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Identification of West Nile virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase non-nucleoside inhibitors by real-time high throughput fluorescence screening. Antiviral Res 2023; 212:105568. [PMID: 36842536 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105568] [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: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a re-emergent mosquito-borne RNA virus that causes major outbreaks of encephalitis around the world. However, there is no therapeutic treatment to struggle against WNV, and the current treatment relies on alleviating symptoms. Therefore, due to the threat virus poses to animal and human health, there is an urgent need to come up with fast strategies to identify and assess effective antiviral compounds. A relevant target when developing drugs against RNA viruses is the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), responsible for the replication of the viral genome within a host cell. RdRps are key therapeutic targets based on their specificity for RNA and their essential role in the propagation of the infection. We have developed a fluorescence-based method to measure WNV RdRp activity in a fast and reliable real-time way. Interestingly, rilpivirine has shown in our assay inhibition of the WNV RdRp activity with an IC50 value of 3.3 μM and its antiviral activity was confirmed in cell cultures. Furthermore, this method has been extended to build up a high-throughput screening platform to identify WNV polymerase inhibitors. By screening a small chemical library, novel RdRp inhibitors 1-4 have been identified. When their antiviral activity was tested against WNV in cell culture, 4 exhibited an EC50 value of 2.5 μM and a selective index of 12.3. Thus, rilpivirine shows up as an interesting candidate for repurposing against flavivirus. Moreover, the here reported method allows the rapid identification of new WNV RdRp inhibitors.
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Allosteric Inhibition of Neutral Sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) by DPTIP: From Antiflaviviral Activity to Deciphering Its Binding Site through In Silico Studies and Experimental Validation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213935. [PMID: 36430407 PMCID: PMC9697135 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Flavivirus comprises globally emerging and re-emerging pathogens such as Zika virus (ZIKV), Dengue virus (DENV), and West Nile virus (WNV), among others. Although some vaccines are available, there is an unmet medical need as no effective antiviral treatment has been approved for flaviviral infections. The development of host-directed antivirals (HDAs) targeting host factors that are essential for viral replication cycle offers the opportunity for the development of broad-spectrum antivirals. In the case of flaviviruses, recent studies have revealed that neutral sphingomyelinase 2, (nSMase2), involved in lipid metabolism, plays a key role in WNV and ZIKV infection. As a proof of concept, we have determined the antiviral activity of the non-competitive nSMase2 inhibitor DPTIP against WNV and ZIKV virus. DPTIP showed potent antiviral activity with EC50 values of 0.26 µM and 1.56 µM for WNV and ZIKV, respectively. In order to unravel the allosteric binding site of DPTIP in nSMase2 and the details of the interaction, computational studies have been carried out. These studies have revealed that DPTIP could block the DK switch in nSMase2. Moreover, the analysis of the residues contributing to the binding identified His463 as a crucial residue. Interestingly, the inhibitory activity of DPTIP on the H463A mutant protein supported our hypothesis. Thus, an allosteric cavity in nSMase2 has been identified that can be exploited for the development of new inhibitors with anti-flaviviral activity.
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Xiao Y, Yang J, Zou L, Wu P, Li W, Yan Y, Li Y, Li S, Song H, Zhong W, Qin Y. Synthesis of 10,10′-bis(trifluoromethyl) marinopyrrole A derivatives and evaluation of their antiviral activities in vitro. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 238:114436. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Wang Z, Yan Y, Dai Q, Xu Y, Yin J, Li W, Li Y, Yang X, Guo X, Liu M, Chen X, Cao R, Zhong W. Azelnidipine Exhibits In Vitro and In Vivo Antiviral Effects against Flavivirus Infections by Targeting the Viral RdRp. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061228. [PMID: 35746699 PMCID: PMC9230735 DOI: 10.3390/v14061228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses, represented by Zika and dengue virus (ZIKV and DENV), are widely present around the world and cause various diseases with serious consequences. However, no antiviral drugs have been clinically approved for use against them. Azelnidipine (ALP) is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker and has been approved for use as an antihypertensive drug. In the present study, ALP was found to show potent anti-flavivirus activities in vitro and in vivo. ALP effectively prevented the cytopathic effect induced by ZIKV and DENV and inhibited the production of viral RNA and viral protein in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, treatment with 0.3 mg/kg of ALP protected 88.89% of mice from lethal challenge. Furthermore, using the time-of-drug-addition assay, the enzymatic inhibition assay, the molecular docking, and the surface plasmon resonance assay, we revealed that ALP acted at the replication stage of the viral infection cycle by targeting the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. These findings highlight the potential for the use of ALP as an antiviral agent to combat flavivirus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuang Wang
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China;
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.D.); (Y.X.); (J.Y.); (W.L.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (X.G.); (M.L.)
| | - Yunzheng Yan
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.D.); (Y.X.); (J.Y.); (W.L.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (X.G.); (M.L.)
| | - Qingsong Dai
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.D.); (Y.X.); (J.Y.); (W.L.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (X.G.); (M.L.)
| | - Yijie Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.D.); (Y.X.); (J.Y.); (W.L.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (X.G.); (M.L.)
| | - Jiye Yin
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.D.); (Y.X.); (J.Y.); (W.L.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (X.G.); (M.L.)
| | - Wei Li
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.D.); (Y.X.); (J.Y.); (W.L.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (X.G.); (M.L.)
| | - Yuexiang Li
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.D.); (Y.X.); (J.Y.); (W.L.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (X.G.); (M.L.)
| | - Xiaotong Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.D.); (Y.X.); (J.Y.); (W.L.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (X.G.); (M.L.)
| | - Xiaojia Guo
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.D.); (Y.X.); (J.Y.); (W.L.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (X.G.); (M.L.)
| | - Miaomiao Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.D.); (Y.X.); (J.Y.); (W.L.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (X.G.); (M.L.)
| | - Xingjuan Chen
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China;
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.D.); (Y.X.); (J.Y.); (W.L.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (X.G.); (M.L.)
- Correspondence: (X.C.); (R.C.); (W.Z.)
| | - Ruiyuan Cao
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.D.); (Y.X.); (J.Y.); (W.L.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (X.G.); (M.L.)
- Correspondence: (X.C.); (R.C.); (W.Z.)
| | - Wu Zhong
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.D.); (Y.X.); (J.Y.); (W.L.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (X.G.); (M.L.)
- Correspondence: (X.C.); (R.C.); (W.Z.)
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Sundar S, Piramanayagam S, Natarajan J. A review on structural genomics approach applied for drug discovery against three vector-borne viral diseases: Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. Virus Genes 2022; 58:151-171. [PMID: 35394596 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-022-01898-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Structural genomics involves the advent of three-dimensional structures of the genome encoded proteins through various techniques available. Numerous structural genomics research groups have been developed across the globe and they contribute enormously to the identification of three-dimensional structures of various proteins. In this review, we have discussed the applications of the structural genomics approach towards the discovery of potential lead-like molecules against the genomic drug targets of three vector-borne diseases, namely, Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. Currently, all these three diseases are associated with the most important global public health problems and significant economic burden in tropical countries. Structural genomics has accelerated the identification of novel drug targets and inhibitors for the treatment of these diseases. We start with the current development status of the drug targets and antiviral drugs against these three diseases and conclude by describing challenges that need to be addressed to overcome the shortcomings in the process of drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shobana Sundar
- Computational Biology Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India
| | | | - Jeyakumar Natarajan
- Data Mining and Text Mining Laboratory, Department of Bioinformatics, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
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