Herpes Simplex Virus-1 infection in human primary corneal epithelial cells is blocked by a stapled peptide that targets processive DNA synthesis

PURPOSE

Acyclovir is most commonly used for treating ocular Herpes Keratitis, a leading cause of infectious blindness. However, emerging resistance to Acyclovir resulting from mutations in the thymidine kinase gene of Herpes Simplex Virus -1 (HSV-1), has prompted the need for new therapeutics directed against a different viral protein. One novel target is the HSV-1 Processivity Factor which is essential for tethering HSV-1 Polymerase to the viral genome to enable long-chain DNA synthesis.

METHODS

A series of peptides, based on the crystal structure of the C-terminus of HSV-1 Polymerase, were constructed with hydrocarbon staples to retain their alpha-helical conformation. The stapled peptides were tested for blocking both HSV-1 DNA synthesis and infection. The most effective peptide was further optimized by replacing its negative N-terminus with two hydrophobic valine residues. This di-valine stapled peptide was tested for inhibiting HSV-1 infection of human primary corneal epithelial cells.

RESULTS

The stapled peptides blocked HSV-1 DNA synthesis and HSV-1 infection. The unstapled control peptide had no inhibitory effects. Specificity of the stapled peptides was confirmed by their inabilities to block infection by an unrelated virus. Significantly, the optimized di-valine stapled peptide effectively blocked HSV-1 infection in human primary corneal epithelial cells with selectivity index of 11.6.

CONCLUSIONS

Hydrocarbon stapled peptides that simulate the α-helix from the C-terminus of HSV-1 DNA polymerase can specifically block DNA synthesis and infection of HSV-1 in human primary corneal epithelial cells. These stapled peptides provide a foundation for developing a topical therapeutic for treating human ocular Herpes Keratitis.

PEDF Reduces the Severity of Herpetic Simplex Keratitis in Mice

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) and PEDF-derived peptides Mer44 and Mer34 on the severity of herpetic simplex keratitis (HSK) in mice.

Methods

Adult C57BL/6 mice were infected ocularly with the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1, McKrae strain) and injected subconjunctivally with PEDF, Mer44, or Mer34. Corneal nerve degeneration, neovascularization, sensitivity, neutrophils, macrophages and CD4+ T-cell infiltration, virus contents, and expressions of VEGF, PEDF, and proinflammatory factors were evaluated during acute period. The direct inhibitory effect of PEDF on HSV-1 replication was further evaluated in cultured monkey Vero cells.

Results

Following HSV-1 infection, corneal PEDF expression decreased at 3 and 7 days postinfection (dpi) but increased at 15 dpi, and returned to the similar level of normal mice at 45 dpi, which was accompanied with the progress of corneal nerve degeneration and neovascularization. Exogenous PEDF application attenuated corneal nerve degeneration and neovascularization and improved the impaired corneal sensitivity. Moreover, PEDF attenuated the neutrophils, but not macrophage or CD4+ T-cell infiltration, with the reduced expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and VEGF. In addition, PEDF inhibited the replication of HSV-1 both in vitro and in mice. Mer44 attenuated corneal nerve degeneration more significantly than Mer34, whereas Mer34 inhibited corneal neovascularization.

Conclusions

PEDF and its derived peptides reduce the severity of herpetic simplex keratitis in mice, representing the potential therapeutic approach to control HSK lesions.

Delayed recurrence of acute retinal necrosis (ARN): A case series

PURPOSE

To report five cases of acute retinal necrosis (ARN) that reactivated in the same eye or presented in the contralateral eye between two and nineteen years after the initial episode of acute retinal necrosis.

CASES

Five patients with a previous history of ARN developed recurrent ARN infection following a lengthy latency period. In all five patients who initially presented with unilateral disease, four developed infection in the contralateral eye and one developed recurrent infection in the ipsilateral eye. Latency periods ranged from two to nineteen years, and final visual acuity in the affected eyes ranged from 20/30 to no light perception. Each patient was treated with antiviral medication for both the initial infection and for subsequent reactivations, but was not on long-term prophylaxis at the time of recurrent disease.

CONCLUSION

Although rare, delayed onset reactivation of ARN can occur in either the same eye or contralateral eye despite adequate treatment. While contralateral spread of initial infection is fairly common, these reactivations rarely occur more than six weeks after initial infection. Currently there are no guidelines for use of prophylactic antiviral medication to prevent late recurrence of ARN.

Antiherpesvirus activities of two novel 4'-thiothymidine derivatives, KAY-2-41 and KAH-39-149, are dependent on viral and cellular thymidine kinases

The emergence of drug-resistant herpesviruses represents a significant problem in clinical practice, primarily in immunocompromised patients. Furthermore, effective antiviral therapies against gammaherpesvirus-associated diseases are lacking. Here, we present two thiothymidine derivatives, KAY-2-41 and KAH-39-149, with different spectra of antiviral activity from those of the reference antiherpetic drugs, showing inhibitory activities against herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and particularly against Epstein-Barr virus, with high selectivity in vitro. While KAY-2-41- and KAH-39-149-resistant herpesviruses were found to harbor mutations in the viral thymidine kinase (TK), these mutations conferred only low levels of resistance to these drugs but high levels to other TK-dependent drugs. Also, antiviral assays in HeLa TK-deficient cells showed a lack of KAY-2-41 and KAH-39-149 activities against herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 TK-deficient mutants. Furthermore, enzymatic TK assays showed the ability of HSV-1 TK, VZV TK, and cellular TK1 and TK2 to recognize and phosphorylate KAY-2-41 and KAH-39-149. These results demonstrate that the compounds depend on both viral and host TKs to exert antiviral activity. Additionally, the antiviral efficacy of KAH-39-149 proved to be superior to that of KAY-2-41 in a mouse model of gammaherpesvirus infection, highlighting the potential of this class of antiviral agents for further development as selective therapeutics against Epstein-Barr virus.