication, and host inflammatory mediators. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:14339-14357. [PMID: 36803516 PMCID: PMC10439978 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2180669] [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: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
The outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection ranges from asymptomatic to severe COVID-19 and death resulting from an exaggerated immune response termed cytokine storm. Epidemiological data have associated consumption of a high-quality plant-based diet with decreased incidence and severity of COVID-19. Dietary polyphenols and their microbial metabolites (MMs) have anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activities. Autodock Vina and Yasara were used in molecular docking and dynamics studies to investigate potential interactions of 7 parent polyphenols (PPs) and 11 MMs with the α- and Omicron variants of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (SGP), papain-like pro-tease (PLpro) and 3 chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), as well as host inflammatory mediators including complement component 5a (C5a), C5a receptor (C5aR), and C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5). PPs and MMs interacted to varying degrees with residues on target viral and host inflammatory proteins showing potential as competitive inhibitors. Based on these in silico findings, PPs and MMs may inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection, replication, and/or modulate host immunity in the gut or periphery. Such inhibition may explain why people that consume a high-quality plant-based diet have less incidence and severity of COVID-19.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Mezhibovsky
- Department of Food Science, Rutgers University, NJ Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health (Rutgers Center for Lipid Research and Center for Nutrition, Microbiome, and Health), 61 Dudley Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA
- Department of Nutritional Sciences Graduate Program, Rutgers University
| | - Skyler H. Hoang
- Department of Food Science, Rutgers University, NJ Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health (Rutgers Center for Lipid Research and Center for Nutrition, Microbiome, and Health), 61 Dudley Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA
| | - Samantha Szeto
- Department of Food Science, Rutgers University, NJ Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health (Rutgers Center for Lipid Research and Center for Nutrition, Microbiome, and Health), 61 Dudley Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA
| | - Diana E. Roopchand
- Department of Food Science, Rutgers University, NJ Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health (Rutgers Center for Lipid Research and Center for Nutrition, Microbiome, and Health), 61 Dudley Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901 USA
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50
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Hatta MHM, Matmin J, Malek NANN, Kamisan FH, Badruzzaman A, Batumalaie K, Ling Lee S, Abdul Wahab R. COVID‐19: Prevention, Detection, and Treatment by Using Carbon Nanotubes‐Based Materials. ChemistrySelect 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202204615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Hayrie Mohd Hatta
- Centre for Research and Development Asia Metropolitan University 81750 Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia
| | - Juan Matmin
- Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 81310 UTM Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia
- Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 81310 UTM Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia
| | - Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek
- Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 81310 UTM Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 81310 UTM Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia
| | - Farah Hidayah Kamisan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences Asia Metropolitan University 81750 Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia
| | - Aishah Badruzzaman
- Centre for Foundation, Language and General Studies Asia Metropolitan University 81750 Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia
| | - Kalaivani Batumalaie
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences Asia Metropolitan University 81750 Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia
| | - Siew Ling Lee
- Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 81310 UTM Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia
- Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 81310 UTM Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia
| | - Roswanira Abdul Wahab
- Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 81310 UTM Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia
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