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Panday H, Jha AK, Dwivedi VD. Investigation of small molecules disrupting dengue virus assembly by inhibiting capsid protein and blocking RNA encapsulation. Mol Divers 2024:10.1007/s11030-024-10980-z. [PMID: 39304568 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-024-10980-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Dengue fever is a significant global public health concern, causing substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. The disease can manifest in various forms, from mild fever to potentially life-threatening complications. Developing effective treatments remains a critical challenge to healthcare systems. Despite extensive research, no antiviral drugs have been approved for either the prevention or treatment of dengue. Targeting the virus during its early phase of attachment is essential to inhibit viral replication. The capsid protein plays a crucial role in the virus's structural integrity, assembly, and viral genome release. In the present study, we employed a computational approach focused on the capsid protein to identify possible potent inhibitors against the dengue virus from a library of FDA-approved drugs. We employed high-throughput virtual screening on FDA-approved drugs to identify drug molecules that could potentially combat the disease and save both cost and time. The screening process identified four drug molecules (Nordihydroguaiaretic acid, Ifenprodil tartrate, Lathyrol, and Safinamide Mesylate) based on their highest binding affinity and MM/GBSA scores. Among these, Nordihydroguaiaretic acid showed higher binding affinity than the reference molecule with - 11.66 kcal/mol. In contrast, Ifenprodil tartrate and Lathyrol showed similar results to the reference molecule, with binding energies of - 9.42 kcal/mol and - 9.29 kcal/mol, respectively. Following the screening, molecular dynamic simulations were performed to explore the molecular stability and conformational possibilities. The drug molecules were further supported by post-molecular simulation analysis. Furthermore, binding energies were also computed using the MM/GBSA approach, and the free energy landscape was used to calculate the different transition states, revealing that the drugs exhibited significant transition states. Specifically, Nordihydroguaiaretic acid and Ifenprodil tartrate displayed higher flexibility, while Lathyrol and Safinamide Mesylate showed more predictable and consistent protein folding. This significant breakthrough offers new hope against dengue, highlighting the power of computational drug discovery in identifying potent inhibitors and paving the way for novel treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hrithika Panday
- Department of Biotechnology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, UP, India
| | - Abhimanyu Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, UP, India.
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Technology, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, India.
| | - Vivek Dhar Dwivedi
- Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
- Bioinformatics Research Division, Quanta Calculus, Greater Noida, India
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2
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Chauhan N, Gaur KK, Asuru TR, Guchhait P. Dengue virus: pathogenesis and potential for small molecule inhibitors. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20240134. [PMID: 39051974 PMCID: PMC11327219 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20240134] [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: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Dengue, caused by dengue virus (DENV), is now endemic in nearly 100 countries and infection incidence is reported in another 30 countries. Yearly an estimated 400 million cases and 2200 deaths are reported. Effective vaccines against DENV are limited and there has been significant focus on the development of effective antiviral against the disease. The World Health Organization has initiated research programs to prioritize the development and optimization of antiviral agents against several viruses including Flaviviridae. A significant effort has been taken by the researchers to develop effective antivirals against DENV. Several potential small-molecule inhibitors like efavirenz, tipranavir and dasabuvir have been tested against envelope and non-structural proteins of DENV, and are in clinical trials around the world. We recently developed one small molecule, namely 7D, targeting the host PF4-CXCR3 axis. 7D inhibited all 4 serotypes of DENV in vitro and specifically DENV2 infection in two different mice models. Although the development of dengue vaccines remains a high priority, antibody cross reactivity among the serotypes and resulting antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection are major concerns that have limited the development of effective vaccine against DENV. Therefore, there has been a significant emphasis on the development of antiviral drugs against dengue. This review article describes the rescue effects of some of the small molecule inhibitors to viral/host factors associated with DENV pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navya Chauhan
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, National Capital Region Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Kishan Kumar Gaur
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, National Capital Region Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Tejeswara Rao Asuru
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, National Capital Region Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Prasenjit Guchhait
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, National Capital Region Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
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3
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Sinha S, Singh K, Ravi Kumar YS, Roy R, Phadnis S, Meena V, Bhattacharyya S, Verma B. Dengue virus pathogenesis and host molecular machineries. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:43. [PMID: 38649998 PMCID: PMC11036733 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01030-9] [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: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Dengue viruses (DENV) are positive-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the Flaviviridae family. DENV is the causative agent of dengue, the most rapidly spreading viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Each year, millions of people contract the virus through bites from infected female mosquitoes of the Aedes species. In the majority of individuals, the infection is asymptomatic, and the immune system successfully manages to control virus replication within a few days. Symptomatic individuals may present with a mild fever (Dengue fever or DF) that may or may not progress to a more critical disease termed Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or the fatal Dengue shock syndrome (DSS). In the absence of a universally accepted prophylactic vaccine or therapeutic drug, treatment is mostly restricted to supportive measures. Similar to many other viruses that induce acute illness, DENV has developed several ways to modulate host metabolism to create an environment conducive to genome replication and the dissemination of viral progeny. To search for new therapeutic options, understanding the underlying host-virus regulatory system involved in various biological processes of the viral life cycle is essential. This review aims to summarize the complex interaction between DENV and the host cellular machinery, comprising regulatory mechanisms at various molecular levels such as epigenetic modulation of the host genome, transcription of host genes, translation of viral and host mRNAs, post-transcriptional regulation of the host transcriptome, post-translational regulation of viral proteins, and pathways involved in protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saumya Sinha
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Kinjal Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Y S Ravi Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, MSR Nagar, Bengaluru, India
| | - Riya Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Sushant Phadnis
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Varsha Meena
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Sankar Bhattacharyya
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Bhupendra Verma
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India.
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Serafim MSM, Kronenberger T, Rocha REO, Rosa ADRA, Mello TLG, Poso A, Ferreira RS, Abrahão JS, Kroon EG, Mota BEF, Maltarollo VG. Aminopyrimidine Derivatives as Multiflavivirus Antiviral Compounds Identified from a Consensus Virtual Screening Approach. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:393-411. [PMID: 38194508 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01505] [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: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Around three billion people are at risk of infection by the dengue virus (DENV) and potentially other flaviviruses. Worldwide outbreaks of DENV, Zika virus (ZIKV), and yellow fever virus (YFV), the lack of antiviral drugs, and limitations on vaccine usage emphasize the need for novel antiviral research. Here, we propose a consensus virtual screening approach to discover potential protease inhibitors (NS3pro) against different flavivirus. We employed an in silico combination of a hologram quantitative structure-activity relationship (HQSAR) model and molecular docking on characterized binding sites followed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which filtered a data set of 7.6 million compounds to 2,775 hits. Lastly, docking and MD simulations selected six final potential NS3pro inhibitors with stable interactions along the simulations. Five compounds had their antiviral activity confirmed against ZIKV, YFV, DENV-2, and DENV-3 (ranging from 4.21 ± 0.14 to 37.51 ± 0.8 μM), displaying aggregator characteristics for enzymatic inhibition against ZIKV NS3pro (ranging from 28 ± 7 to 70 ± 7 μM). Taken together, the compounds identified in this approach may contribute to the design of promising candidates to treat different flavivirus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus Sá Magalhães Serafim
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery (TüCAD2), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- Excellence Cluster "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections" (CMFI), Tübingen 72076, Germany
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio 70211, Finland
| | - Rafael Eduardo Oliveira Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Amanda Del Rio Abreu Rosa
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Thaysa Lara Gonçalves Mello
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Antti Poso
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery (TüCAD2), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio 70211, Finland
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen 70211, Germany
| | - Rafaela Salgado Ferreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Jonatas Santos Abrahão
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Erna Geessien Kroon
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Bruno Eduardo Fernandes Mota
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Gonçalves Maltarollo
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
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Li LH, Chiu W, Huang YA, Rasulova M, Vercruysse T, Thibaut HJ, Ter Horst S, Rocha-Pereira J, Vanhoof G, Borrenberghs D, Goethals O, Kaptein SJF, Leyssen P, Neyts J, Dallmeier K. Multiplexed multicolor antiviral assay amenable for high-throughput research. Nat Commun 2024; 15:42. [PMID: 38168091 PMCID: PMC10761739 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44339-z] [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: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
To curb viral epidemics and pandemics, antiviral drugs are needed with activity against entire genera or families of viruses. Here, we develop a cell-based multiplex antiviral assay for high-throughput screening against multiple viruses at once, as demonstrated by using three distantly related orthoflaviviruses: dengue, Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever virus. Each virus is tagged with a distinct fluorescent protein, enabling individual monitoring in cell culture through high-content imaging. Specific antisera and small-molecule inhibitors are employed to validate that multiplexing approach yields comparable inhibition profiles to single-virus infection assays. To facilitate downstream analysis, a kernel is developed to deconvolute and reduce the multidimensional quantitative data to three cartesian coordinates. The methodology is applicable to viruses from different families as exemplified by co-infections with chikungunya, parainfluenza and Bunyamwera viruses. The multiplex approach is expected to facilitate the discovery of broader-spectrum antivirals, as shown in a pilot screen of approximately 1200 drug-like small-molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Hsin Li
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
- Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery group, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Winston Chiu
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yun-An Huang
- KU Leuven Department of Neuroscience, Research Group Neurophysiology, Laboratory for Circuit Neuroscience, Leuven, Belgium
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders (NERF), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Madina Rasulova
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Vercruysse
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), Leuven, Belgium
- AstriVax, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Hendrik Jan Thibaut
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Translational Platform Virology and Chemotherapy (TPVC), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sebastiaan Ter Horst
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
- Cerba Research, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joana Rocha-Pereira
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Greet Vanhoof
- Janssen Therapeutics Discovery, Janssen Pharmaceutica, NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | | | - Olivia Goethals
- Janssen Global Public Health, Janssen Pharmaceutica, NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Suzanne J F Kaptein
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Leyssen
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Neyts
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kai Dallmeier
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium.
- Molecular Vaccinology and Vaccine Discovery group, Leuven, Belgium.
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Nath S, Malakar P, Biswas B, Das S, Sabnam N, Nandi S, Samadder A. Exploring the Targets of Dengue Virus and Designs of Potential Inhibitors. Comb Chem High Throughput Screen 2024; 27:2485-2524. [PMID: 37962048 DOI: 10.2174/0113862073247689231030153054] [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: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease spread by the dengue virus (DENV), has become one of the most alarming health issues in the global scenario in recent days. The risk of infection by DENV is mostly high in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. The mortality rate of patients affected with DENV is ever-increasing, mainly due to a lack of anti-dengue viral-specific synthetic drug components. INTRODUCTION Repurposing synthetic drugs has been an effective tool in combating several pathogens, including DENV. However, only the Dengvaxia vaccine has been developed so far to fight against the deadly disease despite the grave situation, mainly because of the limitations of understanding the actual pathogenicity of the disease. METHODS To address this particular issue and explore the actual disease pathobiology, several potential targets, like three structural proteins and seven non-structural (NS) proteins, along with their inhibitors of synthetic and natural origin, have been screened using docking simulation. RESULTS Exploration of these targets, along with their inhibitors, has been extensively studied in culmination with molecular docking-based screening to potentiate the treatment. CONCLUSION These screened inhibitors could possibly be helpful for the designing of new congeneric potential compounds to combat dengue fever and its complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayan Nath
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Piyali Malakar
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Baisakhi Biswas
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Suryatapa Das
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Nahid Sabnam
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Sisir Nandi
- Global Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University, Kashipur-244713, India
| | - Asmita Samadder
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Lab., Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
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Tsopela V, Korakidis E, Lagou D, Kalliampakou KI, Milona RS, Kyriakopoulou E, Mpekoulis G, Gemenetzi I, Stylianaki EA, Sideris CD, Sioli A, Kefallinos D, Sideris DC, Aidinis V, Eliopoulos AG, Kambas K, Vassilacopoulou D, Vassilaki N. L-Dopa decarboxylase modulates autophagy in hepatocytes and is implicated in dengue virus-caused inhibition of autophagy completion. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2024; 1871:119602. [PMID: 37778471 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119602] [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: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
The enzyme L-Dopa Decarboxylase (DDC) synthesizes the catecholamine dopamine and the indolamine serotonin. Apart from its role in the brain as a neurotransmitter biosynthetic enzyme, DDC has been detected also in the liver and other peripheral organs, where it is implicated in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and host-virus interactions. Dengue virus (DENV) suppresses DDC expression at the later stages of infection, during which DENV also inhibits autophagosome-lysosome fusion. As dopamine affects autophagy in neuronal cells, we investigated the possible association of DDC with autophagy in human hepatocytes and examined whether DDC mediates the relationship between DENV infection and autophagy. We performed DDC silencing/overexpression and evaluated autophagic markers upon induction of autophagy, or suppression of autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Our results showed that DDC favored the autophagic process, at least in part, through its biosynthetic function, while knockdown of DDC or inhibition of DDC enzymatic activity prevented autophagy completion. In turn, autophagy induction upregulated DDC, while autophagy reduction by chemical or genetic (ATG14L knockout) ways caused the opposite effect. This study also implicated DDC with the cellular energetic status, as DDC silencing reduced the oxidative phosphorylation activity of the cell. We also report that upon DDC silencing, the repressive effect of DENV on the completion of autophagy was enhanced, and the inhibition of autolysosome formation did not exert an additive effect on viral proliferation. These data unravel a novel role of DDC in the autophagic process and suggest that DENV downregulates DDC expression to inhibit the completion of autophagy, reinforcing the importance of this protein in viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vassilina Tsopela
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 115 21 Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelos Korakidis
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 115 21 Athens, Greece
| | - Despoina Lagou
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 115 21 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Raphaela S Milona
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 115 21 Athens, Greece
| | - Eirini Kyriakopoulou
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 115 21 Athens, Greece
| | - George Mpekoulis
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 115 21 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioanna Gemenetzi
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 115 21 Athens, Greece
| | - Elli-Anna Stylianaki
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, 16672 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Aggelina Sioli
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 115 21 Athens, Greece
| | - Dionysis Kefallinos
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, National Technical University of Athens, 157 73 Athens, Greece
| | - Diamantis C Sideris
- Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 01 Athens, Greece
| | - Vassilis Aidinis
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, 16672 Athens, Greece
| | - Aristides G Eliopoulos
- Department of Biology, School of Medicine, NKUA, 115 27 Athens, Greece; Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Kambas
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Immunology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 115 21 Athens, Greece
| | - Dido Vassilacopoulou
- Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 01 Athens, Greece
| | - Niki Vassilaki
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 115 21 Athens, Greece.
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Akram M, Hameed S, Hassan A, Khan KM. Development in the Inhibition of Dengue Proteases as Drug Targets. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:2195-2233. [PMID: 37723635 DOI: 10.2174/0929867331666230918110144] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Viral infections continue to increase morbidity and mortality severely. The flavivirus genus has fifty different species, including the dengue, Zika, and West Nile viruses that can infect 40% of individuals globally, who reside in at least a hundred different countries. Dengue, one of the oldest and most dangerous human infections, was initially documented by the Chinese Medical Encyclopedia in the Jin period. It was referred to as "water poison," connected to flying insects, i.e., Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. DENV causes some medical expressions like dengue hemorrhagic fever, acute febrile illness, and dengue shock syndrome. OBJECTIVE According to the World Health Organization report of 2012, 2500 million people are in danger of contracting dengue fever worldwide. According to a recent study, 96 million of the 390 million dengue infections yearly show some clinical or subclinical severity. There is no antiviral drug or vaccine to treat this severe infection. It can be controlled by getting enough rest, drinking plenty of water, and using painkillers. The first dengue vaccine created by Sanofi, called Dengvaxia, was previously approved by the USFDA in 2019. All four serotypes of the DENV1-4 have shown re-infection in vaccine recipients. However, the usage of Dengvaxia has been constrained by its adverse effects. CONCLUSION Different classes of compounds have been reported against DENV, such as nitrogen-containing heterocycles (i.e., imidazole, pyridine, triazoles quinazolines, quinoline, and indole), oxygen-containing heterocycles (i.e., coumarins), and some are mixed heterocyclic compounds of S, N (thiazole, benzothiazine, and thiazolidinediones), and N, O (i.e., oxadiazole). There have been reports of computationally designed compounds to impede the molecular functions of specific structural and non-structural proteins as potential therapeutic targets. This review summarized the current progress in developing dengue protease inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Akram
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Shehryar Hameed
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75720, Pakistan
| | - Abbas Hassan
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Khalid Mohammed Khan
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75720, Pakistan
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9
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Diani E, Lagni A, Lotti V, Tonon E, Cecchetto R, Gibellini D. Vector-Transmitted Flaviviruses: An Antiviral Molecules Overview. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2427. [PMID: 37894085 PMCID: PMC10608811 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102427] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses cause numerous pathologies in humans across a broad clinical spectrum with potentially severe clinical manifestations, including hemorrhagic and neurological disorders. Among human flaviviruses, some viral proteins show high conservation and are good candidates as targets for drug design. From an epidemiological point of view, flaviviruses cause more than 400 million cases of infection worldwide each year. In particular, the Yellow Fever, dengue, West Nile, and Zika viruses have high morbidity and mortality-about an estimated 20,000 deaths per year. As they depend on human vectors, they have expanded their geographical range in recent years due to altered climatic and social conditions. Despite these epidemiological and clinical premises, there are limited antiviral treatments for these infections. In this review, we describe the major compounds that are currently under evaluation for the treatment of flavivirus infections and the challenges faced during clinical trials, outlining their mechanisms of action in order to present an overview of ongoing studies. According to our review, the absence of approved antivirals for flaviviruses led to in vitro and in vivo experiments aimed at identifying compounds that can interfere with one or more viral cycle steps. Still, the currently unavailability of approved antivirals poses a significant public health issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Diani
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.L.); (V.L.); (R.C.)
| | - Anna Lagni
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.L.); (V.L.); (R.C.)
| | - Virginia Lotti
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.L.); (V.L.); (R.C.)
| | - Emil Tonon
- Unit of Microbiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Riccardo Cecchetto
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.L.); (V.L.); (R.C.)
- Unit of Microbiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Davide Gibellini
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.L.); (V.L.); (R.C.)
- Unit of Microbiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
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10
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Hsieh YC, Delarue M, Orland H, Koehl P. Analyzing the Geometry and Dynamics of Viral Structures: A Review of Computational Approaches Based on Alpha Shape Theory, Normal Mode Analysis, and Poisson-Boltzmann Theories. Viruses 2023; 15:1366. [PMID: 37376665 DOI: 10.3390/v15061366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic highlights our fragility when we are exposed to emergent viruses either directly or through zoonotic diseases. Fortunately, our knowledge of the biology of those viruses is improving. In particular, we have more and more structural information on virions, i.e., the infective form of a virus that includes its genomic material and surrounding protective capsid, and on their gene products. It is important to have methods that enable the analyses of structural information on such large macromolecular systems. We review some of those methods in this paper. We focus on understanding the geometry of virions and viral structural proteins, their dynamics, and their energetics, with the ambition that this understanding can help design antiviral agents. We discuss those methods in light of the specificities of those structures, mainly that they are huge. We focus on three of our own methods based on the alpha shape theory for computing geometry, normal mode analyses to study dynamics, and modified Poisson-Boltzmann theories to study the organization of ions and co-solvent and solvent molecules around biomacromolecules. The corresponding software has computing times that are compatible with the use of regular desktop computers. We show examples of their applications on some outer shells and structural proteins of the West Nile Virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-Chen Hsieh
- Institute for Arctic and Marine Biology, Department of Biosciences, Fisheries, and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromso, Norway
| | - Marc Delarue
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris-Cité and CNRS, UMR 3528, Unité Architecture et Dynamique des Macromolécules Biologiques, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Henri Orland
- Institut de Physique Théorique, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Patrice Koehl
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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11
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Delgado-Maldonado T, Moreno-Herrera A, Pujadas G, Vázquez-Jiménez LK, González-González A, Rivera G. Recent advances in the development of methyltransferase (MTase) inhibitors against (re)emerging arboviruses diseases dengue and Zika. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 252:115290. [PMID: 36958266 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115290] [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] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023]
Abstract
Emerging and/or re-emerging viral diseases such as dengue and Zika are a worldwide concern. Therefore, new antiviral therapeutics are necessary. In this sense, a non-structural protein with methyltransferase (MTase) activity is an attractive drug target because it plays a crucial role in dengue and Zika virus replication. Different drug strategies such as virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics have identified new inhibitors that bind on the MTase active site. Therefore, in this review, we analyze MTase inhibitors, including S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (SAH) and guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP) analogs, nitrogen-containing heterocycles (pyrimidine, adenosine, and pyridine), urea derivatives, and natural products. Advances in the design of MTase inhibitors could lead to the optimization of a possible single or broad-spectrum antiviral drug against dengue and Zika virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timoteo Delgado-Maldonado
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Farmacéutica, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 88710, Reynosa, Mexico
| | - Antonio Moreno-Herrera
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Farmacéutica, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 88710, Reynosa, Mexico
| | - Gerard Pujadas
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Research group in Cheminformatics & Nutrition, Campus de Sescelades, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lenci K Vázquez-Jiménez
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Farmacéutica, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 88710, Reynosa, Mexico
| | - Alonzo González-González
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Farmacéutica, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 88710, Reynosa, Mexico
| | - Gildardo Rivera
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Farmacéutica, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 88710, Reynosa, Mexico.
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12
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Sadeer NB, El Kalamouni C, Khalid A, Abdalla AN, Zengin G, Khoa Bao LV, Mahomoodally MF. Secondary metabolites as potential drug candidates against Zika virus, an emerging looming human threat: Current landscape, molecular mechanism and challenges ahead. J Infect Public Health 2023; 16:754-770. [PMID: 36958171 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.03.008] [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: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Nature has given us yet another wild card in the form of Zika virus (ZIKV). It was found in 1947, but has only recently become an important public health risk, predominantly to pregnant women and their unborn offspring. Currently, no specific therapeutic agent exists for ZIKV and treatment is mainly supportive. Natural products (NPs) can serve as a major source of potent antiviral drugs. To create this review, a comprehensive search was conducted from different databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google scholar). A statistical analysis on the number of publications related to NPs and ZIKV was conducted to analyse the trend in research covering the period 1980-2020. From the data collated in this review, a number of NPs have been found to be inhibitive towards different stages of the ZIKV lifecycle in in vitro studies. For instance, baicalin, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, curcumin, nanchangmycin, gossypol, cephaeline, emetine, resveratrol, berberine, amongst others, can prevent viral entry by attacking ZIKV E protein. Compounds luteolin, myricetin, astragalin, rutin, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, carnosine, pedalitin, amongst others, inhibited NS2B-NS3 protease activity which consequently hamper replication. Interestingly, a few NPs had the ability to arrest both viral entry and replication, namely baicalin, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, curcumin, cephaeline, emetine, and resveratrol. To the best of our knowledge, we obtained only one in vivo study conducted on emetine and results showed that it decreased the levels of circulating ZIKV by approximately 10-fold. Our understanding on NPs exhibiting anti-ZIKV effects in in vivo testing as well as clinical trials is limited. Our trend analysis showed that interest in searching for a cure or prevention against Zika in NPs is negligible and there are no publications yet covering the clinical evaluation. NPs with anti-ZIKV property can a winning strategy in controlling the bio-burden of an epidemic or pandemic. We therefore opine that in the future, more research should be devoted to ZIKV. This review attempts to provide baseline data and roadmap to pursuit detailed investigations for developing potent and novel therapeutic agents to prevent and cure ZIKV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabeelah Bibi Sadeer
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius
| | - Chaker El Kalamouni
- Unité Mixte Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical, Plateforme Technologique CYROI, Université de la Réunion, INSERM U1187, CNRS UMR 9192, IRD UMR 249, 94791 Sainte Clotilde, La Réunion, France.
| | - Asaad Khalid
- Substance Abuse and Toxicology Research Center, Jazan University, P.O. Box: 114, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia; Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Traditional Medicine Research Institute, National Center for Research, P. O. Box 2404, Khartoum, the Republic of the Sudan
| | - Ashraf N Abdalla
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gokhan Zengin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Selcuk University, Campus, 42250 Konya, Turkey
| | - Le Van Khoa Bao
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Viet Nam; School of Engineering & Technology, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Viet Nam.
| | - Mohamad Fawzi Mahomoodally
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius; Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, Chennai 600077, India
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13
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Lee MF, Wu YS, Poh CL. Molecular Mechanisms of Antiviral Agents against Dengue Virus. Viruses 2023; 15:v15030705. [PMID: 36992414 PMCID: PMC10056858 DOI: 10.3390/v15030705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Dengue is a major global health threat causing 390 million dengue infections and 25,000 deaths annually. The lack of efficacy of the licensed Dengvaxia vaccine and the absence of a clinically approved antiviral against dengue virus (DENV) drive the urgent demand for the development of novel anti-DENV therapeutics. Various antiviral agents have been developed and investigated for their anti-DENV activities. This review discusses the mechanisms of action employed by various antiviral agents against DENV. The development of host-directed antivirals targeting host receptors and direct-acting antivirals targeting DENV structural and non-structural proteins are reviewed. In addition, the development of antivirals that target different stages during post-infection such as viral replication, viral maturation, and viral assembly are reviewed. Antiviral agents designed based on these molecular mechanisms of action could lead to the discovery and development of novel anti-DENV therapeutics for the treatment of dengue infections. Evaluations of combinations of antiviral drugs with different mechanisms of action could also lead to the development of synergistic drug combinations for the treatment of dengue at any stage of the infection.
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14
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Synthesis and evaluation of anti-yellow fever virus activity of new 6-aryl-3-R-amino-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-ones. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 248:115117. [PMID: 36657300 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115117] [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: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Yellow fever disease is one of public health concerns in the tropics. Despite its significant medicinal and economic impact among large groups of the population, there is a lack of effective treatment against yellow fever. In this regard, here we describe the synthesis of a series of new 6-aryl-3-R-amino-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-ones and evaluation of their in vitro inhibitory activity against yellow fever virus. Among all tested compounds 4 derivatives possessing strong inhibitory activity at μM concentrations were identified. All the active compounds revealed a good toxicity profile. These facts make the compounds interesting candidates for further evaluation of their efficacy in the treatment of yellow fever virus infection in vivo.
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15
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Dengue virus infection - a review of pathogenesis, vaccines, diagnosis and therapy. Virus Res 2023; 324:199018. [PMID: 36493993 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.199018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The transmission of dengue virus (DENV) from an infected Aedes mosquito to a human, causes illness ranging from mild dengue fever to fatal dengue shock syndrome. The similar conserved structure and sequence among distinct DENV serotypes or different flaviviruses has resulted in the occurrence of cross reaction followed by antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). Thus far, the vaccine which can provide effective protection against infection by different DENV serotypes remains the biggest hurdle to overcome. Therefore, deep investigation is crucial for the potent and effective therapeutic drugs development. In addition, the cross-reactivity of flaviviruses that leads to false diagnosis in clinical settings could result to delay proper intervention management. Thus, the accurate diagnostic with high specificity and sensitivity is highly required to provide prompt diagnosis in respect to render early treatment for DENV infected individuals. In this review, the recent development of neutralizing antibodies, antiviral agents, and vaccine candidates in therapeutic platform for DENV infection will be discussed. Moreover, the discovery of antigenic cryptic epitopes, principle of molecular mimicry, and application of single-chain or single-domain antibodies towards DENV will also be presented.
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16
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Dos Santos Nascimento IJ, da Silva Rodrigues ÉE, da Silva MF, de Araújo-Júnior JX, de Moura RO. Advances in Computational Methods to Discover New NS2B-NS3 Inhibitors Useful Against Dengue and Zika Viruses. Curr Top Med Chem 2022; 22:2435-2462. [PMID: 36415099 DOI: 10.2174/1568026623666221122121330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The Flaviviridae virus family consists of the genera Hepacivirus, Pestivirus, and Flavivirus, with approximately 70 viral types that use arthropods as vectors. Among these diseases, dengue (DENV) and zika virus (ZIKV) serotypes stand out, responsible for thousands of deaths worldwide. Due to the significant increase in cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared DENV a potential threat for 2019 due to being transmitted by infected travelers. Furthermore, ZIKV also has a high rate of transmissibility, highlighted in the outbreak in 2015, generating consequences such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly. According to clinical outcomes, those infected with DENV can be asymptomatic, and in other cases, it can be lethal. On the other hand, ZIKV has severe neurological symptoms in newborn babies and adults. More serious symptoms include microcephaly, brain calcifications, intrauterine growth restriction, and fetal death. Despite these worrying data, no drug or vaccine is approved to treat these diseases. In the drug discovery process, one of the targets explored against these diseases is the NS2B-NS3 complex, which presents the catalytic triad His51, Asp75, and Ser135, with the function of cleaving polyproteins, with specificity for basic amino acid residues, Lys- Arg, Arg-Arg, Arg-Lys or Gln-Arg. Since NS3 is highly conserved in all DENV serotypes and plays a vital role in viral replication, this complex is an excellent drug target. In recent years, computer-aided drug discovery (CADD) is increasingly essential in drug discovery campaigns, making the process faster and more cost-effective, mainly explained by discovering new drugs against DENV and ZIKV. Finally, the main advances in computational methods applied to discover new compounds against these diseases will be presented here. In fact, molecular dynamics simulations and virtual screening is the most explored approach, providing several hit and lead compounds that can be used in further optimizations. In addition, fragment-based drug design and quantum chemistry/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) provides new insights for developing anti-DENV/ZIKV drugs. We hope that this review offers further helpful information for researchers worldwide and stimulates the use of computational methods to find a promising drug for treating DENV and ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor José Dos Santos Nascimento
- Department of Pharmacy, Estácio of Alagoas College, Maceió, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacy, Cesmac University Center, Maceió, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacy, Drug Development and Synthesis Laboratory, State University of Paraíba, Campina Grande, Brazil
| | | | - Manuele Figueiredo da Silva
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
| | - João Xavier de Araújo-Júnior
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Olimpio de Moura
- Department of Pharmacy, Drug Development and Synthesis Laboratory, State University of Paraíba, Campina Grande, Brazil
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17
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Selinger M, Novotný R, Sýs J, Roby JA, Tykalová H, Ranjani GS, Vancová M, Jaklová K, Kaufman F, Bloom ME, Zdráhal Z, Grubhoffer L, Forwood JK, Hrabal R, Rumlová M, Štěrba J. Tick-borne encephalitis virus capsid protein induces translational shut-off as revealed by its structural-biological analysis. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102585. [PMID: 36223838 PMCID: PMC9664413 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the most medically relevant tick-transmitted Flavivirus in Eurasia, targeting the host central nervous system and frequently causing severe encephalitis. The primary function of its capsid protein (TBEVC) is to recruit the viral RNA and form a nucleocapsid. Additional functionality of Flavivirus capsid proteins has been documented, but further investigation is needed for TBEVC. Here, we show the first capsid protein 3D structure of a member of the tick-borne flaviviruses group. The structure of monomeric Δ16-TBEVC was determined using high-resolution multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. Based on natural in vitro TBEVC homodimerization, the dimeric interfaces were identified by hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (MS). Although the assembly of flaviviruses occurs in endoplasmic reticulum-derived vesicles, we observed that TBEVC protein also accumulated in the nuclei and nucleoli of infected cells. In addition, the predicted bipartite nuclear localization sequence in the TBEVC C-terminal part was confirmed experimentally, and we described the interface between TBEVC bipartite nuclear localization sequence and import adapter protein importin-alpha using X-ray crystallography. Furthermore, our coimmunoprecipitation coupled with MS identification revealed 214 interaction partners of TBEVC, including viral envelope and nonstructural NS5 proteins and a wide variety of host proteins involved mainly in rRNA processing and translation initiation. Metabolic labeling experiments further confirmed that TBEVC and other flaviviral capsid proteins are able to induce translational shutoff and decrease of 18S rRNA. These findings may substantially help to design a targeted therapy against TBEV.
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18
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Qian X, Qi Z. Mosquito-Borne Flaviviruses and Current Therapeutic Advances. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061226. [PMID: 35746697 PMCID: PMC9229039 DOI: 10.3390/v14061226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-borne flavivirus infections affect approximately 400 million people worldwide each year and are global threats to public health. The common diseases caused by such flaviviruses include West Nile, yellow fever, dengue, Zika infection and Japanese encephalitis, which may result in severe symptoms and disorders of multiple organs or even fatal outcomes. Till now, no specific antiviral agents are commercially available for the treatment of the diseases. Numerous strategies have been adopted to develop novel and promising inhibitors against mosquito-borne flaviviruses, including drugs targeting the critical viral components or essential host factors during infection. Research advances in antiflaviviral therapy might optimize and widen the treatment options for flavivirus infection. This review summarizes the current developmental progresses and involved molecular mechanisms of antiviral agents against mosquito-borne flaviviruses.
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Desantis J, Felicetti T, Cannalire R. An overview on small molecules acting as broad spectrum-agents for yellow fever infection. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:755-773. [PMID: 35638299 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2084529] [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: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Yellow Fever virus (YFV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, endemic in 47 countries in Africa and South America, which causes febrile symptoms that can evolve in 15% of the patients to serious haemorrhagic conditions, liver injury, and multiorgan failure. Although a highly effective vaccine (YF-17D vaccine) is available, to date, no antiviral drugs have been approved for the prevention and treatment of YFV infections. AREAS COVERED This review article focuses on the description of viral targets that have been considered within YFV and flavivirus drug discovery studies and on the most relevant candidates reported so far that elicit broad-spectrum inhibition against relevant strains and mutants of YFV. EXPERT OPINION Considering the growing interest on (re)emerging vector-borne viral infections, it is expected that flavivirus drug discovery will quickly deliver potential candidates for clinical evaluation. Due to similarity among flaviviral targets, several candidates identified against different flaviviruses have shown broad-spectrum activity, thus exhibiting anti-YFV activity, as well. In this regard, it would be desirable to routinely include the assessment of antiviral activity against different YFV strains. On the other hand, the development of host targeting agents are still at an initial stage and deserve further focused efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Desantis
- Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Tommaso Felicetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Rolando Cannalire
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Napoli, Italy
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20
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Yu Y, Si L, Meng Y. Flavivirus Entry Inhibitors. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1366:171-197. [PMID: 35412141 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-16-8702-0_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Flaviviruses, including Dengue virus, Zika virus, Yellow fever virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, cause thousands of deaths and millions of illnesses each year. The large outbreak of ZIKV in 2016 reminds us that flaviviruses can pose a serious threat to human safety and public health as emerging and re-emerging viruses. However, there are no specific drugs approved for the treatment of flavivirus infections. Due to no need to enter the cells, viral entry inhibitors have the unique advantage in suppressing viral infections. Flaviviruses bind to receptors and attach to the cell surface, then enter the endosome in a clathrin-dependent manner and finalizes the viral entry process after fusion with the cell membrane in a low pH environment. Small molecules, antibodies or peptides can inhibit flavivirus entry by targeting the above processes. Here, we focus on flavivirus entry inhibitors with well-defined target and antiviral activity. We hope that our review will provide a theoretical basis for flavivirus treatment and drug research and help to accelerate the clinical application of flavivirus entry inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Yu
- Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Lulu Si
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yu Meng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
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21
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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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22
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Kutkat O, Kandeil A, Moatasim Y, Elshaier YAMM, El-Sayed WA, Gaballah ST, El Taweel A, Kamel MN, El Sayes M, Ramadan MA, El-Shesheny R, Abdel-Megeid FME, Webby R, Kayali G, Ali MA. In Vitro and In Vivo Antiviral Studies of New Heteroannulated 1,2,3-Triazole Glycosides Targeting the Neuraminidase of Influenza A Viruses. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15030351. [PMID: 35337148 PMCID: PMC8950700 DOI: 10.3390/ph15030351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need to develop and synthesize new anti-influenza drugs with activity against different strains, resistance to mutations, and suitability for various populations. Herein, we tested in vitro and in vivo the antiviral activity of new 1,2,3-triazole glycosides incorporating benzimidazole, benzooxazole, or benzotriazole cores synthesized by using a click approach. The Cu-catalyzation strategy consisted of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the azidoalkyl derivative of the respective heterocyclic and different glycosyl acetylenes with five or six carbon sugar moieties. The antiviral activity of the synthesized glycosides against wild-type and neuraminidase inhibitor resistant strains of the avian influenza H5N1 and human influenza H1N1 viruses was high in vitro and in mice. Structure–activity relationship studies showed that varying the glycosyl moiety in the synthesized glycosides enhanced antiviral activity. The compound (2R,3R,4S,5R)-2-((1-(Benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylmethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-3,4,5-triyl triacetate (Compound 9c) had a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 2.280 µM and a ligand lipophilic efficiency (LLE) of 6.84. The compound (2R,3R,4S,5R)-2-((1-((1H-Benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)methyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-3,4,5-triyl triacetate had IC50 = 2.75 µM and LLE = 7.3 after docking analysis with the H5N1 virus neuraminidase. Compound 9c achieved full protection from H1N1 infection and 80% protection from H5N1 in addition to a high binding energy with neuraminidase and was safe in vitro and in vivo. This compound is suitable for further clinical studies as a new neuraminidase inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omnia Kutkat
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt; (O.K.); (Y.M.); (A.E.T.); (M.N.K.); (M.E.S.); (R.E.-S.)
| | - Ahmed Kandeil
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt; (O.K.); (Y.M.); (A.E.T.); (M.N.K.); (M.E.S.); (R.E.-S.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA;
- Correspondence: (A.K.); (G.K.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Yassmin Moatasim
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt; (O.K.); (Y.M.); (A.E.T.); (M.N.K.); (M.E.S.); (R.E.-S.)
| | - Yaseen A. M. M. Elshaier
- Department of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sadat City, Menoufia 32897, Egypt;
| | - Wael A. El-Sayed
- Photochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt; (W.A.E.-S.); (S.T.G.); (F.M.E.A.-M.)
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samir T. Gaballah
- Photochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt; (W.A.E.-S.); (S.T.G.); (F.M.E.A.-M.)
| | - Ahmed El Taweel
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt; (O.K.); (Y.M.); (A.E.T.); (M.N.K.); (M.E.S.); (R.E.-S.)
| | - Mina Nabil Kamel
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt; (O.K.); (Y.M.); (A.E.T.); (M.N.K.); (M.E.S.); (R.E.-S.)
| | - Mohamed El Sayes
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt; (O.K.); (Y.M.); (A.E.T.); (M.N.K.); (M.E.S.); (R.E.-S.)
| | - Mohammed A. Ramadan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt;
| | - Rabeh El-Shesheny
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt; (O.K.); (Y.M.); (A.E.T.); (M.N.K.); (M.E.S.); (R.E.-S.)
| | - Farouk M. E. Abdel-Megeid
- Photochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt; (W.A.E.-S.); (S.T.G.); (F.M.E.A.-M.)
| | - Richard Webby
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA;
| | - Ghazi Kayali
- Department of Life Sciences, Human Link, Dubai 48800, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: (A.K.); (G.K.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Mohamed A. Ali
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt; (O.K.); (Y.M.); (A.E.T.); (M.N.K.); (M.E.S.); (R.E.-S.)
- Correspondence: (A.K.); (G.K.); (M.A.A.)
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23
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Mpekoulis G, Tsopela V, Chalari A, Kalliampakou KI, Panos G, Frakolaki E, Milona RS, Sideris DC, Vassilacopoulou D, Vassilaki N. Dengue Virus Replication Is Associated with Catecholamine Biosynthesis and Metabolism in Hepatocytes. Viruses 2022; 14:v14030564. [PMID: 35336971 PMCID: PMC8948859 DOI: 10.3390/v14030564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, the association between the catecholamine biosynthetic enzyme L-Dopa decarboxylase (DDC) and Dengue virus (DV) replication was demonstrated in liver cells and was found to be mediated at least by the interaction between DDC and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Here, we show that biogenic amines production and uptake impede DV replication in hepatocytes and monocytes, while the virus reduces catecholamine biosynthesis, metabolism, and transport. To examine how catecholamine biosynthesis/metabolism influences DV, first, we verified the role of DDC by altering DDC expression. DDC silencing enhanced virus replication, but not translation, attenuated the negative effect of DDC substrates on the virus and reduced the infection related cell death. Then, the role of the downstream steps of the catecholamine biosynthesis/metabolism was analyzed by chemical inhibition of the respective enzymes, application of their substrates and/or their products; moreover, reserpine, the inhibitor of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), was used to examine the role of uptake/storage of catecholamines on DV. Apart from the role of each enzyme/transporter, these studies revealed that the dopamine uptake, and not the dopamine-signaling, is responsible for the negative effect on DV. Accordingly, all treatments expected to enhance the accumulation of catecholamines in the cell cytosol suppressed DV replication. This was verified by the use of chemical inducers of catecholamine biosynthesis. Last, the cellular redox alterations due to catecholamine oxidation were not related with the inhibition of DV replication. In turn, DV apart from its negative impact on DDC, inhibits tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine beta-hydroxylase, monoamine oxidase, and VMAT2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Mpekoulis
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece; (G.M.); (V.T.); (A.C.); (K.I.K.); (G.P.); (R.S.M.)
| | - Vassilina Tsopela
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece; (G.M.); (V.T.); (A.C.); (K.I.K.); (G.P.); (R.S.M.)
| | - Anna Chalari
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece; (G.M.); (V.T.); (A.C.); (K.I.K.); (G.P.); (R.S.M.)
| | - Katerina I. Kalliampakou
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece; (G.M.); (V.T.); (A.C.); (K.I.K.); (G.P.); (R.S.M.)
| | - Georgios Panos
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece; (G.M.); (V.T.); (A.C.); (K.I.K.); (G.P.); (R.S.M.)
| | - Efseveia Frakolaki
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece; (G.M.); (V.T.); (A.C.); (K.I.K.); (G.P.); (R.S.M.)
| | - Raphaela S. Milona
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece; (G.M.); (V.T.); (A.C.); (K.I.K.); (G.P.); (R.S.M.)
| | - Diamantis C. Sideris
- Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15701 Athens, Greece; (D.C.S.); (D.V.)
| | - Dido Vassilacopoulou
- Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15701 Athens, Greece; (D.C.S.); (D.V.)
| | - Niki Vassilaki
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece; (G.M.); (V.T.); (A.C.); (K.I.K.); (G.P.); (R.S.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-210-647-8875
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24
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Byrne AB, García CC, Damonte EB, Talarico LB. Murine models of dengue virus infection for novel drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:397-412. [PMID: 35098849 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2033205] [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: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Dengue virus (DENV) is the causative agent of the most prevalent human disease transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. At present, no antiviral drug is available and the difficulties to develop highly protective vaccines against the four DENV serotypes maintain the requirement of effective options for dengue chemotherapy. AREAS COVERED The availability of animal models that reproduce human disease is a very valuable tool for the preclinical evaluation of potential antivirals. Here, the main murine models of dengue infection are described, including immunocompetent wild-type mice, immunocompromised mice deficient in diverse components of the interferon (IFN) pathway and humanized mice. The main findings in antiviral testing of DENV inhibitory compounds in murine models are also presented. EXPERT OPINION At present, there is no murine model that fully recapitulates human disease. However, immunocompromised mice deficient in IFN-α/β and -γ receptors, with their limitations, have shown to be the most suitable system for antiviral preclinical testing. In fact, the AG129 mouse model allowed the identification of celgosivir, an inhibitor of cellular glucosidases, as a promising option for DENV therapy. However, clinical trials still were not successful, emphasizing the difficulties in the transition from preclinical testing to human treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana B Byrne
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Infectológicas y Biología Molecular, Infectología, Departamento de Medicina, Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cybele C García
- Laboratorio de Estrategias Antivirales, Departamento de Química Biológica-IQUIBICEN (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Elsa B Damonte
- Laboratorio de Estrategias Antivirales, Departamento de Química Biológica-IQUIBICEN (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura B Talarico
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Infectológicas y Biología Molecular, Infectología, Departamento de Medicina, Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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25
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Targeting the Virus Capsid as a Tool to Fight RNA Viruses. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020174. [PMID: 35215767 PMCID: PMC8879806 DOI: 10.3390/v14020174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Several strategies have been developed to fight viral infections, not only in humans but also in animals and plants. Some of them are based on the development of efficient vaccines, to target the virus by developed antibodies, others focus on finding antiviral compounds with activities that inhibit selected virus replication steps. Currently, there is an increasing number of antiviral drugs on the market; however, some have unpleasant side effects, are toxic to cells, or the viruses quickly develop resistance to them. As the current situation shows, the combination of multiple antiviral strategies or the combination of the use of various compounds within one strategy is very important. The most desirable are combinations of drugs that inhibit different steps in the virus life cycle. This is an important issue especially for RNA viruses, which replicate their genomes using error-prone RNA polymerases and rapidly develop mutants resistant to applied antiviral compounds. Here, we focus on compounds targeting viral structural capsid proteins, thereby inhibiting virus assembly or disassembly, virus binding to cellular receptors, or acting by inhibiting other virus replication mechanisms. This review is an update of existing papers on a similar topic, by focusing on the most recent advances in the rapidly evolving research of compounds targeting capsid proteins of RNA viruses.
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26
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Ortlieb LO, Caruso ÍP, Mebus-Antunes NC, Da Poian AT, Petronilho EDC, Figueroa-Villar JD, Nascimento CJ, Almeida FCL. Searching for drug leads targeted to the hydrophobic cleft of dengue virus capsid protein. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 37:287-298. [PMID: 34894959 PMCID: PMC8667904 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2021.2004591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We synthesised and screened 18 aromatic derivatives of guanylhydrazones and oximes aromatic for their capacity to bind to dengue virus capsid protein (DENVC). The intended therapeutic target was the hydrophobic cleft of DENVC, which is a region responsible for its anchoring in lipid droplets in the infected cells. The inhibition of this process completely suppresses virus infectivity. Using NMR, we describe five compounds able to bind to the α1-α2 interface in the hydrophobic cleft. Saturation transfer difference experiments showed that the aromatic protons of the ligands are important for the interaction with DENVC. Fluorescence binding isotherms indicated that the selected compounds bind at micromolar affinities, possibly leading to binding-induced conformational changes. NMR-derived docking calculations of ligands showed that they position similarly in the hydrophobic cleft. Cytotoxicity experiments and calculations of in silico drug properties suggest that these compounds may be promising candidates in the search for antivirals targeting DENVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliane O Ortlieb
- Department of Chemistry, Military Institute of Engineering (IME), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis (IBqM) and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ícaro P Caruso
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis (IBqM) and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Multiuser Center for Biomolecular Innovation (CMIB) and Department of Physics, Institute of Biosciences, Letters and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Nathane C Mebus-Antunes
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis (IBqM), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Andrea T Da Poian
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis (IBqM), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elaine da C Petronilho
- Department of Chemistry, Military Institute of Engineering (IME), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Claudia J Nascimento
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fabio C L Almeida
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis (IBqM) and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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27
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Low ZX, OuYong BM, Hassandarvish P, Poh CL, Ramanathan B. Antiviral activity of silymarin and baicalein against dengue virus. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21221. [PMID: 34707245 PMCID: PMC8551334 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98949-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dengue is an arthropod-borne viral disease that has become endemic and a global threat in many countries with no effective antiviral drug available currently. This study showed that flavonoids: silymarin and baicalein could inhibit the dengue virus in vitro and were well tolerated in Vero cells with a half-maximum cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of 749.70 µg/mL and 271.03 µg/mL, respectively. Silymarin and baicalein exerted virucidal effects against DENV-3, with a selective index (SI) of 10.87 and 21.34, respectively. Baicalein showed a better inhibition of intracellular DENV-3 progeny with a SI of 7.82 compared to silymarin. Baicalein effectively blocked DENV-3 attachment (95.59%) to the Vero cells, while silymarin prevented the viral entry (72.46%) into the cells, thus reducing viral infectivity. Both flavonoids showed promising antiviral activity against all four dengue serotypes. The in silico molecular docking showed that silymarin could bind to the viral envelope (E) protein with a binding affinity of - 8.5 kcal/mol and form hydrogen bonds with the amino acids GLN120, TRP229, ASN89, and THR223 of the E protein. Overall, this study showed that silymarin and baicalein exhibited potential anti-DENV activity and could serve as promising antiviral agents for further development against dengue infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Xuan Low
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Brian Ming OuYong
- Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pouya Hassandarvish
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre, University Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Chit Laa Poh
- Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Babu Ramanathan
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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28
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Current Trends and Limitations in Dengue Antiviral Research. Trop Med Infect Dis 2021; 6:tropicalmed6040180. [PMID: 34698303 PMCID: PMC8544673 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed6040180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dengue is the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral disease worldwide and affects approximately 2.5 billion people living in over 100 countries. Increasing geographic expansion of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (which transmit the virus) has made dengue a global health concern. There are currently no approved antivirals available to treat dengue, and the only approved vaccine used in some countries is limited to seropositive patients. Treatment of dengue, therefore, remains largely supportive to date; hence, research efforts are being intensified for the development of antivirals. The nonstructural proteins, 3 and 5 (NS3 and NS5), have been the major targets for dengue antiviral development due to their indispensable enzymatic and biological functions in the viral replication process. NS5 is the largest and most conserved nonstructural protein encoded by flaviviruses. Its multifunctionality makes it an attractive target for antiviral development, but research efforts have, this far, not resulted in the successful development of an antiviral targeting NS5. Increase in structural insights into the dengue NS5 protein will accelerate drug discovery efforts focused on NS5 as an antiviral target. In this review, we will give an overview of the current state of therapeutic development, with a focus on NS5 as a therapeutic target against dengue.
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29
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Dixit NK. Design of Monovalent and Chimeric Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine Using an Immunoinformatics Approach. Int J Pept Res Ther 2021; 27:2607-2624. [PMID: 34602919 PMCID: PMC8475484 DOI: 10.1007/s10989-021-10277-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
An immunoinformatics technique was used to predict a monovalent amide immunogen candidate capable of producing therapeutic antibodies as well as a potent immunogen candidate capable of acting as a universal vaccination against all dengue fever virus serotypes. The capsid protein is an attractive goal for anti-DENV due to its position in the dengue existence cycle. The widely accessible immunological data, advances in antigenic peptide prediction using reverse vaccinology, and the introduction of molecular docking in immunoinformatics have directed vaccine manufacturing. The C-proteins of DENV-1-4 serotypes were known as antigens to assist with logical design. Binding epitopes for TC cells, TH cells, and B cells is predicted from structural dengue virus capsid proteins. Each T cell epitope of C-protein integrated with a B cell as a templet was used as a vaccine and produce antibodies in contrast to serotype of the dengue virus. A chimeric tetravalent vaccine was created by combining four vaccines, each representing four dengue serotypes, to serve as a standard vaccine candidate for all four Sero groups. The LKRARNRVS, RGFRKEIGR, KNGAIKVLR, and KAINVLRGF from dengue 1, dengue 2, dengue 3, and dengue 4 epitopes may be essential immunotherapeutic representatives for controlling outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neeraj Kumar Dixit
- Department of Biotechnology, Saroj Institute of Technology & Management, Lucknow, Utter Pradesh India
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30
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Sangiambut S, Promphet N, Chaiyaloom S, Puttikhunt C, Avirutnan P, Kasinrerk W, Sittisombut N, Malasit P. Increased capsid oligomerization is deleterious to dengue virus particle production. J Gen Virol 2021; 102. [PMID: 34410905 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001635] [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: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The capsid protein (C) of dengue virus is required for viral infectivity as it packages viral RNA genome into infectious particles. C exists as a homodimer that forms via hydrophobic interactions between the α2 and α4 helices of monomers. To identify C region(s) important for virus particle production, a complementation system was employed in which single-round infectious particles are generated by trans-encapsidation of a viral C-deleted genome by recombinant C expressed in mosquito cells. Mutants harbouring a complete α3 deletion, or a dual Ile65-/Trp69-to-Ala substitution in the α3 helix, exhibited reduced production of infectious virus. Unexpectedly, higher proportions of oligomeric C were detected in cells expressing both mutated forms as compared with the wild-type counterpart, indicating that the α3 helix, through its internal hydrophobic residues, may down-modulate oligomerization of C during particle formation. Compared with wild-type C, the double Ile65-/Trp69 to Ala mutations appeared to hamper viral infectivity but not C and genomic RNA incorporation into the pseudo-infectious virus particles, suggesting that increased C oligomerization may impair DENV replication at the cell entry step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sutha Sangiambut
- Molecular Biology of Dengue and Flaviviruses Research Team, Medical Molecular Biotechnology Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.,Medical Biotechnology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok 12120, Thailand.,Siriraj Center of Research Excellence in Dengue and Emerging Pathogens, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.,Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Natcha Promphet
- Molecular Biology of Dengue and Flaviviruses Research Team, Medical Molecular Biotechnology Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.,Medical Biotechnology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok 12120, Thailand.,Siriraj Center of Research Excellence in Dengue and Emerging Pathogens, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.,Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Suwipa Chaiyaloom
- Molecular Biology of Dengue and Flaviviruses Research Team, Medical Molecular Biotechnology Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.,Medical Biotechnology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok 12120, Thailand.,Siriraj Center of Research Excellence in Dengue and Emerging Pathogens, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.,Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Chunya Puttikhunt
- Molecular Biology of Dengue and Flaviviruses Research Team, Medical Molecular Biotechnology Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.,Medical Biotechnology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok 12120, Thailand.,Siriraj Center of Research Excellence in Dengue and Emerging Pathogens, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.,Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Panisadee Avirutnan
- Molecular Biology of Dengue and Flaviviruses Research Team, Medical Molecular Biotechnology Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.,Medical Biotechnology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok 12120, Thailand.,Siriraj Center of Research Excellence in Dengue and Emerging Pathogens, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.,Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Watchara Kasinrerk
- Biomedical Technology Research Center National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Sciences and Technology Development Agency at the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.,Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Nopporn Sittisombut
- Medical Biotechnology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok 12120, Thailand.,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Prida Malasit
- Molecular Biology of Dengue and Flaviviruses Research Team, Medical Molecular Biotechnology Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.,Medical Biotechnology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok 12120, Thailand.,Siriraj Center of Research Excellence in Dengue and Emerging Pathogens, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.,Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
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31
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Zhang X, Zhang Y, Jia R, Wang M, Yin Z, Cheng A. Structure and function of capsid protein in flavivirus infection and its applications in the development of vaccines and therapeutics. Vet Res 2021; 52:98. [PMID: 34193256 PMCID: PMC8247181 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-021-00966-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses are enveloped single positive-stranded RNA viruses. The capsid (C), a structural protein of flavivirus, is dimeric and alpha-helical, with several special structural and functional features. The functions of the C protein go far beyond a structural role in virions. It is not only responsible for encapsidation to protect the viral RNA but also able to interact with various host proteins to promote virus proliferation. Therefore, the C protein plays an important role in infected host cells and the viral life cycle. Flaviviruses have been shown to affect the health of humans and animals. Thus, there is an urgent need to effectively control flavivirus infections. The structure of the flavivirus virion has been determined, but there is relatively little information about the function of the C protein. Hence, a greater understanding of the role of the C protein in viral infections will help to discover novel antiviral strategies and provide a promising starting point for the further development of flavivirus vaccines or therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingcui Zhang
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Yanting Zhang
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Renyong Jia
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China. .,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China. .,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.
| | - Mingshu Wang
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhongqiong Yin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Anchun Cheng
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China. .,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China. .,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.
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Kumar R, Nehul S, Singh A, Tomar S. Identification and evaluation of antiviral potential of thymoquinone, a natural compound targeting Chikungunya virus capsid protein. Virology 2021; 561:36-46. [PMID: 34146962 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2021.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Capsid protein (CP) of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a multifunctional protein with a conserved hydrophobic pocket that plays a crucial role in the capsid assembly and virus budding process. This study demonstrates antiviral activity of thymoquinone (TQ), a natural compound targeting the hydrophobic pocket of CP. The binding of TQ to the hydrophobic pocket of CHIKV CP was analysed by structure-based molecular docking, isothermal titration calorimetry and fluorescence spectroscopy. The binding constant KD obtained for TQ was 27 μM. Additionally, cell-based antiviral studies showed that TQ diminished CHIKV replication with an EC50 value 4.478 μM. Reduction in viral RNA copy number and viral replication as assessed by the qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence assay, confirmed the antiviral potential of TQ. Our study reveals that TQ is an effective antiviral targeting the hydrophobic pocket of CHIKV CP and may serve as the basis for development of a broad-spectrum therapy against alphaviral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Sanketkumar Nehul
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Ankur Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Shailly Tomar
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India.
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Gallo FN, Enderle AG, Pardo LA, Leal ES, Bollini M. Challenges and perspectives in the discovery of dengue virus entry inhibitors. Curr Med Chem 2021; 29:719-740. [PMID: 34036904 DOI: 10.2174/0929867328666210521213118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) disease has become one of the major challenges in public health. Currently, there is no antiviral treatment for this infection. Since human transmission occurs via mosquitoes of the Aedes genus, most efforts have been focused on controlling this vector. However, these control strategies have not been totally successful, as reflected in the increasing number of DENV infections per year, becoming an endemic disease in more than 100 countries worldwide. Consequently, the development of a safe antiviral agent is urgently needed. In this sense, rational design approaches have been applied in the development of antiviral compounds that inhibit one or more steps in the viral replication cycle. The entry of viruses into host cells is an early and specific stage of infection. Targeting either viral components or cellular protein targets is an affordable and effective strategy for therapeutic intervention of viral infections. This review provides an extensive overview of the small organic molecules, peptides, and inorganic moieties that have been tested so far as DENV entry direct-acting antiviral agents. The latest advances based on computer-aided drug design (CADD) strategies and traditional medicinal chemistry approaches in the design and evaluation of DENV virus entry inhibitors will be discussed. Furthermore, physicochemical drug properties such as solubility, lipophilicity, stability, and current results of pre-clinical and clinical studies will also be discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Facundo N Gallo
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bionanociencias (CIBION), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz, 2390, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana G Enderle
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo Analítico y Quimiometría (LADAQ), Cátedra de Química Analítica I, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Lucas A Pardo
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, Canada
| | - Emilse S Leal
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bionanociencias (CIBION), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz, 2390, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariela Bollini
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bionanociencias (CIBION), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz, 2390, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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34
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S AH, Pujar GV, Sethu AK, Bhagyalalitha M, Singh M. Dengue structural proteins as antiviral drug targets: Current status in the drug discovery & development. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 221:113527. [PMID: 34020338 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Dengue virus belongs to the class of RNA viruses and subclass of enveloped single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus. It causes dengue fever (DF), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), or dengue shock syndrome (DSS), where DHF and DSS are life-threatening. Even though dengue is an age-old disease, it is still a mystery and continues to be a global threat. Numerous attempts have been carried out in the past few decades to eradicate the virus through vaccine and antiviral drugs, but still battle continues. In this review, the possible drug targets for discovery and development of potential antiviral drugs against structural proteins of dengue virus, the current development status of the antiviral drugs against dengue around the world, and challenges that need to be addressed to overcome the shortcomings in the process of drug discovery have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshatha H S
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Sri Shivarathreeshwara Nagara, Mysuru, 570015, India
| | - Gurubasavaraj V Pujar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Sri Shivarathreeshwara Nagara, Mysuru, 570015, India.
| | - Arun Kumar Sethu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Sri Shivarathreeshwara Nagara, Mysuru, 570015, India
| | - Meduri Bhagyalalitha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Sri Shivarathreeshwara Nagara, Mysuru, 570015, India
| | - Manisha Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Sri Shivarathreeshwara Nagara, Mysuru, 570015, India
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35
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Dinesh DC, Tamilarasan S, Rajaram K, Bouřa E. Antiviral Drug Targets of Single-Stranded RNA Viruses Causing Chronic Human Diseases. Curr Drug Targets 2021; 21:105-124. [PMID: 31538891 DOI: 10.2174/1389450119666190920153247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses associated with chronic diseases in humans are major threats to public health causing high mortality globally. The high mutation rate of RNA viruses helps them to escape the immune response and also is responsible for the development of drug resistance. Chronic infections caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis viruses (HBV and HCV) lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and hepatocellular carcinoma respectively, which are one of the major causes of human deaths. Effective preventative measures to limit chronic and re-emerging viral infections are absolutely necessary. Each class of antiviral agents targets a specific stage in the viral life cycle and inhibits them from its development and proliferation. Most often, antiviral drugs target a specific viral protein, therefore only a few broad-spectrum drugs are available. This review will be focused on the selected viral target proteins of pathogenic viruses containing single-stranded (ss) RNA genome that causes chronic infections in humans (e.g. HIV, HCV, Flaviviruses). In the recent past, an exponential increase in the number of available three-dimensional protein structures (>150000 in Protein Data Bank), allowed us to better understand the molecular mechanism of action of protein targets and antivirals. Advancements in the in silico approaches paved the way to design and develop several novels, highly specific small-molecule inhibitors targeting the viral proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Selvaraj Tamilarasan
- Section of Microbial Biotechnology, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Kaushik Rajaram
- Department of Microbiology, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, India
| | - Evžen Bouřa
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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36
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Scroggs SLP, Gass JT, Chinnasamy R, Widen SG, Azar SR, Rossi SL, Arterburn JB, Vasilakis N, Hanley KA. Evolution of resistance to fluoroquinolones by dengue virus serotype 4 provides insight into mechanism of action and consequences for viral fitness. Virology 2021; 552:94-106. [PMID: 33120225 PMCID: PMC7528753 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Drugs against flaviviruses such as dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) virus are urgently needed. We previously demonstrated that three fluoroquinolones, ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, and difloxacin, suppress replication of six flaviviruses. To investigate the barrier to resistance and mechanism(s) of action of these drugs, DENV-4 was passaged in triplicate in HEK-293 cells in the presence or absence of each drug. Resistance to ciprofloxacin was detected by the seventh passage and to difloxacin by the tenth, whereas resistance to enoxacin did not occur within ten passages. Two putative resistance-conferring mutations were detected in the envelope gene of ciprofloxacin and difloxacin-resistant DENV-4. In the absence of ciprofloxacin, ciprofloxacin-resistant viruses sustained a significantly higher viral titer than control viruses in HEK-293 and HuH-7 cells and resistant viruses were more stable than control viruses at 37 °C. These results suggest that the mechanism of action of ciprofloxacin and difloxacin involves interference with virus binding or entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey L P Scroggs
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA.
| | - Jordan T Gass
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - Ramesh Chinnasamy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - Steven G Widen
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Sasha R Azar
- Department of Pathology, The University of University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Shannan L Rossi
- Department of Pathology, The University of University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, The University of University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey B Arterburn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - Nikos Vasilakis
- Department of Pathology, The University of University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Center for Tropical Diseases, The University of University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, The University of University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Kathryn A Hanley
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
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37
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Virtual Screening for Potential Inhibitors of Human Hexokinase II for the Development of Anti-Dengue Therapeutics. BIOTECH 2020; 10:biotech10010001. [PMID: 35822774 PMCID: PMC9245486 DOI: 10.3390/biotech10010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dengue fever, which is a disease caused by the dengue virus (DENV), is a major unsolved issue in many tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The absence of treatment that effectively prevent further viral propagation inside the human’s body resulted in a high number of deaths globally each year. Thus, novel anti-dengue therapies are required for effective treatment. Human hexokinase II (HKII), which is the first enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, is an important drug target due to its significant impact on viral replication and survival in host cells. In this study, 23.1 million compounds were computationally-screened against HKII using the Ultrafast Shape Recognition with a CREDO Atom Types (USRCAT) algorithm. In total, 300 compounds with the highest similarity scores relative to three reference molecules, known as Alpha-D-glucose (GLC), Beta-D-glucose-6-phosphate (BG6), and 2-deoxyglucose (2DG), were aligned. Of these 300 compounds, 165 were chosen for further structure-based screening, based on their similarity scores, ADME analysis, the Lipinski’s Rule of Five, and virtual toxicity test results. The selected analogues were subsequently docked against each domain of the HKII structure (PDB ID: 2NZT) using AutoDock Vina programme. The three top-ranked compounds for each query were then selected from the docking results based on their binding energy, the number of hydrogen bonds formed, and the specific catalytic residues. The best docking results for each analogue were observed for the C-terminus of Chain B. The top-ranked analogues of GLC, compound 10, compound 26, and compound 58, showed predicted binding energies of −7.2, −7.0, and −6.10 kcal/mol and 7, 5, and 2 hydrogen bonds, respectively. The analogues of BG6, compound 30, compound 36, and compound 38, showed predicted binding energies of −7.8, −7.4, and −7.0 kcal/mol and 11, 9, and 5 hydrogen bonds, while the top three analogues of 2DG, known as compound 1, compound 4, and compound 31, showed predicted binding energies of −6.8, −6.3, and −6.3 kcal/mol and 4, 3, and 1 hydrogen bonds, sequentially. The highest-ranked compounds in the docking analysis were then selected for molecular dynamics simulation, where compound 10, compound 30, and compound 1, which are the analogues of GLC, BG6, and 2DG, have shown strong protein-ligand stability with an RMSD value of ±5.0 A° with a 5 H bond, ±4.0 A° with an 8 H bond, and ±0.5 A° with a 2 H bond, respectively, compared to the reference molecules throughout the 20 ns simulation time. Therefore, by using the computational studies, we proposed novel compounds, which may act as potential drugs against DENV by inhibiting HKII’s activity.
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38
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A Targeted Computational Screen of the SWEETLEAD Database Reveals FDA-Approved Compounds with Anti-Dengue Viral Activity. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.02839-20. [PMID: 33173007 PMCID: PMC7667029 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02839-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Affordable and effective antiviral therapies are needed worldwide, especially against agents such as dengue virus that are endemic in underserved regions. Many antiviral compounds have been studied in cultured cells but are unsuitable for clinical applications due to pharmacokinetic profiles, side effects, or inconsistent efficacy across dengue serotypes. Such tool compounds can, however, aid in identifying clinically useful treatments. Here, computational screening (Rapid Overlay of Chemical Structures) was used to identify entries in an in silico database of safe-in-human compounds (SWEETLEAD) that display high chemical similarities to known inhibitors of dengue virus. Inhibitors of the dengue proteinase NS2B/3, the dengue capsid, and the host autophagy pathway were used as query compounds. Three FDA-approved compounds that resemble the tool molecules structurally, cause little toxicity, and display strong antiviral activity in cultured cells were selected for further analysis. Pyrimethamine (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 1.2 μM), like the dengue proteinase inhibitor ARDP0006 to which it shows structural similarity, inhibited intramolecular NS2B/3 cleavage. Lack of toxicity early in infection allowed testing in mice, in which pyrimethamine also reduced viral loads. Niclosamide (IC50 = 0.28 μM), like dengue core inhibitor ST-148, affected structural components of the virion and inhibited early processes during infection. Vandetanib (IC50 = 1.6 μM), like cellular autophagy inhibitor spautin-1, blocked viral exit from cells and could be shown to extend survival in vivo Thus, three FDA-approved compounds with promising utility for repurposing to treat dengue virus infections and their potential mechanisms were identified using computational tools and minimal phenotypic screening.IMPORTANCE No antiviral therapeutics are currently available for dengue virus infections. By computationally overlaying the three-dimensional (3D) chemical structures of compounds known to inhibit dengue virus over those of compounds known to be safe in humans, we identified three FDA-approved compounds that are attractive candidates for repurposing as antivirals. We identified targets for two previously identified antiviral compounds and revealed a previously unknown potential anti-dengue compound, vandetanib. This computational approach to analyze a highly curated library of structures has the benefits of speed and cost efficiency. It also leverages mechanistic work with query compounds used in biomedical research to provide strong hypotheses for the antiviral mechanisms of the safer hit compounds. This workflow to identify compounds with known safety profiles can be expanded to any biological activity for which a small-molecule query compound has been identified, potentially expediting the translation of basic research to clinical interventions.
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39
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Felicetti T, Manfroni G, Cecchetti V, Cannalire R. Broad-Spectrum Flavivirus Inhibitors: a Medicinal Chemistry Point of View. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:2391-2419. [PMID: 32961008 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Infections by flaviviruses, such as Dengue, West Nile, Yellow Fever and Zika viruses, represent a growing risk for global health. There are vaccines only for few flaviviruses while no effective treatments are available. Flaviviruses share epidemiological, structural, and ecologic features and often different viruses can co-infect the same host. Therefore, the identification of broad-spectrum inhibitors is highly desirable either for known flaviviruses or for viruses that likely will emerge in the future. Strategies targeting both virus and host factors have been pursued to identify broad-spectrum antiflaviviral agents. In this review, we describe the most promising and best characterized targets and their relative broad-spectrum inhibitors, identified by drug repurposing/libraries screenings and by focused medicinal chemistry campaigns. Finally, we discuss about future strategies to identify new broad-spectrum antiflavivirus agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Felicetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Manfroni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Violetta Cecchetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Rolando Cannalire
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli "Federico II", via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Napoli, Italy
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40
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Silva NM, Santos NC, Martins IC. Dengue and Zika Viruses: Epidemiological History, Potential Therapies, and Promising Vaccines. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020; 5:E150. [PMID: 32977703 PMCID: PMC7709709 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed5040150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV), which can lead to fatal hemorrhagic fever, affects 390 million people worldwide. The closely related Zika virus (ZIKV) causes microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Both viruses are mostly transmitted by Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which, due to globalization of trade and travel alongside climate change, are spreading worldwide, paving the way to DENV and ZIKV transmission and the occurrence of new epidemics. Local outbreaks have already occurred in temperate climates, even in Europe. As there are no specific treatments, these viruses are an international public health concern. Here, we analyze and discuss DENV and ZIKV outbreaks history, clinical and pathogenesis features, and modes of transmission, supplementing with information on advances on potential therapies and restraining measures. Taking advantage of the knowledge of the structure and biological function of the capsid (C) protein, a relatively conserved protein among flaviviruses, within a genus that includes DENV and ZIKV, we designed and patented a new drug lead, pep14-23 (WO2008/028939A1). It was demonstrated that it inhibits the interaction of DENV C protein with the host lipid system, a process essential for viral replication. Such an approach can be used to develop new therapies for related viruses, such as ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nuno C. Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Ivo C. Martins
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal;
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41
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Scroggs SLP, Andrade CC, Chinnasamy R, Azar SR, Schirtzinger EE, Garcia EI, Arterburn JB, Hanley KA, Rossi SL. Old Drugs with New Tricks: Efficacy of Fluoroquinolones to Suppress Replication of Flaviviruses. Viruses 2020; 12:v12091022. [PMID: 32933138 PMCID: PMC7551155 DOI: 10.3390/v12091022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Repurposing FDA-approved compounds could provide the fastest route to alleviate the burden of disease caused by flaviviruses. In this study, three fluoroquinolones, enoxacin, difloxacin and ciprofloxacin, curtailed replication of flaviviruses Zika (ZIKV), dengue (DENV), Langat (LGTV) and Modoc (MODV) in HEK-293 cells at low micromolar concentrations. Time-of-addition assays suggested that enoxacin suppressed ZIKV replication at an intermediate step in the virus life cycle, whereas ciprofloxacin and difloxacin had a wider window of efficacy. A129 mice infected with 1 × 105 plaque-forming units (pfu) ZIKV FSS13025 (n = 20) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (n = 11) on day 0 and treated with enoxacin at 10 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg or diluent orally twice daily on days 1–5 did not differ in weight change or virus titer in serum or brain. However, mice treated with enoxacin showed a significant, five-fold decrease in ZIKV titer in testes relative to controls. Mice infected with 1 × 102 pfu ZIKV (n = 13) or PBS (n = 13) on day 0 and treated with 15 mg/kg oral enoxacin or diluent twice daily pre-treatment and days 1–5 post-treatment also did not differ in weight and viral load in the serum, brain, and liver, but mice treated with enoxacin showed a significant, 2.5-fold decrease in ZIKV titer in testes relative to controls. ZIKV can be sexually transmitted, so reduction of titer in the testes by enoxacin should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey L. P. Scroggs
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA; (C.C.A.); (E.E.S.); (E.I.G.); (K.A.H.)
- Biology of Vector-Borne Viruses Section, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Christy C. Andrade
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA; (C.C.A.); (E.E.S.); (E.I.G.); (K.A.H.)
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA 99258, USA
| | - Ramesh Chinnasamy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA; (R.C.); (J.B.A.)
| | - Sasha R. Azar
- Institute for Translational Sciences, The University of University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA;
| | - Erin E. Schirtzinger
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA; (C.C.A.); (E.E.S.); (E.I.G.); (K.A.H.)
- Arthropod-borne Animal Diseases Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Erin I. Garcia
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA; (C.C.A.); (E.E.S.); (E.I.G.); (K.A.H.)
- Science News, Washington, DC 20036, USA
| | - Jeffrey B. Arterburn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA; (R.C.); (J.B.A.)
| | - Kathryn A. Hanley
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA; (C.C.A.); (E.E.S.); (E.I.G.); (K.A.H.)
| | - Shannan L. Rossi
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA;
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42
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Vishvakarma VK, Chandra R, Singh P. An Experimental and Theoretical Approach to Understand Fever, DENF & its Cure. Infect Disord Drug Targets 2020; 21:495-513. [PMID: 32888275 DOI: 10.2174/1871526520999200905122052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Fever is a response of a human body, due to an increase in the temperature, against certain stimuli. It may be associated with several reasons and one of the major causes of fever is a mosquito bite. Fever due to dengue virus (DENV) infection is being paid most attention out of several other fever types because of a large number of deaths reported worldwide. Dengue virus is transmitted by biting of the mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. DENV1, DENV2, DENV3 and DENV4 are the four serotypes of dengue virus and these serotypes have 65% similarities in their genomic structure. The genome of DENV is composed of single-stranded RNA and it encodes for the polyprotein. Structural and non-structural proteins (nsP) are the two major parts of polyprotein. Researchers have paid high attention to the non-structural protease (nsP) of DENV like nsP1, nsP2A, nsP2B, nsP3, nsP4A, nsP4B and nsP5. The NS2B-NS3 protease of DENV is the prime target of the researchers as it is responsible for the catalytic activity. In the present time, Dengvaxia (vaccine) is being recommended to patients suffering severely from DENV infection in few countries only. Till date, neither a vaccine nor an effective medicine is available to combat all four serotypes. This review describes the fever, its causes, and studies to cure the infection due to DENV using theoretical and experimental approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Kumar Vishvakarma
- Department of Chemistry, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Ramesh Chandra
- Drug Discovery & Development Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Prashant Singh
- Department of Chemistry, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
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Troost B, Smit JM. Recent advances in antiviral drug development towards dengue virus. Curr Opin Virol 2020; 43:9-21. [PMID: 32795907 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2020.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Despite the high disease burden of dengue virus, there is no approved antiviral treatment or broadly applicable vaccine to treat or prevent dengue virus infection. In the last decade, many antiviral compounds have been identified but only few have been further evaluated in pre-clinical or clinical trials. This review will give an overview of the direct-acting and host-directed antivirals identified to date. Furthermore, important parameters for further development that is, drug properties including efficacy, specificity and stability, pre-clinical animal testing, and combinational drug therapy will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berit Troost
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jolanda M Smit
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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A cocrystal structure of dengue capsid protein in complex of inhibitor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:17992-18001. [PMID: 32669438 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2003056117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) was designated as a top 10 public health threat by the World Health Organization in 2019. No clinically approved anti-DENV drug is currently available. Here we report the high-resolution cocrystal structure (1.5 Å) of the DENV-2 capsid protein in complex with an inhibitor that potently suppresses DENV-2 but not other DENV serotypes. The inhibitor induces a "kissing" interaction between two capsid dimers. The inhibitor-bound capsid tetramers are assembled inside virions, resulting in defective uncoating of nucleocapsid when infecting new cells. Resistant DENV-2 emerges through one mutation that abolishes hydrogen bonds in the capsid structure, leading to a loss of compound binding. Structure-based analysis has defined the amino acids responsible for the inhibitor's inefficacy against other DENV serotypes. The results have uncovered an antiviral mechanism through inhibitor-induced tetramerization of the viral capsid and provided essential structural and functional knowledge for rational design of panserotype DENV capsid inhibitors.
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Abstract
Alphaviruses are enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses that can cause serious human illnesses such as polyarthritis and encephalitis. Despite their widespread distribution and medical importance, there are no licensed vaccines or antivirals to combat alphavirus infections. Berberine chloride (BBC) is a pan-alphavirus inhibitor that was previously identified in a replicon-based small-molecule screen. This work showed that BBC inhibits alphavirus replication but also suggested that BBC might have additional effects later in the viral life cycle. Here, we show that BBC has late effects that target the virus nucleocapsid (NC) core. Infected cells treated with BBC late in infection were unable to form stable cytoplasmic NCs or assembly intermediates, as assayed by gradient sedimentation. In vitro studies with recombinant capsid protein (Cp) and purified genomic RNA (gRNA) showed that BBC perturbs core-like particle formation and potentially traps the assembly process in intermediate states. Particles produced from BBC-treated cells were less infectious, despite efficient particle production and only minor decreases in genome packaging. In addition, BBC treatment of free virus particles strongly decreased alphavirus infectivity. In contrast, the infectivity of the negative-sense RNA virus vesicular stomatitis virus was resistant to BBC treatment of infected cells or free virus. Together, our data indicate that BBC alters alphavirus Cp-gRNA interactions and oligomerization and suggest that this may cause defects in NC assembly and in disassembly during subsequent virus entry. Thus, BBC may be considered a novel alphavirus NC assembly inhibitor.IMPORTANCE The alphavirus chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an example of an emerging human pathogen with increased and rapid global spread. Although an acute CHIKV infection is rarely fatal, many patients suffer from debilitating chronic arthralgia for years. Antivirals against chikungunya and other alphaviruses have been identified in vitro, but to date none have been shown to be efficacious and have been licensed for human use. Here, we investigated a small molecule, berberine chloride (BBC), and showed that it inhibited infectious virus production by several alphaviruses including CHIKV. BBC acted on a late step in the alphavirus exit pathway, namely the formation of the nucleocapsid containing the infectious viral RNA. Better understanding of nucleocapsid formation and its inhibition by BBC will provide important information on the mechanisms of infectious alphavirus production and may enable their future targeting in antiviral strategies.
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Shanmugam A, Ramakrishnan C, Velmurugan D, Gromiha MM. Identification of Potential Inhibitors for Targets Involved in Dengue Fever. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:1742-1760. [PMID: 32552652 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200618123026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Lethality due to dengue infection is a global threat. Nearly 400 million people are affected every year, which approximately costs 500 million dollars for surveillance and vector control itself. Many investigations on the structure-function relationship of proteins expressed by the dengue virus are being made for more than a decade and had come up with many reports on small molecule drug discovery. In this review, we present a detailed note on viral proteins and their functions as well as the inhibitors discovered/designed so far using experimental and computational methods. Further, the phytoconstituents from medicinal plants, specifically the extract of the papaya leaves, neem and bael, which combat dengue infection via dengue protease, helicase, methyl transferase and polymerase are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anusuya Shanmugam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Vinayaka Mission's Kirupananda Variyar Engineering College, Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Salem - 636308, India
| | - Chandrasekaran Ramakrishnan
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai - 600036, India
| | - Devadasan Velmurugan
- Centre of Advanced Study in Crystallography and Biophysics, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai - 600025, India
| | - M Michael Gromiha
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai - 600036, India
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Lai YC, Chao CH, Yeh TM. Roles of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Dengue Pathogenesis: From Pathogenic Factor to Therapeutic Target. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8060891. [PMID: 32545679 PMCID: PMC7356240 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8060891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) infection is the most prevalent mosquito-borne viral infection and can lead to severe dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and even life-threatening dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Although the cytokine storm has been revealed as a critical factor in dengue disease, the limited understanding of dengue immunopathogenesis hinders the development of effective treatments. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokine that mediates diverse immune responses, and the serum level of MIF positively correlates with disease severity in patients with dengue. MIF is involved in DENV replication and many pathological changes, such as vascular leakage, during DENV infection. In this paper, the pathogenic roles of MIF and the regulation of MIF secretion during DENV infection are reviewed. Furthermore, whether MIF is a potential therapeutic target against DENV infection is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Chung Lai
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; (Y.-C.L.); (C.-H.C.)
| | - Chiao-Hsuan Chao
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; (Y.-C.L.); (C.-H.C.)
| | - Trai-Ming Yeh
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-6-2353535 (ext. 5778)
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Affiliation(s)
- Ter Yong Tan
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke–National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Centre for BioImaging Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Guntur Fibriansah
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke–National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Centre for BioImaging Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shee-Mei Lok
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke–National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Centre for BioImaging Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail:
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Pierson TC, Diamond MS. The continued threat of emerging flaviviruses. Nat Microbiol 2020; 5:796-812. [PMID: 32367055 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-020-0714-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 508] [Impact Index Per Article: 127.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Flaviviruses are vector-borne RNA viruses that can emerge unexpectedly in human populations and cause a spectrum of potentially severe diseases including hepatitis, vascular shock syndrome, encephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis, congenital abnormalities and fetal death. This epidemiological pattern has occurred numerous times during the last 70 years, including epidemics of dengue virus and West Nile virus, and the most recent explosive epidemic of Zika virus in the Americas. Flaviviruses are now globally distributed and infect up to 400 million people annually. Of significant concern, outbreaks of other less well-characterized flaviviruses have been reported in humans and animals in different regions of the world. The potential for these viruses to sustain epidemic transmission among humans is poorly understood. In this Review, we discuss the basic biology of flaviviruses, their infectious cycles, the diseases they cause and underlying host immune responses to infection. We describe flaviviruses that represent an established ongoing threat to global health and those that have recently emerged in new populations to cause significant disease. We also provide examples of lesser-known flaviviruses that circulate in restricted areas of the world but have the potential to emerge more broadly in human populations. Finally, we discuss how an understanding of the epidemiology, biology, structure and immunity of flaviviruses can inform the rapid development of countermeasures to treat or prevent human infections as they emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore C Pierson
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Michael S Diamond
- Departments of Medicine, Molecular Microbiology, Pathology & Immunology, Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Yokokawa F. Recent progress on phenotype-based discovery of dengue inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2020; 11:541-551. [PMID: 33479655 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00052c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dengue fever is the world's most prevalent mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the four serotypes of dengue virus, which are widely spread throughout tropical and sub-tropical countries. There has been an urgent need to identify an effective and safe dengue inhibitor as a therapeutic and a prophylactic agent for dengue fever. Most clinically approved antiviral drugs for the treatment of human immunodeficiency syndrome-1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) target virally encoded enzymes such as protease or polymerase. Inhibitors of these enzymes were typically identified by target-based screening followed by optimization via structure-based design. However, due to the lack of success to date of research efforts to identify dengue protease and polymerase inhibitors, alternative strategies for anti-dengue drug discovery need to be considered. As a complementary approach to the target-based drug discovery, phenotypic screening is a strategy often used in identification of new chemical starting points with novel mechanisms of action in the area of infectious diseases such as antibiotics, antivirals, and anti-parasitic agents. This article is an overview of recent reports on dengue phenotypic screens and discusses phenotype-based hit-to-lead chemistry optimization. The challenges encountered and the outlook on dengue phenotype-based lead discovery are discussed at the end of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiaki Yokokawa
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases , Emeryville , CA 94608 , USA .
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