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Jhanwar A, Sharma D, Das U. Unraveling the structural and functional dimensions of SARS-CoV2 proteins in the context of COVID-19 pathogenesis and therapeutics. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 278:134850. [PMID: 39168210 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134850] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) has emerged as the causative agent behind the global pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). As the scientific community strives to comprehend the intricate workings of this virus, a fundamental aspect lies in deciphering the myriad proteins it expresses. This knowledge is pivotal in unraveling the complexities of the viral machinery and devising targeted therapeutic interventions. The proteomic landscape of SARS-CoV2 encompasses structural, non-structural, and open-reading frame proteins, each playing crucial roles in viral replication, host interactions, and the pathogenesis of COVID-19. This comprehensive review aims to provide an updated and detailed examination of the structural and functional attributes of SARS-CoV2 proteins. By exploring the intricate molecular architecture, we have highlighted the significance of these proteins in viral biology. Insights into their roles and interplay contribute to a deeper understanding of the virus's mechanisms, thereby paving the way for the development of effective therapeutic strategies. As the global scientific community strives to combat the ongoing pandemic, this synthesis of knowledge on SARS-CoV2 proteins serves as a valuable resource, fostering informed approaches toward mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and advancing the frontier of antiviral research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniruddh Jhanwar
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Dipika Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Uddipan Das
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
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2
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Fedson DS. Treating COVID-19 in 'have not' countries. J Public Health Policy 2024; 45:575-581. [PMID: 39090220 DOI: 10.1057/s41271-024-00507-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
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3
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Chan CCY, Guo Q, Chan JFW, Tang K, Cai JP, Chik KKH, Huang Y, Dai M, Qin B, Ong CP, Chu AWH, Chan WM, Ip JD, Wen L, Tsang JOL, Wang TY, Xie Y, Qin Z, Cao J, Ye ZW, Chu H, To KKW, Ge XY, Ni T, Jin DY, Cui S, Yuen KY, Yuan S. Identification of novel small-molecule inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 by chemical genetics. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:4028-4044. [PMID: 39309487 PMCID: PMC11413674 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2024.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
There are only eight approved small molecule antiviral drugs for treating COVID-19. Among them, four are nucleotide analogues (remdesivir, JT001, molnupiravir, and azvudine), while the other four are protease inhibitors (nirmatrelvir, ensitrelvir, leritrelvir, and simnotrelvir-ritonavir). Antiviral resistance, unfavourable drug‒drug interaction, and toxicity have been reported in previous studies. Thus there is a dearth of new treatment options for SARS-CoV-2. In this work, a three-tier cell-based screening was employed to identify novel compounds with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. One compound, designated 172, demonstrated broad-spectrum antiviral activity against multiple human pathogenic coronaviruses and different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Mechanistic studies validated by reverse genetics showed that compound 172 inhibits the 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) by binding to an allosteric site and reduces 3CLpro dimerization. A drug synergistic checkerboard assay demonstrated that compound 172 can achieve drug synergy with nirmatrelvir in vitro. In vivo studies confirmed the antiviral activity of compound 172 in both Golden Syrian Hamsters and K18 humanized ACE2 mice. Overall, this study identified an alternative druggable site on the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, proposed a potential combination therapy with nirmatrelvir to reduce the risk of antiviral resistance and shed light on the development of allosteric protease inhibitors for treating a range of coronavirus diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Chun-Yiu Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Qian Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Academician Workstation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University-the University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Haikou 571100, China
| | - Kaiming Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Jian-Piao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Kenn Ka-Heng Chik
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Yixin Huang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Mei Dai
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Bo Qin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Chon Phin Ong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Allen Wing-Ho Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Wan-Mui Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Jonathan Daniel Ip
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Lei Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Jessica Oi-Ling Tsang
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Tong-Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Yubin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Zhenzhi Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Jianli Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Zi-Wei Ye
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Hin Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Kelvin Kai-Wang To
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Xing-Yi Ge
- College of Biology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Virology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Tao Ni
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Dong-Yan Jin
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Sheng Cui
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Kwok-Yung Yuen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Academician Workstation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University-the University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Haikou 571100, China
| | - Shuofeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
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4
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Grimes SL, Denison MR. The Coronavirus helicase in replication. Virus Res 2024; 346:199401. [PMID: 38796132 PMCID: PMC11177069 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199401] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
The coronavirus nonstructural protein (nsp) 13 encodes an RNA helicase (nsp13-HEL) with multiple enzymatic functions, including unwinding and nucleoside phosphatase (NTPase) activities. Attempts for enzymatic inactivation have defined the nsp13-HEL as a critical enzyme for viral replication and a high-priority target for antiviral development. Helicases have been shown to play numerous roles beyond their canonical ATPase and unwinding activities, though these functions are just beginning to be explored in coronavirus biology. Recent genetic and biochemical studies, as well as work in structurally-related helicases, have provided evidence that supports new hypotheses for the helicase's potential role in coronavirus replication. Here, we review several aspects of the coronavirus nsp13-HEL, including its reported and proposed functions in viral replication and highlight fundamental areas of research that may aid the development of helicase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L Grimes
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Mark R Denison
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
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5
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Du Q, Liang R, Wu M, Yang M, Xie Y, Liu Q, Tang K, Lin X, Yuan S, Shen J. Alisol B 23-acetate broadly inhibits coronavirus through blocking virus entry and suppresses proinflammatory T cells responses for the treatment of COVID-19. J Adv Res 2024; 62:273-290. [PMID: 37802148 PMCID: PMC11331179 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV)-2 causes a global health disaster and pandemic. Seeking effective anti-pan-CoVs drugs benefit critical illness patients of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) but also may play a role in emerging CoVs of the future. OBJECTIVES This study tested the hypothesis that alisol B 23-acetate could be a viral entry inhibitor and would have proinflammatory inhibition for COVID-19 treatment. METHODS SARS-CoV-2 and its variants infected several cell lines were applied to evaluate the anti-CoVs activities of alisol B 23-aceate in vitro. The effects of alisol B 23-acetate on in vivo models were assessed by using SARS-CoV-2 and its variants challenged hamster and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) transgenic mice. The target of alisol B 23-acetate to ACE2 was analyzed using hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry (MS). RESULTS Alisol B 23-acetate had inhibitory effects on different species of coronavirus. By using HDX-MS, we found that alisol B 23-acetate had inhibition potency toward ACE2. In vivo experiments showed that alisol B 23-acetate treatment remarkably decreased viral copy, reduced CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD11b+ macrophages infiltration and ameliorated lung damages in the hamster model. In Omicron variant infected human ACE2 transgenic mice, alisol B 23-acetate effectively alleviated viral load in nasal turbinate and reduced proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 17 (IL17) and interferon γ (IFNγ) in peripheral blood. The prophylactic treatment of alisol B 23-acetate by intranasal administration significantly attenuated Omicron viral load in the hamster lung tissues. Moreover, alisol B 23-acetate treatment remarkably inhibited proinflammatory responses through mitigating the secretions of IFNγ and IL17 in the cultured human and mice lymphocytes in vitro. CONCLUSION Alisol B 23-acetate could be a promising therapeutic agent for COVID-19 treatment and its underlying mechanisms might be attributed to viral entry inhibition and anti-inflammatory activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaohui Du
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 3 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Ronghui Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Meiling Wu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 3 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Minxiao Yang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 3 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Yubin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Qing Liu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 3 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Kaiming Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Xiang Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 3 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Shuofeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| | - Jiangang Shen
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 3 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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6
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Yano M, Lawson-Rulli JM, Coates RM, Heldring J, Miller MJ, Liu R. Improved in vitro potency of Clofazimine derivatives against Neisseria species. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY REPORTS 2024; 11:100147. [PMID: 38962287 PMCID: PMC11218832 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmcr.2024.100147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Globally, millions of infections that are resistant to antimicrobial agents are reported annually, leading to more than 700,000 fatalities. Among all, challenges arise particularly from nontuberculosis mycobacterial (NTM) and Gram-negative bacteria, as they exhibit limited treatment options in light of increasing reports of multi-drug resistant strains. Clofazimine (CFZ) is an antimycobacterial medication used to treat leprosy, and it is also known for its side effect of inducing skin pigmentation. The use of CFZ and its analogues against a broad range of Gram-negative bacteria has not been extensively investigated. In this study, we designed, synthesized and studied 11 CFZ analogues and identified examples with comparable or improved in vitro anti-bacterial activity relative to that of CFZ itself. This is the first report demonstrating in vitro activity of CFZ and its analogues against Neisseria species. The results of these studies may facilitate the development of CFZ analogues with limited side effects in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahide Yano
- Microbiology, Hsiri Therapeutics, Inc, Media, PA, 19063, USA
| | | | | | | | - Marvin J. Miller
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
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Soper N, Yardumian I, Chen E, Yang C, Ciervo S, Oom AL, Desvignes L, Mulligan MJ, Zhang Y, Lupoli TJ. A Repurposed Drug Interferes with Nucleic Acid to Inhibit the Dual Activities of Coronavirus Nsp13. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:1593-1603. [PMID: 38980755 PMCID: PMC11267572 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00244] [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: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
The recent pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) highlighted a critical need to discover more effective antivirals. While therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2 exist, its nonstructural protein 13 (Nsp13) remains a clinically untapped target. Nsp13 is a helicase responsible for unwinding double-stranded RNA during viral replication and is essential for propagation. Like other helicases, Nsp13 has two active sites: a nucleotide binding site that hydrolyzes nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) and a nucleic acid binding channel that unwinds double-stranded RNA or DNA. Targeting viral helicases with small molecules, as well as the identification of ligand binding pockets, have been ongoing challenges, partly due to the flexible nature of these proteins. Here, we use a virtual screen to identify ligands of Nsp13 from a collection of clinically used drugs. We find that a known ion channel inhibitor, IOWH-032, inhibits the dual ATPase and helicase activities of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13 at low micromolar concentrations. Kinetic and binding assays, along with computational and mutational analyses, indicate that IOWH-032 interacts with the RNA binding interface, leading to displacement of nucleic acid substrate, but not bound ATP. Evaluation of IOWH-032 with microbial helicases from other superfamilies reveals that it is selective for coronavirus Nsp13. Furthermore, it remains active against mutants representative of observed SARS-CoV-2 variants. Overall, this work provides a new inhibitor for Nsp13 and provides a rationale for a recent observation that IOWH-032 lowers SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in human cells, setting the stage for the discovery of other potent viral helicase modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Soper
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Isabelle Yardumian
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Eric Chen
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
- Simons
Center for Computational Physical Chemistry at New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Chao Yang
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Samantha Ciervo
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Aaron L. Oom
- NYU
Langone Vaccine Center, Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Ludovic Desvignes
- NYU
Langone Vaccine Center, Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
- High
Containment Laboratories, Office of Science and Research, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Mark J. Mulligan
- NYU
Langone Vaccine Center, Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Yingkai Zhang
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
- Simons
Center for Computational Physical Chemistry at New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Tania J. Lupoli
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
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8
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Wei X, Chan CL, Zhou Y, Tang K, Chen J, Wang S, Chan JFW, Yuan S, Li H, Sun H. Mechanistic insights into bismuth(iii) inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 helicase. Chem Sci 2024; 15:10065-10072. [PMID: 38966375 PMCID: PMC11220592 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06961c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 resulted in a global public health crisis. In addition to vaccines, the development of effective therapy is highly desirable. Targeting a protein that plays a critical role in virus replication may allow pan-spectrum antiviral drugs to be developed. Among SARS-CoV-2 proteins, helicase (i.e., non-structural protein 13) is considered as a promising antiviral drug target due to its highly conserved sequence, unique structure and function. Herein, we demonstrate SARS-CoV-2 helicase as a target of bismuth-based antivirals in virus-infected mammalian cells by a metal-tagged antibody approach. To search for more potent bismuth-based antivirals, we further screened a panel of bismuth compounds towards inhibition of ATPase and DNA unwinding activity of nsp13 and identified a highly potent bismuth compound Bi(5-aminotropolonate)3, namely Bi(Tro-NH2)3 with an IC50 of 30 nM for ATPase. We show that bismuth-based compounds inhibited nsp13 unwinding activity via disrupting the binding of ATP and the DNA substrate to viral helicase. Binding of Bi(iii) to nsp13 also abolished the interaction between nsp12 and nsp13 as evidenced by immunofluorescence and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Finally, we validate our in vitro data in SARS-CoV-2 infected mammalian cells. Notably, Bi(6-TG)3 exhibited an EC50 of 1.18 ± 0.09 μM with a selective index of 847 in VeroE6-TMPRSS2 infected cells. This study highlights the important role of helicase for the development of more effective antiviral drugs to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying Wei
- Department of Chemistry and CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Heath and Environment, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
- Department of Microbiology and State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
| | - Chun-Lung Chan
- Department of Chemistry and CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Heath and Environment, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
| | - Ying Zhou
- Department of Chemistry and CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Heath and Environment, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
| | - Kaiming Tang
- Department of Microbiology and State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
| | - Jingxin Chen
- Department of Chemistry and CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Heath and Environment, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
| | - Suyu Wang
- Department of Chemistry and CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Heath and Environment, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
| | - Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan
- Department of Microbiology and State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
| | - Shuofeng Yuan
- Department of Microbiology and State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
| | - Hongyan Li
- Department of Chemistry and CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Heath and Environment, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
| | - Hongzhe Sun
- Department of Chemistry and CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Heath and Environment, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China
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9
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Chan JFW, Yuan S, Chu H, Sridhar S, Yuen KY. COVID-19 drug discovery and treatment options. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:391-407. [PMID: 38622352 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-024-01036-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused substantial morbidity and mortality, and serious social and economic disruptions worldwide. Unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated older individuals with underlying diseases are especially prone to severe disease. In patients with non-fatal disease, long COVID affecting multiple body systems may persist for months. Unlike SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, which have either been mitigated or remained geographically restricted, SARS-CoV-2 has disseminated globally and is likely to continue circulating in humans with possible emergence of new variants that may render vaccines less effective. Thus, safe, effective and readily available COVID-19 therapeutics are urgently needed. In this Review, we summarize the major drug discovery approaches, preclinical antiviral evaluation models, representative virus-targeting and host-targeting therapeutic options, and key therapeutics currently in clinical use for COVID-19. Preparedness against future coronavirus pandemics relies not only on effective vaccines but also on broad-spectrum antivirals targeting conserved viral components or universal host targets, and new therapeutics that can precisely modulate the immune response during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Shuofeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Hin Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Siddharth Sridhar
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Kwok-Yung Yuen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
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10
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Tiruthani K, Cruz‐Teran C, Chan JFW, Ma A, McSweeney M, Wolf W, Yuan S, Poon VKM, Chan CCS, Botta L, Farrer B, Stewart I, Schaefer A, Edelstein J, Kumar P, Arora H, Hutchins JT, Hickey AJ, Yuen K, Lai SK. Engineering a "muco-trapping" ACE2-immunoglobulin hybrid with picomolar affinity as an inhaled, pan-variant immunotherapy for COVID-19. Bioeng Transl Med 2024; 9:e10650. [PMID: 39036085 PMCID: PMC11256170 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) can act as a decoy molecule that neutralizes severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by blocking spike (S) proteins on virions from binding ACE2 on host cells. Based on structural insights of ACE2 and S proteins, we designed a "muco-trapping" ACE2-Fc conjugate, termed ACE2-(G4S)6-Fc, comprised of the extracellular segment of ACE2 (lacking the C-terminal collectrin domain) that is linked to mucin-binding IgG1-Fc via an extended glycine-serine flexible linker. ACE2-(G4S)6-Fc exhibits substantially greater binding affinity and neutralization potency than conventional full length ACE2-Fc decoys or similar truncated ACE2-Fc decoys without flexible linkers, possessing picomolar binding affinity and strong neutralization potency against pseudovirus and live virus. ACE2-(G4S)6-Fc effectively trapped fluorescent SARS-CoV-2 virus like particles in fresh human airway mucus and was stably nebulized using a commercial vibrating mesh nebulizer. Intranasal dosing of ACE2-(G4S)6-Fc in hamsters as late as 2 days postinfection provided a 10-fold reduction in viral load in the nasal turbinate tissues by Day 4. These results strongly support further development of ACE2-(G4S)6-Fc as an inhaled immunotherapy for COVID-19, as well as other emerging viruses that bind ACE2 for cellular entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Tiruthani
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular PharmaceuticsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Carlos Cruz‐Teran
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular PharmaceuticsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Jasper F. W. Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongPokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionChina
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and TherapeuticsHong Kong Science and Technology ParkHong Kong Special Administrative RegionChina
| | - Alice Ma
- UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | | | - Whitney Wolf
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular PharmaceuticsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Shoufeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongPokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionChina
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and TherapeuticsHong Kong Science and Technology ParkHong Kong Special Administrative RegionChina
| | - Vincent K. M. Poon
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongPokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionChina
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and TherapeuticsHong Kong Science and Technology ParkHong Kong Special Administrative RegionChina
| | - Chris C. S. Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongPokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionChina
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and TherapeuticsHong Kong Science and Technology ParkHong Kong Special Administrative RegionChina
| | | | - Brian Farrer
- Inhalon Biopharma, Inc.MorrisvilleNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Ian Stewart
- RTI InternationalResearch Triangle ParkNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Alison Schaefer
- UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Jasmine Edelstein
- UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Priya Kumar
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of MedicineUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Harendra Arora
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of MedicineUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | | | | | - Kwok‐Yung Yuen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongPokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionChina
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and TherapeuticsHong Kong Science and Technology ParkHong Kong Special Administrative RegionChina
| | - Samuel K. Lai
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular PharmaceuticsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
- Inhalon Biopharma, Inc.MorrisvilleNorth CarolinaUSA
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
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11
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Li X, Hernandez I, Koyuncu S, Kis B, Häggblad M, Lidemalm L, Abbas AA, Bendegúz S, Göblös A, Brautigam L, Lucas JJ, Carreras-Puigvert J, Hühn D, Pircs K, Vilchez D, Fernandez-Capetillo O. The anti-leprosy drug clofazimine reduces polyQ toxicity through activation of PPARγ. EBioMedicine 2024; 103:105124. [PMID: 38701619 PMCID: PMC11088276 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND PolyQ diseases are autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorders caused by the expansion of CAG repeats. While of slow progression, these diseases are ultimately fatal and lack effective therapies. METHODS A high-throughput chemical screen was conducted to identify drugs that lower the toxicity of a protein containing the first exon of Huntington's disease (HD) protein huntingtin (HTT) harbouring 94 glutamines (Htt-Q94). Candidate drugs were tested in a wide range of in vitro and in vivo models of polyQ toxicity. FINDINGS The chemical screen identified the anti-leprosy drug clofazimine as a hit, which was subsequently validated in several in vitro models. Computational analyses of transcriptional signatures revealed that the effect of clofazimine was due to the stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). In agreement with this, clofazimine rescued mitochondrial dysfunction triggered by Htt-Q94 expression. Importantly, clofazimine also limited polyQ toxicity in developing zebrafish and neuron-specific worm models of polyQ disease. INTERPRETATION Our results support the potential of repurposing the antimicrobial drug clofazimine for the treatment of polyQ diseases. FUNDING A full list of funding sources can be found in the acknowledgments section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuexin Li
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ivó Hernandez
- Genomic Instability Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Seda Koyuncu
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Balázs Kis
- HCEMM-SU, Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Maria Häggblad
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Louise Lidemalm
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna A Abbas
- HCEMM-SU, Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sramkó Bendegúz
- HCEMM-SU, Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anikó Göblös
- Centre of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development and Innovation, University of Szeged, H-6720, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Lars Brautigam
- Zebrafish Core Facility, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jose J Lucas
- Center for Molecular Biology, "Severo Ochoa" (CBMSO) CSIC/UAM, Madrid, 28049, Spain; Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Carreras-Puigvert
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daniela Hühn
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karolina Pircs
- HCEMM-SU, Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - David Vilchez
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Oscar Fernandez-Capetillo
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 21, Stockholm, Sweden; Genomic Instability Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, 28029, Spain.
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12
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Freidel MR, Vakhariya PA, Sardarni SK, Armen RS. The Dual-Targeted Fusion Inhibitor Clofazimine Binds to the S2 Segment of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein. Viruses 2024; 16:640. [PMID: 38675980 PMCID: PMC11054727 DOI: 10.3390/v16040640] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Clofazimine and Arbidol have both been reported to be effective in vitro SARS-CoV-2 fusion inhibitors. Both are promising drugs that have been repurposed for the treatment of COVID-19 and have been used in several previous and ongoing clinical trials. Small-molecule bindings to expressed constructs of the trimeric S2 segment of Spike and the full-length SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein were measured using a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) binding assay. We demonstrate that Clofazimine, Toremifene, Arbidol and its derivatives bind to the S2 segment of the Spike protein. Clofazimine provided the most reliable and highest-quality SPR data for binding with S2 over the conditions explored. A molecular docking approach was used to identify the most favorable binding sites on the S2 segment in the prefusion conformation, highlighting two possible small-molecule binding sites for fusion inhibitors. Results related to molecular docking and modeling of the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of a newly reported series of Clofazimine derivatives support the proposed Clofazimine binding site on the S2 segment. When the proposed Clofazimine binding site is superimposed with other experimentally determined coronavirus structures in structure-sequence alignments, the changes in sequence and structure may rationalize the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of Clofazimine in closely related coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV, MERS, hCoV-229E, and hCoV-OC43.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Roger S. Armen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Thomas Jefferson University, 901 Walnut St. Suite 918, Philadelphia, PA 19170, USA (P.A.V.); (S.K.S.)
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13
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Ye L, Gao Y, Mok SWF, Liao W, Wang Y, Chen C, Yang L, Zhang J, Shi L. Modulation of alveolar macrophage and mitochondrial fitness by medicinal plant-derived nanovesicles to mitigate acute lung injury and viral pneumonia. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:190. [PMID: 38637808 PMCID: PMC11025283 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02473-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: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute lung injury (ALI) is generally caused by severe respiratory infection and characterized by overexuberant inflammatory responses and inefficient pathogens-containing, the two major processes wherein alveolar macrophages (AMs) play a central role. Dysfunctional mitochondria have been linked with distorted macrophages and hence lung disorders, but few treatments are currently available to correct these defects. Plant-derive nanovesicles have gained significant attention because of their therapeutic potential, but the targeting cells and the underlying mechanism remain elusive. We herein prepared the nanovesicles from Artemisia annua, a well-known medicinal plant with multiple attributes involving anti-inflammatory, anti-infection, and metabolism-regulating properties. By applying three mice models of acute lung injury caused by bacterial endotoxin, influenza A virus (IAV) and SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus respectively, we showed that Artemisia-derived nanovesicles (ADNVs) substantially alleviated lung immunopathology and raised the survival rate of challenged mice. Macrophage depletion and adoptive transfer studies confirmed the requirement of AMs for ADNVs effects. We identified that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) enclosed in the vesicles is a major molecular effector mediating the regulatory roles of ADNVs. Specifically, GABA acts on macrophages through GABA receptors, promoting mitochondrial gene programming and bioenergy generation, reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory signals, thereby enhancing the adaptability of AMs to inflammation resolution. Collectively, this study identifies a promising nanotherapeutics for alleviating lung pathology, and elucidates a mechanism whereby the canonical neurotransmitter modifies AMs and mitochondria to resume tissue homeostasis, which may have broader implications for treating critical pulmonary diseases such as COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lusha Ye
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yanan Gao
- Department of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Simon Wing Fai Mok
- Department of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Wucan Liao
- Department of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yazhou Wang
- Department of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Changjiang Chen
- Department of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Lijun Yang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Liyun Shi
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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14
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Liang R, Ye ZW, Qin Z, Xie Y, Yang X, Sun H, Du Q, Luo P, Tang K, Hu B, Cao J, Wong XHL, Ling GS, Chu H, Shen J, Yin F, Jin DY, Chan JFW, Yuen KY, Yuan S. PMI-controlled mannose metabolism and glycosylation determines tissue tolerance and virus fitness. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2144. [PMID: 38459021 PMCID: PMC10923791 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46415-4] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Host survival depends on the elimination of virus and mitigation of tissue damage. Herein, we report the modulation of D-mannose flux rewires the virus-triggered immunometabolic response cascade and reduces tissue damage. Safe and inexpensive D-mannose can compete with glucose for the same transporter and hexokinase. Such competitions suppress glycolysis, reduce mitochondrial reactive-oxygen-species and succinate-mediated hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, and thus reduce virus-induced proinflammatory cytokine production. The combinatorial treatment by D-mannose and antiviral monotherapy exhibits in vivo synergy despite delayed antiviral treatment in mouse model of virus infections. Phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) knockout cells are viable, whereas addition of D-mannose to the PMI knockout cells blocks cell proliferation, indicating that PMI activity determines the beneficial effect of D-mannose. PMI inhibition suppress a panel of virus replication via affecting host and viral surface protein glycosylation. However, D-mannose does not suppress PMI activity or virus fitness. Taken together, PMI-centered therapeutic strategy clears virus infection while D-mannose treatment reprograms glycolysis for control of collateral damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronghui Liang
- Academician Workstation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Haikou, Hainan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Zi-Wei Ye
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Zhenzhi Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Yubin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Xiaomeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Haoran Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong- Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiaohui Du
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Peng Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Kaiming Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Bodan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Jianli Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Xavier Hoi-Leong Wong
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Guang-Sheng Ling
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Hin Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong- Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jiangang Shen
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Feifei Yin
- Academician Workstation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Dong-Yan Jin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan
- Academician Workstation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Haikou, Hainan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong- Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Kwok-Yung Yuen
- Academician Workstation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Haikou, Hainan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong- Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Shuofeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong- Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
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15
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Bi W, Tang K, Chen G, Xie Y, Polizzi NF, DeGrado WF, Yuan S, Dang B. An enhanced broad-spectrum peptide inhibits Omicron variants in vivo. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101418. [PMID: 38340726 PMCID: PMC10897629 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101418] [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: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The continual emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs) poses a major challenge to vaccines and antiviral therapeutics due to their extensive evasion of immunity. Aiming to develop potent and broad-spectrum anticoronavirus inhibitors, we generated A1-(GGGGS)7-HR2m (A1L35HR2m) by introducing an angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-derived peptide A1 to the N terminus of the viral HR2-derived peptide HR2m through a long flexible linker, which showed significantly improved antiviral activity. Further cholesterol (Chol) modification at the C terminus of A1L35HR2m greatly enhanced the inhibitory activities against SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-2 VOCs, SARS-CoV, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) pseudoviruses, with IC50 values ranging from 0.16 to 5.53 nM. A1L35HR2m-Chol also potently inhibits spike-protein-mediated cell-cell fusion and the replication of authentic Omicron BA.2.12.1, BA.5, and EG.5.1. Importantly, A1L35HR2m-Chol distributed widely in respiratory tract tissue and had a long half-life (>10 h) in vivo. Intranasal administration of A1L35HR2m-Chol to K18-hACE2 transgenic mice potently inhibited Omicron BA.5 and EG.5.1 infection both prophylactically and therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Bi
- Research Center for Industries of the Future and Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China; Frontier Biotechnology Laboratory, ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311215, China; Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou 310030, China.
| | - Kaiming Tang
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guilin Chen
- Research Center for Industries of the Future and Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China; Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou 310030, China
| | - Yubin Xie
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nicholas F Polizzi
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - William F DeGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Shuofeng Yuan
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Bobo Dang
- Research Center for Industries of the Future and Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China; Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou 310030, China.
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16
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Alkafaas SS, Abdallah AM, Hassan MH, Hussien AM, Elkafas SS, Loutfy SA, Mikhail A, Murad OG, Elsalahaty MI, Hessien M, Elshazli RM, Alsaeed FA, Ahmed AE, Kamal HK, Hafez W, El-Saadony MT, El-Tarabily KA, Ghosh S. Molecular docking as a tool for the discovery of novel insight about the role of acid sphingomyelinase inhibitors in SARS- CoV-2 infectivity. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:395. [PMID: 38321448 PMCID: PMC10848368 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17747-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants, caused > 6 million deaths. Symptoms included respiratory strain and complications, leading to severe pneumonia. SARS-CoV-2 attaches to the ACE-2 receptor of the host cell membrane to enter. Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 entry may effectively inhibit infection. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) is a lysosomal protein that catalyzes the conversion of sphingolipid (sphingomyelin) to ceramide. Ceramide molecules aggregate/assemble on the plasma membrane to form "platforms" that facilitate the viral intake into the cell. Impairing the ASMase activity will eventually disrupt viral entry into the cell. In this review, we identified the metabolism of sphingolipids, sphingolipids' role in cell signal transduction cascades, and viral infection mechanisms. Also, we outlined ASMase structure and underlying mechanisms inhibiting viral entry 40 with the aid of inhibitors of acid sphingomyelinase (FIASMAs). In silico molecular docking analyses of FIASMAs with inhibitors revealed that dilazep (S = - 12.58 kcal/mol), emetine (S = - 11.65 kcal/mol), pimozide (S = - 11.29 kcal/mol), carvedilol (S = - 11.28 kcal/mol), mebeverine (S = - 11.14 kcal/mol), cepharanthine (S = - 11.06 kcal/mol), hydroxyzin (S = - 10.96 kcal/mol), astemizole (S = - 10.81 kcal/mol), sertindole (S = - 10.55 kcal/mol), and bepridil (S = - 10.47 kcal/mol) have higher inhibition activity than the candidate drug amiodarone (S = - 10.43 kcal/mol), making them better options for inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar Sami Alkafaas
- Molecular Cell Biology Unit, Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt.
| | - Abanoub Mosaad Abdallah
- Narcotic Research Department, National Center for Social and Criminological Research (NCSCR), Giza, 11561, Egypt
| | - Mai H Hassan
- Molecular Cell Biology Unit, Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Aya Misbah Hussien
- Biotechnology department at Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Sara Samy Elkafas
- Production Engineering and Mechanical Design Department, Faculty of Engineering, Menofia University, Menofia, Egypt
- Faculty of Control System and Robotics, ITMO University, Saint-Petersburg, 197101, Russia
| | - Samah A Loutfy
- Virology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- Nanotechnology Research Center, British University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Abanoub Mikhail
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
- Faculty of Physics, ITMO University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Omnia G Murad
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Mohamed I Elsalahaty
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Hessien
- Molecular Cell Biology Unit, Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Rami M Elshazli
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Unit, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Horus University - Egypt, New Damietta, 34517, Egypt
| | - Fatimah A Alsaeed
- Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Muhayl, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed
- Biology Department, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hani K Kamal
- Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wael Hafez
- NMC Royal Hospital, 16Th Street, 35233, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Medical Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, The National Research Centre, 12622, 33 El Buhouth St, Ad Doqi, Dokki, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
| | - Mohamed T El-Saadony
- Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt
| | - Khaled A El-Tarabily
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Soumya Ghosh
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
- Natural & Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
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17
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Sulimov AV, Ilin IS, Tashchilova AS, Kondakova OA, Kutov DC, Sulimov VB. Docking and other computing tools in drug design against SARS-CoV-2. SAR AND QSAR IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 35:91-136. [PMID: 38353209 DOI: 10.1080/1062936x.2024.2306336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The use of computer simulation methods has become an indispensable component in identifying drugs against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. There is a huge body of literature on application of molecular modelling to predict inhibitors against target proteins of SARS-CoV-2. To keep our review clear and readable, we limited ourselves primarily to works that use computational methods to find inhibitors and test the predicted compounds experimentally either in target protein assays or in cell culture with live SARS-CoV-2. Some works containing results of experimental discovery of corresponding inhibitors without using computer modelling are included as examples of a success. Also, some computational works without experimental confirmations are also included if they attract our attention either by simulation methods or by databases used. This review collects studies that use various molecular modelling methods: docking, molecular dynamics, quantum mechanics, machine learning, and others. Most of these studies are based on docking, and other methods are used mainly for post-processing to select the best compounds among those found through docking. Simulation methods are presented concisely, information is also provided on databases of organic compounds that can be useful for virtual screening, and the review itself is structured in accordance with coronavirus target proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Sulimov
- Dimonta Ltd., Moscow, Russia
- Research Computing Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - I S Ilin
- Research Computing Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - A S Tashchilova
- Dimonta Ltd., Moscow, Russia
- Research Computing Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - O A Kondakova
- Research Computing Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - D C Kutov
- Dimonta Ltd., Moscow, Russia
- Research Computing Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - V B Sulimov
- Dimonta Ltd., Moscow, Russia
- Research Computing Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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18
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Gervasoni S, Manelfi C, Adobati S, Talarico C, Biswas AD, Pedretti A, Vistoli G, Beccari AR. Target Prediction by Multiple Virtual Screenings: Analyzing the SARS-CoV-2 Phenotypic Screening by the Docking Simulations Submitted to the MEDIATE Initiative. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:450. [PMID: 38203621 PMCID: PMC10779154 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010450] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic screenings are usually combined with deconvolution techniques to characterize the mechanism of action for the retrieved hits. These studies can be supported by various computational analyses, although docking simulations are rarely employed. The present study aims to assess if multiple docking calculations can prove successful in target prediction. In detail, the docking simulations submitted to the MEDIATE initiative are utilized to predict the viral targets involved in the hits retrieved by a recently published cytopathic screening. Multiple docking results are combined by the EFO approach to develop target-specific consensus models. The combination of multiple docking simulations enhances the performances of the developed consensus models (average increases in EF1% value of 40% and 25% when combining three and two docking runs, respectively). These models are able to propose reliable targets for about half of the retrieved hits (31 out of 59). Thus, the study emphasizes that docking simulations might be effective in target identification and provide a convincing validation for the collaborative strategies that inspire the MEDIATE initiative. Disappointingly, cross-target and cross-program correlations suggest that common scoring functions are not specific enough for the simulated target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Gervasoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (S.G.); (S.A.); (A.P.)
- Department of Physics, Università di Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Candida Manelfi
- EXSCALATE, Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A., Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, I-80131 Napoli, Italy; (C.M.); (C.T.); (A.D.B.); (A.R.B.)
| | - Sara Adobati
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (S.G.); (S.A.); (A.P.)
| | - Carmine Talarico
- EXSCALATE, Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A., Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, I-80131 Napoli, Italy; (C.M.); (C.T.); (A.D.B.); (A.R.B.)
| | - Akash Deep Biswas
- EXSCALATE, Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A., Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, I-80131 Napoli, Italy; (C.M.); (C.T.); (A.D.B.); (A.R.B.)
| | - Alessandro Pedretti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (S.G.); (S.A.); (A.P.)
| | - Giulio Vistoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (S.G.); (S.A.); (A.P.)
| | - Andrea R. Beccari
- EXSCALATE, Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A., Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, I-80131 Napoli, Italy; (C.M.); (C.T.); (A.D.B.); (A.R.B.)
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19
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Tang S, Sun LJ, Pan AQ, Huang J, Wang H, Lin YW. Application of engineered myoglobins for biosynthesis of clofazimine by integration with chemical synthesis. Org Biomol Chem 2023; 21:9603-9609. [PMID: 38014756 DOI: 10.1039/d3ob01687k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Significant efforts have been made in the design of artificial metalloenzymes. Myoglobin (Mb), an O2 carrier, has been engineered to exhibit different functions. Herein, we applied a series of engineered Mb mutants with peroxidase activity for biosynthesis of clofazimine (CFZ), a potential drug with a broad-spectrum antiviral activity, by integration with chemical synthesis. Two of those mutants, F43Y Mb and F43Y/T67R Mb, have been shown to efficiently catalyze the oxidative coupling of 2-N-(4-chlorophenyl) benzene-1,2-diamine (N-4-CPBDA) in the presence of H2O2, with 97% yields. The overall catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) is 46-fold and 82-fold higher than that of WT Mb, respectively. By further combination of this reaction with chemical synthesis, the production of CFZ was accomplished with an isolated yield of 72%. These results showed that engineered Mbs containing the Tyr-heme cross-link (F43Y Mb and F43Y/T67R Mb) exhibit enhanced activity in the oxidative coupling reaction. This study also indicates that the combination of biocatalysis and chemical synthesis avoids the need for the separation of intermediate products, which offers a convenient approach for the total synthesis of the biological compound CFZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Tang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
| | - Li-Juan Sun
- Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Ai-Qun Pan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
| | - Jun Huang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
| | - Huamin Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
| | - Ying-Wu Lin
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
- Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
- Key Lab of Protein Structure and Function of Universities in Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
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20
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Sadhu S, Dandotiya J, Dalal R, Khatri R, Mykytyn AZ, Batra A, Kaur M, Chandwaskar R, Singh V, Kamboj A, Srivastava M, Mani S, Asthana S, Samal S, Rizvi ZA, Salunke DB, Haagmans BL, Awasthi A. Fangchinoline inhibits SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV entry. Antiviral Res 2023; 220:105743. [PMID: 37949319 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105743] [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: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, lead to mild to severe respiratory illness and resulted in 6.9 million deaths worldwide. Although vaccines are effective in preventing COVID-19, they may not be sufficient to protect immunocompromised individuals from this respiratory illness. Moreover, novel emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 pose a risk of new COVID-19 waves. Therefore, identification of effective antivirals is critical in controlling SARS and other coronaviruses, such as MERS-CoV. We show that Fangchinoline (Fcn), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, inhibits replication of SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS-CoV in a range of in vitro assays, by blocking entry. Therapeutic use of Fcn inhibited viral loads in the lungs, and suppressed associated airway inflammation in hACE2. Tg mice and Syrian hamster infected with SARS-CoV-2. Combination of Fcn with remdesivir (RDV) or an anti-leprosy drug, Clofazimine, exhibited synergistic antiviral activity. Compared to Fcn, its synthetic derivative, MK-04-003, more effectively inhibited SARS-CoV-2 and its variants B.1.617.2 and BA.5 in mice. Taken together these data demonstrate that Fcn is a pan beta coronavirus inhibitor, which possibly can be used to combat novel emerging coronavirus diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srikanth Sadhu
- Center for Immunobiology and Immunotherapy, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India; Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Jyotsna Dandotiya
- Center for Immunobiology and Immunotherapy, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Rajdeep Dalal
- Center for Immunobiology and Immunotherapy, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Ritika Khatri
- Infection and Immunology Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Anna Z Mykytyn
- Viroscience Department, Erasmus University Medical Center, Netherlands; Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Netherlands
| | - Aashima Batra
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India; National Interdisciplinary Centre of Vaccines, Immunotherapeutics and Antimicrobials, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Manpreet Kaur
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India; National Interdisciplinary Centre of Vaccines, Immunotherapeutics and Antimicrobials, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | | | - Virendra Singh
- Center for Immunobiology and Immunotherapy, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Aarzoo Kamboj
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India; National Interdisciplinary Centre of Vaccines, Immunotherapeutics and Antimicrobials, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Mitul Srivastava
- Computational Biophysics and CADD Group, Computational and Mathematical Biology Center (CMBC), Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Shailendra Mani
- Infection and Immunology Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Shailendra Asthana
- Computational Biophysics and CADD Group, Computational and Mathematical Biology Center (CMBC), Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Sweety Samal
- Infection and Immunology Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Zaigham Abbas Rizvi
- Center for Immunobiology and Immunotherapy, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India; Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Deepak B Salunke
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India; National Interdisciplinary Centre of Vaccines, Immunotherapeutics and Antimicrobials, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Bart L Haagmans
- Viroscience Department, Erasmus University Medical Center, Netherlands
| | - Amit Awasthi
- Center for Immunobiology and Immunotherapy, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India; Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, Haryana, India.
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21
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Yousefi M, Lee WS, Chan WOY, He W, Mah MG, Yong CL, Deerain JM, Wang L, Arcinas C, Yan B, Tan D, Sia WR, Gamage AM, Yang J, Hsu ACY, Li S, Linster M, Yang X, Ghosh S, Anderson DE, Smith GJD, Tan CW, Wang LF, Ooi YS. Betacoronaviruses SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-OC43 infections in IGROV-1 cell line require aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023; 12:2256416. [PMID: 37672505 PMCID: PMC10512916 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2256416] [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: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of novel betacoronaviruses has posed significant financial and human health burdens, necessitating the development of appropriate tools to combat future outbreaks. In this study, we have characterized a human cell line, IGROV-1, as a robust tool to detect, propagate, and titrate betacoronaviruses SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-OC43. IGROV-1 cells can be used for serological assays, antiviral drug testing, and isolating SARS-CoV-2 variants from patient samples. Using time-course transcriptomics, we confirmed that IGROV-1 cells exhibit a robust innate immune response upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, recapitulating the response previously observed in primary human nasal epithelial cells. We performed genome-wide CRISPR knockout genetic screens in IGROV-1 cells and identified Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) as a critical host dependency factor for both SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-OC43. Using DiMNF, a small molecule inhibitor of AHR, we observed that the drug selectively inhibits HCoV-OC43 infection but not SARS-CoV-2. Transcriptomic analysis in primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells revealed that DiMNF blocks HCoV-OC43 infection via basal activation of innate immune responses. Our findings highlight the potential of IGROV-1 cells as a valuable diagnostic and research tool to combat betacoronavirus diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meisam Yousefi
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wai Suet Lee
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wharton O. Y. Chan
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wei He
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Marcus G. Mah
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Cythia Lingli Yong
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joshua M. Deerain
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lijin Wang
- Centre for Computational Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Camille Arcinas
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Biaoguo Yan
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Dewei Tan
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wan Rong Sia
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Akshamal M. Gamage
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jinxuan Yang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Alan Chen-Yu Hsu
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Immune Health Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
- College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Shang Li
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Martin Linster
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xinglou Yang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sujoy Ghosh
- Centre for Computational Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Danielle E. Anderson
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gavin J. D. Smith
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chee Wah Tan
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Infectious Diseases Translation Research Program, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lin-Fa Wang
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Yaw Shin Ooi
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Infectious Diseases Labs, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
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22
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Rudramurthy GR, Naveenkumar CN, Bharathkumar K, Shandil RK, Narayanan S. Genomic Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Genome following Infection in Syrian Golden Hamster and Associated Lung Pathologies. Pathogens 2023; 12:1328. [PMID: 38003792 PMCID: PMC10674674 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The continuous evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus led to constant developments and efforts in understanding the significance and impacts of SARS-CoV-2 variants on human health. Our study aimed to determine the accumulation of genetic mutations and associated lung pathologies in male and female hamsters infected with the ancestral Wuhan strain of SARS-CoV-2. The present study showed no significant difference in the viral load between male and female hamsters and peak infection was found to be on day four post infection in both sexes of the animals. Live virus particles were detected up to 5 days post infection (dpi) through the TCID-50 assay, while qRT-PCR could detect viral RNA up to 14 dpi from all the infected animals. Further, the determination of the neutralizing antibody titer showed the onset of the humoral immune response as early as 4 dpi in both sexes against SARS-CoV-2, and a significant cross-protection against the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 was observed. Histopathology showed edema, inflammation, inflammatory cell infiltration, necrosis, and degeneration of alveolar and bronchial epithelium cells from 3 dpi to 14 dpi in both sexes. Furthermore, next-generation sequencing (NGS) showed up to 10 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SARS-CoV-2 (ancestral Wuhan strain) genome isolated from both male and female hamsters. The mutation observed at the 23014 position (Glu484Asp) in the SARS-CoV-2 genome isolated from both sexes of the hamsters plays a significant role in the antiviral efficacy of small molecules, vaccines, and the Mabs-targeting S protein. The present study shows that either of the genders can be used in the pre-clinical efficacy of antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2 in hamsters. However, considering the major mutation in the S protein, the understanding of the genetic mutation in SARS-CoV-2 after passing through hamsters is crucial in deciding the efficacy of the antiviral agents targeting the S protein. Importance: Our study findings indicate the accumulation of genomic mutations in SARS-CoV-2 after passing through the Syrian golden hamsters. Understanding the genomic mutations showed that either of the hamster genders can be used in the pre-clinical efficacy of antiviral agents and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gudepalya Renukaiah Rudramurthy
- Foundation for Neglected Disease Research (FNDR), Plot No. 20A, KIADB Industrial Area, Bengaluru 561203, Karnataka, India; (C.N.N.); (K.B.); (R.K.S.); (S.N.)
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23
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LaLone V, Smith D, Diaz-Espinosa J, Rosania GR. Quantitative Raman chemical imaging of intracellular drug-membrane aggregates and small molecule drug precipitates in cytoplasmic organelles. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 202:115107. [PMID: 37769851 PMCID: PMC10841539 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115107] [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: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Raman confocal microscopes have been used to visualize the distribution of small molecule drugs within different subcellular compartments. This visualization allows the discovery, characterization, and detailed analysis of the molecular transport phenomena underpinning the Volume of Distribution - a key parameter governing the systemic pharmacokinetics of small molecule drugs. In the specific case of lipophilic small molecules with large Volumes of Distribution, chemical imaging studies using Raman confocal microscopes have revealed how weakly basic, poorly soluble drug molecules can accumulate inside cells by forming stable, supramolecular complexes in association with cytoplasmic membranes or by precipitating out within organelles. To study the self-assembly and function of the resulting intracellular drug inclusions, Raman chemical imaging methods have been developed to measure and map the mass, concentration, and ionization state of drug molecules at a microscopic, subcellular level. Beyond the field of drug delivery, Raman chemical imaging techniques relevant to the study of microscopic drug precipitates and drug-lipid complexes which form inside cells are also being developed by researchers with seemingly unrelated scientific interests. Highlighting advances in data acquisition, calibration methods, and computational data management and analysis tools, this review will cover a decade of technological developments that enable the conversion of spectral signals obtained from Raman confocal microscopes into new discoveries and information about previously unknown, concentrative drug transport pathways driven by soluble-to-insoluble phase transitions occurring within the cytoplasmic organelles of eukaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vernon LaLone
- Cambium Analytica Research Laboratories, Traverse City, MI, United States
| | - Doug Smith
- Cambium Analytica Research Laboratories, Traverse City, MI, United States
| | - Jennifer Diaz-Espinosa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Gus R Rosania
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
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24
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Xu J, Koval A, Katanaev VL. Clofazimine: A journey of a drug. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115539. [PMID: 37742606 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115539] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Among different strategies to develop novel therapies, drug repositioning (aka repurposing) aims at identifying new uses of an already approved or investigational drug. This approach has the advantages of availability of the extensive pre-existing knowledge of the drug's safety, pharmacology and toxicology, manufacturing and formulation. It provides advantages to the risk-versus-rewards trade-off as compared to the costly and time-consuming de novo drug discovery process. Clofazimine, a red-colored synthetic derivative of riminophenazines initially isolated from lichens, was first synthesized in the 1950 s, and passed through several phases of repositioning in its history as a drug. Being initially developed as an anti-tuberculosis treatment, it was repurposed for the treatment of leprosy, prior to re-repositioning for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and other infections. Since 1990 s, reports on the anticancer properties of clofazimine, both in vitro and in vivo, started to appear. Among the diverse mechanisms of action proposed, the activity of clofazimine as a specific inhibitor of the oncogenic Wnt signaling pathway has recently emerged as the promising targeting mechanism of the drug against breast, colon, liver, and other forms of cancer. Seventy years after the initial discovery, clofazimine's journey as a drug finding new applications continues, serving as a colorful illustration of drug repurposing in modern pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabin Xu
- Translational Research Center in Oncohaematology, Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alexey Koval
- Translational Research Center in Oncohaematology, Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vladimir L Katanaev
- Translational Research Center in Oncohaematology, Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia.
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25
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Rizvi ZA, Madan U, Tripathy MR, Goswami S, Mani S, Awasthi A, Dikshit M. Evaluation of Ayush-64 (a Polyherbal Formulation) and Its Ingredients in the Syrian Hamster Model for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Reveals the Preventative Potential of Alstonia scholaris. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1333. [PMID: 37765142 PMCID: PMC10534577 DOI: 10.3390/ph16091333] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the current study, we evaluated the efficacy of Ayush-64 (A64), a polyherbal formulation containing Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. (A. scholaris), Caesalpinia crista L. (C. crista), Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth (P. kurroa), and Swertia chirata (Roxb.) H. Karst. (S. chirata) against COVID-19 in a Syrian hamster infection model. Preventative use of A64 resulted in the late-phase recovery of body weight loss in severe acquired respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected hamsters, suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and blunted pulmonary pathology. In addition, we also investigated the efficacy of individual ingredients of A64, viz., A. scholaris, C. crista, P. kurroa, and S. chirata, in the hamster model. The hamster challenge data showed robust anti-viral and immunomodulatory potential in A. scholaris, followed by P. kurroa. However, C. crista and S. chirata of A64 showed prominent immunomodulatory potential without limiting the lung viral load. In order to better understand the immunomodulatory potential of these herbal extracts, we used an in vitro assay of helper T cell differentiation and found that A. scholaris mediated a more profound suppression of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cell differentiation as compared to A64 and other ingredients. Taken together, our animal study data identifies the ameliorative potential of A64 in mitigating coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pulmonary pathology. A. scholaris, a constituent extract of A64, showed relatively higher anti-viral and immunomodulatory potential against COVID-19. The present study warrants further investigations to identify the active pharmaceutical ingredients of A. scholaris for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaigham Abbas Rizvi
- Immuno-Biology Lab, Centre for Immunobiology and Immunotherapy, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121001, India; (U.M.); (M.R.T.); (S.G.)
- Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121001, India
| | - Upasna Madan
- Immuno-Biology Lab, Centre for Immunobiology and Immunotherapy, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121001, India; (U.M.); (M.R.T.); (S.G.)
- Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121001, India
| | - Manas Ranjan Tripathy
- Immuno-Biology Lab, Centre for Immunobiology and Immunotherapy, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121001, India; (U.M.); (M.R.T.); (S.G.)
- Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121001, India
| | - Sandeep Goswami
- Immuno-Biology Lab, Centre for Immunobiology and Immunotherapy, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121001, India; (U.M.); (M.R.T.); (S.G.)
- Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121001, India
| | - Shailendra Mani
- Non-Communicable Disease Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, India;
| | - Amit Awasthi
- Immuno-Biology Lab, Centre for Immunobiology and Immunotherapy, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121001, India; (U.M.); (M.R.T.); (S.G.)
- Immunology-Core Lab, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121001, India
| | - Madhu Dikshit
- Non-Communicable Disease Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, India;
- Pharmacology Department, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sitapur Rd., Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Lucknow 226031, India
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26
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Ali H, Naseem A, Siddiqui ZI. SARS-CoV-2 Syncytium under the Radar: Molecular Insights of the Spike-Induced Syncytia and Potential Strategies to Limit SARS-CoV-2 Replication. J Clin Med 2023; 12:6079. [PMID: 37763019 PMCID: PMC10531702 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12186079] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection induces non-physiological syncytia when its spike fusogenic protein on the surface of the host cells interacts with the ACE2 receptor on adjacent cells. Spike-induced syncytia are beneficial for virus replication, transmission, and immune evasion, and contribute to the progression of COVID-19. In this review, we highlight the properties of viral fusion proteins, mainly the SARS-CoV-2 spike, and the involvement of the host factors in the fusion process. We also highlight the possible use of anti-fusogenic factors as an antiviral for the development of therapeutics against newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and how the fusogenic property of the spike could be exploited for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hashim Ali
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Asma Naseem
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Zaheenul Islam Siddiqui
- Diabetes and Obesity Research Center, NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, New York, NY 11501, USA
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27
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Corona A, Madia VN, De Santis R, Manelfi C, Emmolo R, Ialongo D, Patacchini E, Messore A, Amatore D, Faggioni G, Artico M, Iaconis D, Talarico C, Di Santo R, Lista F, Costi R, Tramontano E. Diketo acid inhibitors of nsp13 of SARS-CoV-2 block viral replication. Antiviral Res 2023; 217:105697. [PMID: 37562607 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
For RNA viruses, RNA helicases have long been recognized to play critical roles during virus replication cycles, facilitating proper folding and replication of viral RNAs, therefore representing an ideal target for drug discovery. SARS-CoV-2 helicase, the non-structural protein 13 (nsp13) is a highly conserved protein among all known coronaviruses, and, at the moment, is one of the most explored viral targets to identify new possible antiviral agents. In the present study, we present six diketo acids (DKAs) as nsp13 inhibitors able to block both SARS-CoV-2 nsp13 enzymatic functions. Among them four compounds were able to inhibit viral replication in the low micromolar range, being active also on other human coronaviruses such as HCoV229E and MERS CoV. The experimental investigation of the binding mode revealed ATP-non-competitive kinetics of inhibition, not affected by substrate-displacement effect, suggesting an allosteric binding mode that was further supported by molecular modelling calculations predicting the binding into an allosteric conserved site located in the RecA2 domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Corona
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente. Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, SS-554, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Valentina Noemi Madia
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo De Santis
- Defense Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo 4, 00184, Rome, Italy
| | - Candida Manelfi
- EXSCALATE - Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, via Tommaso De Amicis 95, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Roberta Emmolo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente. Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, SS-554, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Davide Ialongo
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Patacchini
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Messore
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Amatore
- Defense Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo 4, 00184, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Faggioni
- Defense Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo 4, 00184, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Artico
- Department of Sensory Organs, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, V.le Regina Elena 324, I-00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Iaconis
- EXSCALATE - Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, via Tommaso De Amicis 95, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Carmine Talarico
- EXSCALATE - Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, via Tommaso De Amicis 95, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Roberto Di Santo
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Florigio Lista
- Defense Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo 4, 00184, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Costi
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Enzo Tramontano
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente. Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, SS-554, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
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28
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Koval A, Xu J, Williams N, Schmolke M, Krause KH, Katanaev VL. Wnt-Independent SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pulmonary Epithelial Cells. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0482722. [PMID: 37367224 PMCID: PMC10433849 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04827-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway within host cells regulates infections by several pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Recent studies suggested that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection depends on β-catenin and can be inhibited by the antileprotic drug clofazimine. Since clofazimine has been identified by us as a specific inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, these works could indicate a potential role of the Wnt pathway in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we show that the Wnt pathway is active in pulmonary epithelial cells. However, we find that in multiple assays, SARS-CoV-2 infection is insensitive to Wnt inhibitors, including clofazimine, acting at different levels within the pathway. Our findings assert that endogenous Wnt signaling in the lung is unlikely required or involved in the SARS-CoV-2 infection and that pharmacological inhibition of this pathway with clofazimine or other compounds is not a universal way to develop treatments against the SARS-CoV-2 infection. IMPORTANCE The development of inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 infection remains a need of utmost importance. The Wnt signaling pathway in host cells is often implicated in infections by bacteria and viruses. In this work, we show that, despite previous indications, pharmacological modulation of the Wnt pathway does not represent a promising strategy to control SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung epithelia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Koval
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Translational Research Centre in Oncohaematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jiabin Xu
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Translational Research Centre in Oncohaematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nathalia Williams
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mirco Schmolke
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Karl-Heinz Krause
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vladimir L. Katanaev
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Translational Research Centre in Oncohaematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Institute of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia
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29
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Wen K, Cai JP, Fan X, Zhang X, Luo C, Tang KM, Shuai H, Chen LL, Zhang RR, Situ J, Tsoi HW, Wang K, Chan JFW, Yuan S, Yuen KY, Zhou H, To KKW. Broad-spectrum humanized monoclonal neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the Omicron variant. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1213806. [PMID: 37645378 PMCID: PMC10461085 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1213806] [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: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein have been shown to improve the outcome of severe COVID-19 patients in clinical trials. However, novel variants with spike protein mutations can render many currently available mAbs ineffective. Methods We produced mAbs by using hybridoma cells that generated from mice immunized with spike protein trimer and receptor binding domain (RBD). The panel of mAbs were screened for binding and neutralizing activity against different SARS-CoV-2 variants. The in vivo effectiveness of WKS13 was evaluated in a hamster model. Results Out of 960 clones, we identified 18 mAbs that could bind spike protein. Ten of the mAbs could attach to RBD, among which five had neutralizing activity against the ancestral strain and could block the binding between the spike protein and human ACE2. One of these mAbs, WKS13, had broad neutralizing activity against all Variants of Concern (VOCs), including the Omicron variant. Both murine or humanized versions of WKS13 could reduce the lung viral load in hamsters infected with the Delta variant. Conclusions Our data showed that broad-spectrum high potency mAbs can be produced from immunized mice, which can be used in humans after humanization of the Fc region. Our method represents a versatile and rapid strategy for generating therapeutic mAbs for upcoming novel variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Wen
- Microbiome Medicine Center, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian-Piao Cai
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiaodi Fan
- Microbiome Medicine Center, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai, China
| | - Xiaojuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Cuiting Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kai-Ming Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Huiping Shuai
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lin-Lei Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ricky Ruiqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jianwen Situ
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hoi-Wah Tsoi
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kun Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Center for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shuofeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Center for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kwok-Yung Yuen
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Center for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hongwei Zhou
- Microbiome Medicine Center, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kelvin Kai-Wang To
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Center for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Center for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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30
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Qin B, Li Z, Tang K, Wang T, Xie Y, Aumonier S, Wang M, Yuan S, Cui S. Identification of the SARS-unique domain of SARS-CoV-2 as an antiviral target. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3999. [PMID: 37414753 PMCID: PMC10326071 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39709-6] [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: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 nsp3 is essential for viral replication and host responses. The SARS-unique domain (SUD) of nsp3 exerts its function through binding to viral and host proteins and RNAs. Herein, we show that SARS-CoV-2 SUD is highly flexible in solution. The intramolecular disulfide bond of SARS-CoV SUD is absent in SARS-CoV-2 SUD. Incorporating this bond in SARS-CoV-2 SUD allowed crystal structure determination to 1.35 Å resolution. However, introducing this bond in SARS-CoV-2 genome was lethal for the virus. Using biolayer interferometry, we screened compounds directly binding to SARS-CoV-2 SUD and identified theaflavin 3,3'-digallate (TF3) as a potent binder, Kd 2.8 µM. TF3 disrupted the SUD-guanine quadruplex interactions and exhibited anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in Vero E6-TMPRSS2 cells with an EC50 of 5.9 µM and CC50 of 98.5 µM. In this work, we provide evidence that SARS-CoV-2 SUD harbors druggable sites for antiviral development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Qin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100730, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Infection Prevention and Control (Peking Union Medical College), Ministry of Education, 100730, Beijing, China
| | - Ziheng Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100730, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Infection Prevention and Control (Peking Union Medical College), Ministry of Education, 100730, Beijing, China
| | - Kaiming Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tongyun Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yubin Xie
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sylvain Aumonier
- Swiss Light Source at the Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Meitian Wang
- Swiss Light Source at the Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Shuofeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Sheng Cui
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100730, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Infection Prevention and Control (Peking Union Medical College), Ministry of Education, 100730, Beijing, China.
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31
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Zhu Y, Wang X, He Z, Zhao P, Ren H, Qi Z. Enterovirus 71 enters human brain microvascular endothelial cells through an ARF6-mediated endocytic pathway. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28915. [PMID: 37417384 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28915] [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: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Infection of the central nervous system caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) remains the main cause of death in hand-foot-and-mouth disease. However, the mechanism responsible for how EV71 breaks through the blood-brain barrier to infect brain cells has yet to be elucidated. By performing a high-throughput small interfering RNA (siRNA) screening and validation, we found that the infection of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) by EV71 was independent of the endocytosis pathways mediated by caveolin, clathrin, and macropinocytosis but dependent on ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6), a small guanosinetriphosphate (GTP)-binding protein of the Ras superfamily. The specific siRNA targeting ARF6 markedly inhibited HBMECs susceptibility to EV71. EV71 infectivity was inhibited by NAV-2729, a specific inhibitor of ARF6, in a dose-dependent manner. The subcellular analysis demonstrated the co-localization of the endocytosed EV71 and ARF6, while knockdown of ARF6 with siRNA remarkably influenced EV71 endocytosis. By immunoprecipitation assays, we found a direct interaction of ARF6 with EV71 viral protein. Furthermore, ARF1, another small GTP-binding protein, was also found to participate in ARF6-mediated EV71 endocytosis. Murine experiments demonstrated that NAV-2729 significantly alleviated mortality caused by EV71 infection. Our study revealed a new pathway by which EV71 enters the HBMECs and provides new targets for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhe Zhu
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohang Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiwei He
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Ren
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongtian Qi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
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32
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Biglari-Moghadam N, Najafzadehvarzi H, Gorgani-Firouzjaee T, Ghasemi-Kasman M. Efficacy of clofazimine against acute and chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice. Microb Pathog 2023:106206. [PMID: 37331670 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic protozoal disease affecting approximately one-third of the world's population. The lack of current treatment options necessitates the development of drugs with good tolerance and effectiveness on the active and cystic stages of the parasite. The present study was established to investigate, for the first time, the potential potency of clofazimine (CFZ) against acute and chronic experimental toxoplasmosis. For this purpose, the type II T. gondii (Me49 strain) was used for induction acute (20 cysts in each mouse) and chronic (10 cysts in each mouse) experimental toxoplasmosis. The mice were treated with 20 mg/kg of CFZ intraperitoneally and orally. The histopathological changes, brain cyst count, total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) assay, and the level of INF-γ were also evaluated. In the acute toxoplasmosis, both IP and oral administration of CFZ induced a significant reduction in brain parasite burden by 90.2 and 89%, respectively, and increased the survival rate to 100% compared with 60% in untreated controls. In the chronic infection, cyst burden decreased at 85.71 and 76.18% in CFZ-treated subgroups in comparison to infected untreated controls. In addition, 87.5% and 100% of CFZ-treated subgroups survived versus untreated control 62.5%. Moreover, CFZ significantly increased INF-γ levels in acute and chronic toxoplasmosis. Tissue inflammatory lesions were considerably reduced in the CFZ-treated chronic subgroups. CFZ treatment significantly reduced MDA levels and elevated TAC in both acute and chronic infections. In conclusion, CFZ showed a promising finding regarding the ability to reduce cyst burden in acute and chronic infection. Further studies are needed to investigate the therapeutic role of CFZ on toxoplasmosis using the long-term treatment and more advanced approaches. In addition, clofazimine may need to be accompanied by another drug to augment its effect and prevent the regrowth of parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hossein Najafzadehvarzi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
| | - Tahmineh Gorgani-Firouzjaee
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
| | - Maryam Ghasemi-Kasman
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
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33
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Mehyar N. Coronaviruses SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 helicase inhibitors: A systematic review of in vitro studies. J Virus Erad 2023:100327. [PMID: 37363132 PMCID: PMC10214743 DOI: 10.1016/j.jve.2023.100327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The recent outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 significantly increased the need to find inhibitors that target the essential enzymes for virus replication in the host cells. This systematic review was conducted to identify potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 helicases that have been tested by in vitro methods. The inhibition mechanisms of these compounds were discussed in this review, in addition to their cytotoxic and viral infection protection properties. Methods The databases PUBMED/MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science were searched using different combinations of the keywords "helicase", "nsp13", "inhibitors", "coronaviridae", "coronaviruses", "virus replication", "replication", and "antagonists and inhibitors". Results By the end of this search, a total of 6854 articles had been identified. Thirty-one articles were included in this review. These studies reported the inhibitory effects of 309 compounds on SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 helicase activities measured by in vitro methods. Helicase inhibitors were categorized according to the type of coronavirus and the type of tested enzymatic activity, nature, approval, inhibition level, cytotoxicity, and viral infection protection effects. These inhibitors are classified according to the site of their interaction with the coronavirus helicases into four types: zinc-binding site inhibitors, nucleic acid binding site inhibitors, nucleotide-binding site inhibitors, and inhibitors with no clear interaction site. Conclusion Evidence from in vitro studies suggests that helicase inhibitors have a high potential as antiviral agents. Several helicase inhibitors tested in vitro showed good antiviral activities while maintaining moderate cytotoxicity. These inhibitors should be clinically investigated to determine their efficiency in treating different coronavirus infections, particularly COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimer Mehyar
- King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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34
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Sharma K, Ahmed F, Sharma T, Grover A, Agarwal M, Grover S. Potential Repurposed Drug Candidates for Tuberculosis Treatment: Progress and Update of Drugs Identified in Over a Decade. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:17362-17380. [PMID: 37251185 PMCID: PMC10210030 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c05511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The devastating impact of Tuberculosis (TB) has been a menace to mankind for decades. The World Health Organization (WHO) End TB Strategy aims to reduce TB mortality up to 95% and 90% of overall TB cases worldwide, by 2035. This incessant urge will be achieved with a breakthrough in either a new TB vaccine or novel drugs with higher efficacy. However, the development of novel drugs is a laborious process involving a timeline of almost 20-30 years with huge expenditure; on the other hand, repurposing previously approved drugs is a viable technique for overcoming current bottlenecks in the identification of new anti-TB agents. The present comprehensive review discusses the progress of almost all the repurposed drugs that have been identified to the present day (∼100) and are in the development or clinical testing phase against TB. We have also emphasized the efficacy of repurposed drugs in combination with already available frontline anti-TB medications along with the scope of future investigations. This study would provide the researchers a detailed overview of nearly all identified anti-TB repurposed drugs and may assist them in selecting the lead compounds for further in vivo/clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khushbu Sharma
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India
| | - Faraz Ahmed
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India
| | - Tarina Sharma
- New
Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State
University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States
| | - Abhinav Grover
- School
of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Meetu Agarwal
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India
| | - Sonam Grover
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India
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35
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Liu M, Wang J, Shi S, Gao Y, Zhang Y, Yuan Z, Huang E, Li S, Liu S, Song G. Optimization, and biological evaluation of 3-O-β-chacotriosyl betulinic acid amide derivatives as novel small-molecule Omicron. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 256:115463. [PMID: 37209612 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron viruses possess a high antigenic shift, and the approved anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs are extremely limited, which makes the development of new antiviral drugs for the clinical treatment and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks imperative. We have previously discovered a new series of markedly potent small-molecule inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 virus entry, exampled by the hit compound 2. Here, we report a further study of bioisosteric replacement of the eater linker at the C-17 position of 2 with a variety of aromatic amine moieties, followed by a focused structure-activity relationship study, leading to the discovery of a series of novel 3-O-β-chacotriosyl BA amide derivatives as small-molecule Omicron fusion inhibitors with improved potency and selectivity index. Particularly, our medicinal chemistry efforts have resulted in a potent, and efficacious lead compound S-10 with appreciable pharmacokinetic properties, which exhibited broad-spectrum potency against Omicron and other variants with EC50 values ranging from 0.82 to 5.45 μM. Mutagenesis studies confirmed that inhibition of Omicron viral entry was mediated by the direct interaction with S in the prefusion state. These results reveal that S-10 is suitable for further optimization as Omicron fusion inhibitors, with the potential to be developed as therapeutic agents for the treatment and control of SARS-CoV-2 ant its variants infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjian Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Jinshen Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Shanshan Shi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Basic Medicine and Public Hygiene, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yongfeng Gao
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yixiao Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Ziying Yuan
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Enlin Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Sumei Li
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine and Public Hygiene, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Shuwen Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Gaopeng Song
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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Tang H, Qin H, He S, Li Q, Xu H, Sun M, Li J, Lu S, Luo S, Mao P, Han P, Song L, Tong Y, Fan H, Jiang X. Anti-Coronaviral Nanocluster Restrain Infections of SARS-CoV-2 and Associated Mutants through Virucidal Inhibition and 3CL Protease Inactivation. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2207098. [PMID: 36843252 PMCID: PMC10161070 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202207098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Antivirals that can combat coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and associated mutants, are urgently needed but lacking. Simultaneously targeting the viral physical structure and replication cycle can endow antivirals with sustainable and broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus efficacy, which is difficult to achieve using a single small-molecule antiviral. Thus, a library of nanomaterials on GX_P2V, a SARS-CoV-2-like coronavirus of pangolin origin, is screened and a surface-functionalized gold nanocluster (TMA-GNC) is identified as the top hit. TMA-GNC inhibits transcription- and replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles and all tested pseudoviruses of SARS-CoV-2 variants. TMA-GNC prevents viral dissemination through destroying membrane integrity physically to enable a virucidal effect, interfering with viral replication by inactivating 3CL protease and priming the innate immune system against coronavirus infection. TMA-GNC exhibits biocompatibility and significantly reduces viral titers, inflammation, and pathological injury in lungs and tracheas of GX_P2V-infected hamsters. TMA-GNC may have a role in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and inhibiting future emerging coronaviruses or variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Tang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare EngineeringGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced BiomaterialsDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
| | - Hongbo Qin
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and EngineeringCollege of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing100029P. R. China
| | - Shiting He
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and EngineeringCollege of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing100029P. R. China
| | - Qizhen Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare EngineeringGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced BiomaterialsDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
| | - Huan Xu
- Institute of Chemical BiologyShenzhen Bay LaboratoryShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
| | - Mengsi Sun
- Institute of Chemical BiologyShenzhen Bay LaboratoryShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
| | - Jiaan Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare EngineeringGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced BiomaterialsDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
| | - Shanshan Lu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and EngineeringCollege of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing100029P. R. China
| | - Shengdong Luo
- The Fifth Medical CenterChinese People's Liberation Army General HospitalBeijing100039P. R. China
| | - Panyong Mao
- The Fifth Medical CenterChinese People's Liberation Army General HospitalBeijing100039P. R. China
| | - Pengjun Han
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and EngineeringCollege of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing100029P. R. China
| | - Lihua Song
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and EngineeringCollege of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing100029P. R. China
| | - Yigang Tong
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and EngineeringCollege of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing100029P. R. China
| | - Huahao Fan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and EngineeringCollege of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing100029P. R. China
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare EngineeringGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced BiomaterialsDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
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37
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Li C, Song W, Chan JFW, Chen Y, Liu F, Ye Z, Lam AHC, Cai J, Lee ACY, Wong BHY, Chu H, Lung DC, Sridhar S, Chen H, Zhang AJX, Yuen KY. Intranasal infection by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants can induce inflammatory brain damage in newly-weaned hamsters. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023:2207678. [PMID: 37122119 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2207678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
SummaryIntranasal infection of newly-weaned Syrian hamsters by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants can lead to brain inflammation and neuron degeneration with detectable low viral load and sparse expression of viral nucleoprotein.AbstractChildren infected by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant may develop neurological complications. To study the pathogenesis in the growing brain, we intranasally challenged newly-weaned or mature hamsters with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, BA.5 or Delta variant. Omicron BA.2 and Delta infection produced a significantly lower viral load in the lung tissues of newly-weaned than mature hamsters despite comparable histopathological damages. Newly-weaned hamsters had higher brain viral load, significantly increased cerebrospinal fluid concentration of TNF-α and CXCL10 and inflammatory damages including mild meningitis and parenchymal vascular congestion, despite sparse expression of nucleocapsid antigen in brain cells. Furthermore, 63.6% (28/44) of all SARS-CoV-2 infected newly-weaned hamsters showed microgliosis in olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex and hippocampus. In infected mature hamsters, microgliosis were observed mainly in olfactory bulb and olfactory cortex of 35.3% (12/34) of their brains. Neuronal degeneration was found in 75% (33/44) of newly-weaned hamsters affecting multiple regions including olfactory bulb, olfactory cortex, midbrain cortex and hippocampus, while such changes were mainly observed in hippocampus of mature hamsters. Importantly, similar brain histopathology was observed in Omicron BA.5 infected newly-weaned hamsters. Our study suggested that SARS-CoV-2 may affect the brain at young age. This kind of brain involvement and histological changes are not virus variant or subvariant specific. Incidentally, moderate amount of eosinophilic infiltration was observed in the mucosa of nasal turbinate and trachea of newly-weaned hamsters infected by Omicron BA.2 and BA.5 but not Delta variant. This histological finding is consistent with the higher incidence of laryngotracheobronchitis in young children infected by the Omicron variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Li
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Wenchen Song
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Infectious Disease and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Academician Workstation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, China
| | - Yanxia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Feifei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Zhanhong Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Alvin Hui-Chung Lam
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Jianpiao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Andrew Chak-Yiu Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Bosco Ho-Yin Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Hin Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Infectious Disease and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - David Christopher Lung
- Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Siddharth Sridhar
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Infectious Disease and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Honglin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Anna Jin-Xia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Infectious Disease and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Kwok-Yung Yuen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Infectious Disease and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Academician Workstation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, China
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Verbić TŽ, Tam KY, Veljković DŽ, Serajuddin ATM, Avdeef A. Clofazimine p Ka Determination by Potentiometry and Spectrophotometry: Reverse Cosolvent Dependence as an Indicator of the Presence of Dimers in Aqueous Solutions. Mol Pharm 2023. [PMID: 37096898 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
The weakly basic antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drug, clofazimine (CFZ), was first described in 1957. It has been used therapeutically, most notably in the treatment of leprosy. However, the compound is extremely insoluble in aqueous media, and, indeed, there is poor consensus about what its intrinsic solubility is since the reported values range from 0.04 to 11 ng/mL. To understand the speciation and solubilization of CFZ as a function of pH, it is of paramount importance to know the true aqueous pKa. However, there is also poor consensus about the value of the pKa (reported measured values range from 6.08 to 9.11). In the present study, we report the determination of the CFZ ionization constant using two independent techniques. A state-of-the-art potentiometric analysis was performed, drawing on titration data in methanol-water solutions (46-75 wt % MeOH) of CFZ, using the bias-reducing consensus of two different procedures of extrapolating the apparent psKa values to zero cosolvent to approximate the true aqueous pKa as 9.43 ± 0.12 (25 °C, I = 0.15 M reference ionic strength). In parallel, spectrophotometric UV/vis titration data were acquired (250-600 nm at different pH) in 10 mM HEPES buffer solutions containing up to 54 wt % MeOH. The alternating least squares (ALS) method was used in the analysis of the absorbance-pH spectra. Uncharacteristically, the cosolvent UV/vis data in our study showed reverse cosolvent dependence (apparent pKa values increased with increasing cosolvent) which could be explained by a dimerization of the free base. The analysis of UV/vis data obtained from 54 wt % MeOH-water solution containing 20 μM CFZ yielded the apparent pKa 9.51 ± 0.17 (I ≈ 0.005 M). To assess whether self-assembly of CFZ was energetically feasible, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to study the putative CFZ dimers in aqueous and methanol media. The DFT-optimized geometries and infrared spectra of CFZ dimers using water and methanol as solvents were calculated and analyzed. Based on the lack of negative frequencies in calculated infrared spectra, it was confirmed that optimized geometries correspond to the true energetic minima. Visual analysis of optimized structures indicates the presence of stacking interactions between two CFZ molecules. The protonation site (the imine nitrogen atom) was determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Ž Verbić
- University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, New York 11439, United States
| | - Kin Y Tam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 00000, China
| | - Dušan Ž Veljković
- University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
| | - Abu T M Serajuddin
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, New York 11439, United States
| | - Alex Avdeef
- in-ADME Research, 1732 First Avenue #102, New York, New York 10128, United States
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Yamanouchi K, Ishimaru T, Kakuno T, Takemoto Y, Kawatsu S, Kondo K, Maruyama M, Higaki K. Improvement and characterization of oral absorption behavior of clofazimine by SNEDDS: Quantitative evaluation of extensive lymphatic transport. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2023; 187:141-155. [PMID: 37076052 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2023.04.009] [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: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Clofazimine, an anti-leprosy drug, has been anticipated for a candidate to treat tuberculosis, cryptosporidiosis, and coronavirus infection, but its low oral bioavailability is considered a reason for its limited activity. In the current study, we have tried to improve the oral bioavailability of clofazimine by several SNEDDS formulations and characterized the absorption behavior from various aspects. Among four SNEDDS formulations prepared, SNEDDS A, prepared with castor oil as an oil component, provided the highest bioavailability (around 61%) and SNEDDS D, prepared with Capryol 90, gave the second highest bioavailability. SNEDDS A formed the finest nanoparticles, which were maintained under gastric and intestinal luminal conditions. The comparison in oral bioavailability between the SNEDDS formulation and its corresponding preformed nanoemulsion suggested that SNEDDS A would efficiently form nanoemulsion in the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration. AUC of mesenteric lymph node concentration was the highest for SNEDDS A, which would be one of the reasons for SNEDDS A to reveal the highest oral bioavailability. A cycloheximide-treated oral absorption study and single-pass perfusion study by utilizing a vascular-luminal perfused small intestine-liver preparation clearly indicated that over 90% of clofazimine absorbed to systemic circulation should be derived from lymphatic transport for both SNEDDS A and D. Furthermore, the fraction of dose absorbed was around 65% for SNEDDS D, but SNEDDS A achieved around 94%, indicating the excellent performance of SNEDDS A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Yamanouchi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Laboratory for Drug Discovery and Development, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. 3-1-1 Futaba-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 561-0825, Japan
| | - Tomoki Ishimaru
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Nonclinical Research Center, Tokushima Research Institute, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 463-10 Kagasuno, Kawauchi-cho, Tokushima 771-0192, Japan
| | - Takuya Kakuno
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Department, Nipro Co. 3023 Noji-cho, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-0055, Japan
| | - Yuki Takemoto
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Sho Kawatsu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Formulation Design, Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Technology, Astellas Pharma Inc. 180 Ozumi, Yaizu, Shizuoka 425-0072, Japan
| | - Keiji Kondo
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; Preformulation Research Laboratory, CMC Headquarters, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 224-18 Hiraishi Ebisuno, Kawauchi-cho, Tokushima 771-0182, Japan
| | - Masato Maruyama
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Higaki
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
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Wang C, Ye X, Ding C, Zhou M, Li W, Wang Y, You Q, Zong S, Peng Q, Duanmu D, Chen H, Sun B, Qiao J. Two Resveratrol Oligomers Inhibit Cathepsin L Activity to Suppress SARS-CoV-2 Entry. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:5535-5546. [PMID: 36996017 PMCID: PMC10069644 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c07811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cell entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) depends on specific host cell proteases, which are the key targets for preventing and treating viral infections. Herein, we describe miyabenol C and trans-ε-viniferin, two resveratrol oligomers that specifically inhibit SARS-CoV-2 entry by targeting host protease cathepsin L. Several cell-based assays were used to demonstrate the effect of resveratrol oligomers, and their target was identified via screening of antiviral targets. Molecular docking analysis suggested that the oligomers could occupy the active cavity of cathepsin L. The surface plasmon resonance assay showed that the equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) values of miyabenol C-cathepsin L and trans-ε-viniferin-cathepsin L were 5.54 and 8.54 μM, respectively, indicating their excellent binding ability for cathepsin L. Our study demonstrated the potential application of resveratrol oligomers as lead compounds in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection by targeting cathepsin L.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghai Wang
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology,
Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University,
Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiansheng Ye
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Chengchao Ding
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life
Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China
(USTC), Hefei 230026, China
| | - Mengqi Zhou
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Weiling Li
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Yuansong Wang
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Qiang You
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Shan Zong
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Qian Peng
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Deqiang Duanmu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology,
Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University,
Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Haifeng Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug
Target, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University,
Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Binlian Sun
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Jialu Qiao
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine
Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000,
China
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Cai JP, Luo C, Wang K, Cao H, Chen LL, Zhang X, Han Y, Yin F, Zhang AJ, Chu H, Yuan S, Kok KH, To KKW, Chen H, Chen Z, Jin DY, Yuen KY, Chan JFW. Intranasal Boosting with Spike Fc-RBD of Wild-Type SARS-CoV-2 Induces Neutralizing Antibodies against Omicron Subvariants and Reduces Viral Load in the Nasal Turbinate of Mice. Viruses 2023; 15:687. [PMID: 36992395 PMCID: PMC10052291 DOI: 10.3390/v15030687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of new immune-evasive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants and subvariants outpaces the development of vaccines specific against the dominant circulating strains. In terms of the only accepted immune correlate of protection, the inactivated whole-virion vaccine using wild-type SARS-CoV-2 spike induces a much lower serum neutralizing antibody titre against the Omicron subvariants. Since the inactivated vaccine given intramuscularly is one of the most commonly used coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in developing regions, we tested the hypothesis that intranasal boosting after intramuscular priming would provide a broader level of protection. Here, we showed that one or two intranasal boosts with the Fc-linked trimeric spike receptor-binding domain from wild-type SARS-CoV-2 can induce significantly higher serum neutralizing antibodies against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and the Omicron subvariants, including BA.5.2 and XBB.1, with a lower titre in the bronchoalveolar lavage of vaccinated Balb/c mice than vaccination with four intramuscular doses of inactivated whole virion vaccine. The intranasally vaccinated K18-hACE2-transgenic mice also had a significantly lower nasal turbinate viral load, suggesting a better protection of the upper airway, which is the predilected site of infection by Omicron subvariants. This intramuscular priming and intranasal boosting approach that achieves broader cross-protection against Omicron variants and subvariants may lengthen the interval required for changing the vaccine immunogen from months to years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Piao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Cuiting Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hehe Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lin-Lei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiaojuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yuting Han
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Feifei Yin
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570100, China
- Academician Workstation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570100, China
| | - Anna Jinxia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hin Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shuofeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kin-Hang Kok
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kelvin Kai-Wang To
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Honglin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Zhiwei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Dong-Yan Jin
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510000, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kwok-Yung Yuen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Academician Workstation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570100, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Academician Workstation of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570100, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510000, China
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Hwang KS, Seo EU, Choi N, Kim J, Kim HN. 3D engineered tissue models for studying human-specific infectious viral diseases. Bioact Mater 2023; 21:576-594. [PMID: 36204281 PMCID: PMC9519398 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral infections cause damage to various organ systems by inducing organ-specific symptoms or systemic multi-organ damage. Depending on the infection route and virus type, infectious diseases are classified as respiratory, nervous, immune, digestive, or skin infections. Since these infectious diseases can widely spread in the community and their catastrophic effects are severe, identification of their causative agent and mechanisms underlying their pathogenesis is an urgent necessity. Although infection-associated mechanisms have been studied in two-dimensional (2D) cell culture models and animal models, they have shown limitations in organ-specific or human-associated pathogenesis, and the development of a human-organ-mimetic system is required. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) engineered tissue models, which can present human organ-like physiology in terms of the 3D structure, utilization of human-originated cells, recapitulation of physiological stimuli, and tight cell–cell interactions, were developed. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that these models can recapitulate infection-associated pathologies. In this review, we summarized the recent advances in 3D engineered tissue models that mimic organ-specific viral infections. First, we briefly described the limitations of the current 2D and animal models in recapitulating human-specific viral infection pathology. Next, we provided an overview of recently reported viral infection models, focusing particularly on organ-specific infection pathologies. Finally, a future perspective that must be pursued to reconstitute more human-specific infectious diseases is presented. 3D in vitro models are different from the traditional model in the infection process. Human-specific infection research requires a 3D microenvironment and human cells. 3D in vitro infectious models can be useful for basic research on infectious disease. 3D in vitro infectious models recapitulate the complex cell-virus-immune interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyeong Seob Hwang
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun U Seo
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Nakwon Choi
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongbaeg Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Corresponding author.
| | - Hong Nam Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Yonsei-KIST Convergence Research Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Corresponding author. Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea.
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Hanai T. Further quantitative in silico analysis of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD Omicron BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.75, BQ.1, and BQ.1.1 transmissibility. Talanta 2023; 254:124127. [PMID: 36462284 PMCID: PMC9682881 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.124127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The Covid-19 variants' transmissibility was further quantitatively analyzed in silico to study the binding strength with ACE-2 and find the binding inhibitors. The molecular interaction energy values of their optimized complex structures (MIFS) demonstrated that Omicron BA.4 and 5's MIFS value (344.6 kcal mol-1) was equivalent to wild-type MIFS (346.1 kcal mol-1), that of Omicron BQ.1 and BQ. 1.1's MIFS value (309.9 and 364.6 kcal mol-1). Furthermore, the MIFS value of Omicron BA.2.75 (515.1 kcal mol-1) was about Delta-plus (511.3 kcal mol-1). The binding strength of Omicron BA.4, BA. 5, and BQ.1.1 may be neglectable, but that of Omicron BA.2.75 was urging. Furthermore, the 79 medicine candidates were analyzed as the binding inhibitors from binding strength with ACE-2. Only carboxy compounds were repulsed from the ACE-2 binding site indicating that further modification of medical treatment candidates may produce an effective binding inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiko Hanai
- Health Research Foundation, Research Institute for Production Development 4F, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto, 606-0805, Japan.
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Liu M, Wang J, Wan X, Li B, Guan M, Ning X, Hu X, Li S, Liu S, Song G. Discovery and structural optimization of 3-O-β-Chacotriosyl betulonic acid saponins as potent fusion inhibitors of Omicron virus infections. Bioorg Chem 2023; 131:106316. [PMID: 36508939 PMCID: PMC9729598 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The recent global Omicron epidemics underscore the great need for the development of small molecule therapeutics with appropriate mechanisms. The trimeric spike protein (S) of SARS-CoV-2 plays a pivotal role in mediating viral entry into host cells. We continued our efforts to develop small-molecule SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors. In this work, two sets of BA derivatives were designed and synthesized based on the hit BA-1 that was identified as a novel SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitor. Compound BA-4, the most potent one, showed broad inhibitory activities against pOmicron and other pseudotyped variants with EC50 values ranging 2.73 to 5.19 μM. Moreover, pSARS-CoV-2 assay, SPR analysis, Co-IP assay and the cell-cell fusion assay coupled with docking and mutagenesis studies revealed that BA-4 could stabilize S in the pre-fusion step to interfere with the membrane fusion, thereby displaying promising inhibition against Omicron entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjian Liu
- Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jinshen Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Xin Wan
- Huizhou Health Sciences Polytechnic, Huizhou 516025, China
| | - Baixi Li
- Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Mingming Guan
- Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiaoyun Ning
- Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiaojie Hu
- Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Sumei Li
- Department of Human anatomy, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Shuwen Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Gaopeng Song
- Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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Sun H, Chan JFW, Yuan S. Cellular Sensors and Viral Countermeasures: A Molecular Arms Race between Host and SARS-CoV-2. Viruses 2023; 15:352. [PMID: 36851564 PMCID: PMC9962416 DOI: 10.3390/v15020352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has caused disastrous effects on the society and human health globally. SARS-CoV-2 is a sarbecovirus in the Coronaviridae family with a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome. It mainly replicates in the cytoplasm and viral components including RNAs and proteins can be sensed by pattern recognition receptors including toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), and NOD-like receptors (NLRs) that regulate the host innate and adaptive immune responses. On the other hand, the SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes multiple proteins that can antagonize the host immune response to facilitate viral replication. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on host sensors and viral countermeasures against host innate immune response to provide insights on virus-host interactions and novel approaches to modulate host inflammation and antiviral responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Sun
- Department of Infectious Disease and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518009, China
| | - Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan
- Department of Infectious Disease and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518009, China
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shuofeng Yuan
- Department of Infectious Disease and Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518009, China
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, China
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46
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Sasaki M, Tabata K, Kishimoto M, Itakura Y, Kobayashi H, Ariizumi T, Uemura K, Toba S, Kusakabe S, Maruyama Y, Iida S, Nakajima N, Suzuki T, Yoshida S, Nobori H, Sanaki T, Kato T, Shishido T, Hall WW, Orba Y, Sato A, Sawa H. S-217622, a SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitor, decreases viral load and ameliorates COVID-19 severity in hamsters. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eabq4064. [PMID: 36327352 PMCID: PMC9765455 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq4064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In parallel with vaccination, oral antiviral agents are highly anticipated to act as countermeasures for the treatment of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Oral antiviral medication demands not only high antiviral activity but also target specificity, favorable oral bioavailability, and high metabolic stability. Although a large number of compounds have been identified as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro, few have proven to be effective in vivo. Here, we show that oral administration of S-217622 (ensitrelvir), an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro; also known as 3C-like protease), decreases viral load and ameliorates disease severity in SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters. S-217622 inhibited viral proliferation at low nanomolar to submicromolar concentrations in cells. Oral administration of S-217622 demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetic properties and accelerated recovery from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in hamster recipients. Moreover, S-217622 exerted antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including the highly pathogenic Delta variant and the recently emerged Omicron BA.5 and BA.2.75 variants. Overall, our study provides evidence that S-217622, an antiviral agent that is under evaluation in a phase 3 clinical trial (clinical trial registration no. jRCT2031210350), has remarkable antiviral potency and efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 and is a prospective oral therapeutic option for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michihito Sasaki
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-220, Japan.,Corresponding author. (M.S.); (H.S.)
| | - Koshiro Tabata
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-220, Japan
| | - Mai Kishimoto
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-220, Japan
| | - Yukari Itakura
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-220, Japan
| | - Hiroko Kobayashi
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-220, Japan
| | - Takuma Ariizumi
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-220, Japan
| | - Kentaro Uemura
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-220, Japan.,Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka 561-0825, Japan.,Laboratory of Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Toba
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-220, Japan.,Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka 561-0825, Japan
| | - Shinji Kusakabe
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-220, Japan.,Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka 561-0825, Japan
| | - Yuki Maruyama
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-220, Japan.,Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka 561-0825, Japan
| | - Shun Iida
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Noriko Nakajima
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Tadaki Suzuki
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | - William W. Hall
- International Collaboration Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan.,National Virus Reference Laboratory, School of Medicine, University College of Dublin, 4, Ireland.,Global Virus Network, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Yasuko Orba
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-220, Japan.,International Collaboration Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan
| | - Akihiko Sato
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-220, Japan.,Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka 561-0825, Japan.,Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Sawa
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-220, Japan.,International Collaboration Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan.,Global Virus Network, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.,Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan.,One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan.,Corresponding author. (M.S.); (H.S.)
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47
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Lui DTW, Tsoi KH, Lee CH, Cheung CYY, Fong CHY, Lee ACH, Tam AR, Pang P, Ho TY, Law CY, Lam CW, To KKW, Chow WS, Woo YC, Hung IFN, Tan KCB, Lam KSL. A prospective follow-up on thyroid function, thyroid autoimmunity and long COVID among 250 COVID-19 survivors. Endocrine 2023; 80:380-391. [PMID: 36596904 PMCID: PMC9810240 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-022-03281-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We evaluated the evolution of thyroid function and autoimmunity among COVID-19 survivors over 6 months in relation to interferon beta-1b treatment and long COVID. METHODS We included COVID-19 survivors managed in a major COVID-19 centre between July 2020 and May 2021 who were reassessed three and/or six months after acute COVID-19. Thyroid function tests (TFTs) and anti-thyroid antibody titres were measured at acute COVID-19, 3-month and 6-month. RESULTS 250 COVID-19 survivors were included (mean age 52.7 years, 50.4% men). Persistent thyroid function abnormalities were more likely in those with abnormal TFTs in acute COVID-19 (P < 0.001). Among 51 patients with abnormal TFTs in acute COVID-19, 82.4% resolved upon follow-up. Of 199 patients with normal TFTs in acute COVID-19, only 4.5% had incident abnormal TFTs, more likely in interferon-treated patients (P = 0.044) and none clinically overt. Among 129 patients with complete 6-month follow-up for anti-thyroid antibody titres, there was no significant change overall, except for modest increase in anti-thyroid antibody titres among the 84 interferon-treated patients (P < 0.05 at both 3 months and 6 months). Long COVID occurred in 19.5% and 10.4% at 3 and 6 months respectively, where TFTs and anti-thyroid antibody titres were not predictive of its occurrence. CONCLUSION Over 6 months, most abnormal TFTs in acute COVID-19 resolved, with no significant incident thyroid dysfunction. SARS-CoV-2 infection did not lead to change in thyroid autoimmunity, while interferon treatment was associated with modest increase in anti-thyroid antibody titres. Thyroid function and anti-thyroid antibodies did not play a significant role in long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Tak Wai Lui
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kimberly Hang Tsoi
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Ho Lee
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chloe Yu Yan Cheung
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Carol Ho Yi Fong
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Alan Chun Hong Lee
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Anthony Raymond Tam
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Polly Pang
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tip Yin Ho
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chun Yiu Law
- Division of Chemical Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ching Wan Lam
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kelvin Kai Wang To
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing Sun Chow
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Cho Woo
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ivan Fan Ngai Hung
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kathryn Choon Beng Tan
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Karen Siu Ling Lam
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
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48
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He S, Qin H, Guan L, Liu K, Hong B, Zhang X, Lou F, Li M, Lin W, Chen Y, He C, Liu F, Lu S, Luo S, Zhu S, An X, Song L, Fan H, Tong Y. Bovine lactoferrin inhibits SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1 by targeting the RdRp complex and alleviates viral infection in the hamster model. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28281. [PMID: 36329614 PMCID: PMC9878033 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Breast milk has been found to inhibit coronavirus infection, while the key components and mechanisms are unknown. We aimed to determine the components that contribute to the antiviral effects of breastmilk and explore their potential mechanism. Lactoferrin (Lf) and milk fat globule membrane inhibit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-related coronavirus GX_P2V and transcription- and replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles in vitro and block viral entry into cells. We confirmed that bovine Lf (bLf) blocked the binding between human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by combining receptor-binding domain (RBD). Importantly, bLf inhibited RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) activity of both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV in vitro in the nanomolar range. So far, no biological macromolecules have been reported to inhibit coronavirus RdRp. Our result indicated that bLf plays a major role in inhibiting viral replication. bLf treatment reduced viral load in lungs and tracheae and alleviated pathological damage. Our study provides evidence that bLf prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection by combining SARS-CoV-2 spike protein RBD and inhibiting coronaviruses' RdRp activity, and may be a promising candidate for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi‐ting He
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Hongbo Qin
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Lin Guan
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Ke Liu
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Bixia Hong
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoxu Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and EngineeringBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Fuxing Lou
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Maochen Li
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Wei Lin
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Yangzhen Chen
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Chengzhi He
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and EngineeringBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Feitong Liu
- H&H Group, H&H ResearchChina Research and InnovationGuangzhouChina
| | - Shanshan Lu
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Shengdong Luo
- The Fifth Medical CenterChinese PLA People's Liberation Army General HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Shaozhou Zhu
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoping An
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Lihua Song
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Huahao Fan
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Yigang Tong
- College of Life Science and TechnologyBeijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijingChina
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49
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Yu W, Zhao Y, Ye H, Wu N, Liao Y, Chen N, Li Z, Wan N, Hao H, Yan H, Xiao Y, Lai M. Structure-Based Design of a Dual-Targeted Covalent Inhibitor Against Papain-like and Main Proteases of SARS-CoV-2. J Med Chem 2022; 65:16252-16267. [PMID: 36503248 PMCID: PMC9762420 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The two proteases, PLpro and Mpro, of SARS-CoV-2 are essential for replication of the virus. Using a structure-based co-pharmacophore screening approach, we developed a novel dual-targeted inhibitor that is equally potent in inhibiting PLpro and Mpro of SARS-CoV-2. The inhibitor contains a novel warhead, which can form a covalent bond with the catalytic cysteine residue of either enzyme. The maximum rate of the covalent inactivation is comparable to that of the most potent inhibitors reported for the viral proteases and covalent inhibitor drugs currently in clinical use. The covalent inhibition appears to be very specific for the viral proteases. The inhibitor has a potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and is also well tolerated by mice and rats in toxicity studies. These results suggest that the inhibitor is a promising lead for development of drugs for treatment of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenying Yu
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China
Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Yucheng Zhao
- Department
of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines and State Key
Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Hui Ye
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China
Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
- Jiangsu
Provincial Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Nanping Wu
- State
Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases,
National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310003, China
- First
Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310003, China
| | - Yixian Liao
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China
Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Nannan Chen
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China
Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Zhiling Li
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China
Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Ning Wan
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China
Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
- Jiangsu
Provincial Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Haiping Hao
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China
Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
- Jiangsu
Provincial Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
| | - Honggao Yan
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China
Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
- Department
of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China
Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing310003, China
| | - Yibei Xiao
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China
Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
- Department
of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China
Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing310003, China
| | - Maode Lai
- State
Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China
Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
- State
Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases,
National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310003, China
- School
of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing210009, China
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50
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Arumugam GS, Damodharan K, Doble M, Thennarasu S. Significant perspectives on various viral infections targeted antiviral drugs and vaccines including COVID-19 pandemicity. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2022; 3:21. [PMID: 35838929 PMCID: PMC9283561 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-022-00078-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A virus enters a living organism and recruits host metabolism to reproduce its own genome and proteins. The viral infections are intricate and cannot be completely removed through existing antiviral drugs. For example, the herpes, influenza, hepatitis and human immunodeficiency viruses are a few dreadful ones amongst them. Significant studies are needed to understand the viral entry and their growth in host cells to design effective antivirals. This review emphasizes the range of therapeutical antiviral drugs, inhibitors along with vaccines to fight against viral pathogens, especially for combating COVID-19. Moreover, we have provided the basic and in depth information about viral targets, drugs availability, their mechanisms of action, method of prevention of viral diseases and highlighted the significances of anticoagulants, convalescent plasma for COVID-19 treatment, scientific details of airborne transmission, characteristics of antiviral drug delivery using nanoparticles/carriers, nanoemulsions, nanogels, metal based nanoparticles, alike the future nanosystems through nanobubbles, nanofibers, nanodiamonds, nanotraps, nanorobots and eventually, the therapeutic applications of micro- and nanoparticulates, current status for clinical development against COVID-19 together with environmental implications of antivirals, gene therapy etc., which may be useful for repurposing and designing of novel antiviral drugs against various dreadful diseases, especially the SARS-CoV-2 and other associated variants.
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