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Mufamadi MS, Ngoepe MP, Nobela O, Maluleke N, Phorah B, Methula B, Maseko T, Masebe DI, Mufhandu HT, Katata-Seru LM. Next-Generation Vaccines: Nanovaccines in the Fight against SARS-CoV-2 Virus and beyond SARS-CoV-2. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 2023:4588659. [PMID: 37181817 PMCID: PMC10175023 DOI: 10.1155/2023/4588659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The virus responsible for the coronavirus viral pandemic is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants caused by distinctive mutations within the viral spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 are considered the cause for the rapid spread of the disease and make it challenging to treat SARS-CoV-2. The manufacturing of appropriate efficient vaccines and therapeutics is the only option to combat this pandemic. Nanomedicine has enabled the delivery of nucleic acids and protein-based vaccines to antigen-presenting cells to produce protective immunity against the coronavirus. Nucleic acid-based vaccines, particularly mRNA nanotechnology vaccines, are the best prevention option against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic worldwide, and they are effective against the novel coronavirus and its multiple variants. This review will report on progress made thus far with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and beyond employing nanotechnology-based nucleic acid vaccine approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maluta Steven Mufamadi
- DSI-Mandela Nanomedicine Platform, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6059, South Africa
- Nabio Consulting (Pty) Ltd., Pretoria 0183, South Africa
| | - Mpho Phehello Ngoepe
- DSI-Mandela Nanomedicine Platform, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6059, South Africa
| | - Ofentse Nobela
- Nabio Consulting (Pty) Ltd., Pretoria 0183, South Africa
| | | | | | - Banele Methula
- Nabio Consulting (Pty) Ltd., Pretoria 0183, South Africa
| | - Thapelo Maseko
- DSI-Mandela Nanomedicine Platform, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6059, South Africa
- Nabio Consulting (Pty) Ltd., Pretoria 0183, South Africa
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Lawal B, Kuo YC, Rachmawati Sumitra M, Wu ATH, Huang HS. Identification of a novel immune-inflammatory signature of COVID-19 infections, and evaluation of pharmacokinetics and therapeutic potential of RXn-02, a novel small-molecule derivative of quinolone. Comput Biol Med 2022; 148:105814. [PMID: 35841781 PMCID: PMC9272679 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic and respiratory infection that has enormous damage to human lives and economies. It is caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), a non-pair-stranded positive-sense RNA virus. With increasing global threats and few therapeutic options, the discovery of new potential drug targets and the development of new therapy candidates against COVID-19 are urgently needed. Based on these premises, we conducted an analysis of transcriptomic datasets from SARS-CoV-2-infected patients and identified several SARS-CoV-2 infection signatures, among which TNFRSF5/PTPRC/IDO1/MKI67 appeared to be the most pertinent signature. Subsequent integrated bioinformatics analysis identified the signature as an important immunomodulatory and inflammatory signature of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It was suggested that this gene signature mediates the interplay of immune and immunosuppressive cells leading to infiltration-exclusion of effector memory T cells in the lungs, which is of translation relevance for developing novel SARS-CoV-2 drug and vaccine candidates. Consequently, we designed and synthesized a novel small-molecule quinoline derivative (RXn-02) and evaluated its pharmacokinetics in rats, revealing a peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and time to Cmax (Tmax) of 1.756 μg/mL and 0.6 h, respectively. Values of the area under the curve (AUC) (0–24 h) and AUC (0 h∼∞) were 18.90 and 71.20 μg h/mL, respectively. Drug absorption from the various regional segments revealed that the duodenum (49.84%), jejunum (47.885%), cecum (1.82%), and ileum (0.32%) were prime sites of RXn-02 absorption. No absorption was detected from the stomach, and the least was from the colon (0.19%). Interestingly, RXn-02 exhibited in vitro antiproliferative activities against hub gene hyper-expressing cell lines; A549 (IC50 = 48.1 μM), K-562 (IC50 = 100 μM), and MCF7 (IC50 = 0.047 μM) and against five cell lines originating from human lungs (IC50 range of 33.2–69.5 μM). In addition, RXn-02 exhibited high binding efficacies for targeting the TNFRSF5/PTPRC/IDO1/MK signature with binding affinities (ΔG) of −6.6, −6.0, −9.9, −6.9 kcal/mol respectively. In conclusion, our study identified a novel signature of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. RXn-02 is a drug-like candidate with good in vivo pharmacokinetics and hence possesses great translational relevance worthy of further preclinical and clinical investigations for treating SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bashir Lawal
- PhD Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Cheng Kuo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan; School of Post-baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan
| | - Maryam Rachmawati Sumitra
- PhD Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Alexander T H Wu
- The PhD Program of Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Clinical Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan; TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan.
| | - Hsu-Shan Huang
- PhD Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, 11490, Taiwan; PhD Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
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Wang LG, Wang L. Current Strategies in Treating Cytokine Release Syndrome Triggered by Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Immunotargets Ther 2022; 11:23-35. [PMID: 35611161 PMCID: PMC9124488 DOI: 10.2147/itt.s360151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the treatments and management of the deadly COVID-19 disease have made great progress. The strategies for developing novel treatments against COVID-19 include antiviral small molecule drugs, cell and gene therapies, immunomodulators, neutralizing antibodies, and combination therapies. Among them, immunomodulators are the most studied treatments. The small molecule antiviral drugs and immunoregulators are expected to be effective against viral variants of SARS-CoV-2 as these drugs target either conservative parts of the virus or common pathways of inflammation. Although the immunoregulators have shown benefits in reducing mortality of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infections, extensive investigations on this class of treatment to launch novel therapies that substantially improve efficacy and reduce side effects are still warranted. Moreover, great challenges have emerged as the SARS-CoV-2 virus quickly, frequently, and continuously evolved. This review provides an update and summarizes the recent advances in the treatment of COVID-19 and in particular emphasized the strategies in managing CRS triggered by SARS-CoV-2. A brief perspective in the battle against the deadly disease was also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long G Wang
- Department of Research and Development, Natrogen Therapeutics International, Inc., Valhalla, NY, USA
- Correspondence: Long G Wang, Department of Research and Development, Natrogen Therapeutics International, Inc., Vosburgh 213, NYMC Campus, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA, Tel +1 646 229-7583, Email
| | - Luxi Wang
- Department of Clinical Research, Clinipace Clinical Research, Morrisville, NC, USA
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Shah R, Shah J, Gohil J, Revathi G, Surani S. Secondary Infections in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia Treated with Tocilizumab Compared to Those Not Treated with Tocilizumab: A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Hospital in Kenya. Int J Gen Med 2022; 15:2415-2425. [PMID: 35264878 PMCID: PMC8901262 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s356547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction From the first case of SARS-Co-2 in Wuhan, China, to the virus being declared as a pandemic in March 2020, the world has witnessed morbidity and mortality on a global scale. Scientists have worked at a record pace to deliver a vaccine for the prevention of this deadly disease. Tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 (IL-6) blocker, received an emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Federal Drug Agency (FDA) in June 2021. Methods This retrospective observational cohort study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, from March 8, 2020, to December 31, 2020. All patients with PCR confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia were included. Data were obtained from the medical records, and the admission registry was used to identify the patients, and both their electronic and paper-based files were retrieved from the medical records. Patient demographic data, medical history, baseline comorbidities, clinical characteristics, and outcome data were collected to study the infectious complications of Tocilizumab in patients affected by COVID-19 pneumonia. Results A total of 913 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 were included. The overall superinfection infection rate among the COVID-19 patients was 6%. Superinfection in patients who received the Tocilizumab was 17.2% and in the non-Tocilizumab group was 4.8%. The superinfection rate among severe and critically ill patients was even higher at 41.8% and 69.9% (Tocilizumab group) and 2.1% and 11.8% (non-Tocilizumab group), respectively (p < 0.001). There was no difference in mortality observed between the groups (p = 0.846). Infection among HIV co-infection was very low at 2.3%. Conclusion Contrary to some studies, a higher rate of infection was observed among the Tocilizumab group, and no difference in mortality was observed between Tocilizumab and the non-Tocilizumab group. Infection among patients with HIV remains low in this susceptible population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reena Shah
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Correspondence: Reena Shah, Tel +254735338003, Email
| | - Jasmit Shah
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jaimini Gohil
- Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics, The Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gunturu Revathi
- Department of Pathology, The Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Salim Surani
- Department of Pulmonology & Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
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