1
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Bepler T, Barrera MD, Rooney MT, Xiong Y, Kuang H, Goodell E, Goodwin MJ, Harbron E, Fu R, Mihailescu M, Narayanan A, Cotten ML. Antiviral activity of the host defense peptide piscidin 1: investigating a membrane-mediated mode of action. Front Chem 2024; 12:1379192. [PMID: 38988727 PMCID: PMC11233706 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1379192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of viral diseases are on the rise, fueling the search for antiviral therapeutics that act on a broad range of viruses while remaining safe to human host cells. In this research, we leverage the finding that the plasma membranes of host cells and the lipid bilayers surrounding enveloped viruses differ in lipid composition. We feature Piscidin 1 (P1), a cationic host defense peptide (HDP) that has antimicrobial effects and membrane activity associated with its N-terminal region where a cluster of aromatic residues and copper-binding motif reside. While few HDPs have demonstrated antiviral activity, P1 acts in the micromolar range against several enveloped viruses that vary in envelope lipid composition. Notably, it inhibits HIV-1, a virus that has an envelope enriched in cholesterol, a lipid associated with higher membrane order and stability. Here, we first document through plaque assays that P1 boasts strong activity against SARS-CoV-2, which has an envelope low in cholesterol. Second, we extend previous studies done with homogeneous bilayers and devise cholesterol-containing zwitterionic membranes that contain the liquid disordered (Ld; low in cholesterol) and ordered (Lo, rich in cholesterol) phases. Using dye leakage assays and cryo-electron microscopy on vesicles, we show that P1 has dramatic permeabilizing capability on the Lo/Ld, an effect matched by a strong ability to aggregate, fuse, and thin the membranes. Differential scanning calorimetry and NMR experiments demonstrate that P1 mixes the lipid content of vesicles and alters the stability of the Lo. Structural studies by NMR indicate that P1 interacts with the Lo/Ld by folding into an α-helix that lies parallel to the membrane surface. Altogether, these results show that P1 is more disruptive to phase-separated than homogenous cholesterol-containing bilayers, suggesting an ability to target domain boundaries. Overall, this multi-faceted research highlights how a peptide that interacts strongly with membranes through an aromatic-rich N-terminal motif disrupt viral envelope mimics. This represents an important step towards the development of novel peptides with broad-spectrum antiviral activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Bepler
- New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Michael D. Barrera
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, United States
| | - Mary T. Rooney
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, United States
| | - Yawei Xiong
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States
| | - Huihui Kuang
- New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Evan Goodell
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States
| | - Matthew J. Goodwin
- Department of Chemistry, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Harbron
- Department of Chemistry, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States
| | - Riqiang Fu
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | - Mihaela Mihailescu
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Aarthi Narayanan
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, United States
| | - Myriam L. Cotten
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
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2
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Udyavara Nagaraj V, Juhász T, Quemé-Peña M, Szigyártó IC, Bogdán D, Wacha A, Mihály J, Románszki L, Varga Z, Andréasson J, Mándity I, Beke-Somfai T. Stimuli-Responsive Membrane Anchor Peptide Nanofoils for Tunable Membrane Association and Lipid Bilayer Fusion. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:55320-55331. [PMID: 36473125 PMCID: PMC9782321 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c11946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembled peptide nanostructures with stimuli-responsive features are promising as functional materials. Despite extensive research efforts, water-soluble supramolecular constructs that can interact with lipid membranes in a controllable way are still challenging to achieve. Here, we have employed a short membrane anchor protein motif (GLFD) and coupled it to a spiropyran photoswitch. Under physiological conditions, these conjugates assemble into ∼3.5 nm thick, foil-like peptide bilayer morphologies. Photoisomerization from the closed spiro (SP) form to the open merocyanine (MC) form of the photoswitch triggers rearrangements within the foils. This results in substantial changes in their membrane-binding properties, which also varies sensitively to lipid composition, ranging from reversible nanofoil reformation to stepwise membrane adsorption. The formed peptide layers in the assembly are also able to attach to various liposomes with different surface charges, enabling the fusion of their lipid bilayers. Here, SP-to-MC conversion can be used both to trigger and to modulate the liposome fusion efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vignesh Udyavara Nagaraj
- Institute
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, BudapestH-1117, Hungary
- Hevesy
György Ph.D. School of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, BudapestH-1117, Hungary
| | - Tünde Juhász
- Institute
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, BudapestH-1117, Hungary
| | - Mayra Quemé-Peña
- Institute
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, BudapestH-1117, Hungary
- Hevesy
György Ph.D. School of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, BudapestH-1117, Hungary
| | - Imola Cs. Szigyártó
- Institute
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, BudapestH-1117, Hungary
| | - Dóra Bogdán
- Institute
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, BudapestH-1117, Hungary
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, BudapestH-1092, Hungary
| | - András Wacha
- Institute
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, BudapestH-1117, Hungary
| | - Judith Mihály
- Institute
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, BudapestH-1117, Hungary
| | - Loránd Románszki
- Institute
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, BudapestH-1117, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Varga
- Institute
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, BudapestH-1117, Hungary
| | - Joakim Andréasson
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Physical Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, GothenburgSE-412 96, Sweden
| | - István Mándity
- Institute
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, BudapestH-1117, Hungary
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, BudapestH-1092, Hungary
| | - Tamás Beke-Somfai
- Institute
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, BudapestH-1117, Hungary
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Physical Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, GothenburgSE-412 96, Sweden
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3
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Zannella C, Chianese A, Greco G, Santella B, Squillaci G, Monti A, Doti N, Sanna G, Manzin A, Morana A, De Filippis A, D’Angelo G, Palmieri F, Franci G, Galdiero M. Design of Three Residues Peptides against SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Viruses 2022; 14:v14102103. [PMID: 36298659 PMCID: PMC9612326 DOI: 10.3390/v14102103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The continuous and rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the need to seek new therapeutic and prophylactic treatments. Peptide inhibitors are a valid alternative approach for the treatment of emerging viral infections, mainly due to their low toxicity and high efficiency. Recently, two small nucleotide signatures were identified in the genome of some members of the Coronaviridae family and many other human pathogens. In this study, we investigated whether the corresponding amino acid sequences of such nucleotide sequences could have effects on the viral infection of two representative human coronaviruses: HCoV-OC43 and SARS-CoV-2. Our results showed that the synthetic peptides analyzed inhibit the infection of both coronaviruses in a dose-dependent manner by binding the RBD of the Spike protein, as suggested by molecular docking and validated by biochemical studies. The peptides tested do not provide toxicity on cultured cells or human erythrocytes and are resistant to human serum proteases, indicating that they may be very promising antiviral peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Zannella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Annalisa Chianese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Greco
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Biagio Santella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Squillaci
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council (CNR), Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Monti
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), 80134 Naples, Italy
| | - Nunzianna Doti
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), 80134 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Sanna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Aldo Manzin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Morana
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council (CNR), Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Anna De Filippis
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Gianni D’Angelo
- Department of Computer Science, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Francesco Palmieri
- Department of Computer Science, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Franci
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Massimiliano Galdiero
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
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4
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Monroe MK, Wang H, Anderson CF, Jia H, Flexner C, Cui H. Leveraging the therapeutic, biological, and self-assembling potential of peptides for the treatment of viral infections. J Control Release 2022; 348:1028-1049. [PMID: 35752254 PMCID: PMC11022941 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Peptides and peptide-based materials have an increasing role in the treatment of viral infections through their use as active pharmaceutical ingredients, targeting moieties, excipients, carriers, or structural components in drug delivery systems. The discovery of peptide-based therapeutic compounds, coupled with the development of new stabilization and formulation strategies, has led to a resurgence of antiviral peptide therapeutics over the past two decades. The ability of peptides to bind cell receptors and to facilitate membrane penetration and subsequent intracellular trafficking enables their use in various antiviral systems for improved targeting efficiency and treatment efficacy. Importantly, the self-assembly of peptides into well-defined nanostructures provides a vast library of discrete constructs and supramolecular biomaterials for systemic and local delivery of antiviral agents. We review here the recent progress in exploiting the therapeutic, biological, and self-assembling potential of peptides, peptide conjugates, and their supramolecular assemblies in treating human viral infections, with an emphasis on the treatment strategies for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya K Monroe
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States of America; Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States of America
| | - Han Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States of America; Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States of America
| | - Caleb F Anderson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States of America; Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States of America
| | - Hongpeng Jia
- Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Charles Flexner
- Divisions of Clinical Pharmacology and Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States of America.
| | - Honggang Cui
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States of America; Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States of America; Deptartment of Oncology and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States of America; Center for Nanomedicine, The Wilmer Eye Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231, United States of America.
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5
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Design and evaluation of neutralizing and fusion inhibitory peptides to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. Antiviral Res 2022; 207:105401. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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6
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Marques MC, Lousa D, Silva PM, Faustino AF, Soares CM, Santos NC. The Importance of Lipid Conjugation on Anti-Fusion Peptides against Nipah Virus. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030703. [PMID: 35327503 PMCID: PMC8945041 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Nipah virus (NiV) is a recently emerging zoonotic virus that belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and the Henipavirus genus. It causes a range of conditions, from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The high mortality rate of 40 to 90% ranks these viruses among the deadliest viruses known to infect humans. Currently, there is no antiviral drug available for Nipah virus disease and treatment is only supportive. Thus, there is an urgent demand for efficient antiviral therapies. NiV F protein, which catalyzes fusion between the viral and host membranes, is a potential target for antiviral drugs, as it is a key protein in the initial stages of infection. Fusion inhibitor peptides derived from the HRC-domain of the F protein are known to bind to their complementary domain in the protein’s transient intermediate state, preventing the formation of a six-helix bundle (6HB) thought to be responsible for driving the fusion of the viral and cell membranes. Here, we evaluated the biophysical and structural properties of four different C-terminal lipid-tagged peptides. Different compositions of the lipid tags were tested to search for properties that might promote efficacy and broad-spectrum activity. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to study the interaction of the peptides with biomembrane model systems and human blood cells. In order to understand the structural properties of the peptides, circular dichroism measurements and molecular dynamics simulations were performed. Our results indicate a peptide preference for cholesterol-enriched membranes and a lipid conjugation-driven stabilization of the peptide α-helical secondary structure. This work may contribute for the development of highly effective viral fusion against NiV inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta C. Marques
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.C.M.); (P.M.S.); (A.F.F.)
| | - Diana Lousa
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal; (D.L.); (C.M.S.)
| | - Patrícia M. Silva
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.C.M.); (P.M.S.); (A.F.F.)
| | - André F. Faustino
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.C.M.); (P.M.S.); (A.F.F.)
| | - Cláudio M. Soares
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal; (D.L.); (C.M.S.)
| | - Nuno C. Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.C.M.); (P.M.S.); (A.F.F.)
- Correspondence:
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7
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Antiviral peptide engineering for targeting membrane-enveloped viruses: Recent progress and future directions. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:183821. [PMID: 34808121 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Membrane-enveloped viruses are a major cause of global health challenges, including recent epidemics and pandemics. This mini-review covers the latest efforts to develop membrane-targeting antiviral peptides that inhibit enveloped viruses by 1) preventing virus-cell fusion or 2) disrupting the viral membrane envelope. The corresponding mechanisms of antiviral activity are discussed along with peptide engineering strategies to modulate membrane-peptide interactions in terms of potency and selectivity. Application examples are presented demonstrating how membrane-targeting antiviral peptides are useful therapeutics and prophylactics in animal models, while a stronger emphasis on biophysical concepts is proposed to refine mechanistic understanding and support potential clinical translation.
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8
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Tuerkova A, Kasson PM. Computational methods to study enveloped viral entry. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:2527-2537. [PMID: 34783344 PMCID: PMC10184508 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The protein-membrane interactions that mediate viral infection occur via loosely ordered, transient assemblies, creating challenges for high-resolution structure determination. Computational methods and in particular molecular dynamics simulation have thus become important adjuncts for integrating experimental data, developing mechanistic models, and suggesting testable hypotheses regarding viral function. However, the large molecular scales of virus-host interaction also create challenges for detailed molecular simulation. For this reason, continuum membrane models have played a large historical role, although they have become less favored for high-resolution models of protein assemblies and lipid organization. Here, we review recent progress in the field, with an emphasis on the insight that has been gained using a mixture of coarse-grained and atomic-resolution molecular dynamics simulations. Based on successes and challenges to date, we suggest a multiresolution strategy that should yield the best mixture of computational efficiency and physical fidelity. This strategy may facilitate further simulations of viral entry by a broader range of viruses, helping illuminate the diversity of viral entry strategies and the essential common elements that can be targeted for antiviral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alzbeta Tuerkova
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75124, Sweden
| | - Peter M Kasson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75124, Sweden
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, U.S.A
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9
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Düzgüneş N, Fernandez-Fuentes N, Konopka K. Inhibition of Viral Membrane Fusion by Peptides and Approaches to Peptide Design. Pathogens 2021; 10:1599. [PMID: 34959554 PMCID: PMC8709411 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121599] [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: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusion of lipid-enveloped viruses with the cellular plasma membrane or the endosome membrane is mediated by viral envelope proteins that undergo large conformational changes following binding to receptors. The HIV-1 fusion protein gp41 undergoes a transition into a "six-helix bundle" after binding of the surface protein gp120 to the CD4 receptor and a co-receptor. Synthetic peptides that mimic part of this structure interfere with the formation of the helix structure and inhibit membrane fusion. This approach also works with the S spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Here we review the peptide inhibitors of membrane fusion involved in infection by influenza virus, HIV-1, MERS and SARS coronaviruses, hepatitis viruses, paramyxoviruses, flaviviruses, herpesviruses and filoviruses. We also describe recent computational methods used for the identification of peptide sequences that can interact strongly with protein interfaces, with special emphasis on SARS-CoV-2, using the PePI-Covid19 database.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nejat Düzgüneş
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA;
| | - Narcis Fernandez-Fuentes
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3EE, UK;
| | - Krystyna Konopka
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA;
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10
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The pH-sensitive action of cholesterol-conjugated peptide inhibitors of influenza virus. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2021; 1863:183762. [PMID: 34478733 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Influenza viruses are major human pathogens, responsible for respiratory diseases affecting millions of people worldwide, with high morbidity and significant mortality. Infections by influenza can be controlled by vaccines and antiviral drugs. However, this virus is constantly under mutations, limiting the effectiveness of these clinical antiviral strategies. It is therefore urgent to develop new ones. Influenza hemagglutinin (HA) is involved in receptor binding and promotes the pH-dependent fusion of viral and cell endocytic membranes. HA-targeted peptides may emerge as a novel antiviral option to block this viral entry step. In this study, we evaluated three HA-derived (lipo)peptides using fluorescence spectroscopy. Peptide membrane interaction assays were performed at neutral and acidic pH to better resemble the natural conditions in which influenza fusion occurs. We found that peptide affinity towards membranes decreases upon the acidification of the environment. Therefore, the released peptides would be able to bind their complementary domain and interfere with the six-helix bundle formation necessary for viral fusion, and thus for the infection of the target cell. Our results provide new insight into molecular interactions between HA-derived peptides and cell membranes, which may contribute to the development of new influenza virus inhibitors.
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11
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Yu D, Zhu Y, Jiao T, Wu T, Xiao X, Qin B, Chong H, Lei X, Ren L, Cui S, Wang J, He Y. Structure-based design and characterization of novel fusion-inhibitory lipopeptides against SARS-CoV-2 and emerging variants. Emerg Microbes Infect 2021; 10:1227-1240. [PMID: 34057039 PMCID: PMC8216258 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2021.1937329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has severely impacted the global public health and socio-economic stability, calling for effective vaccines and therapeutics. In this study, we continued our efforts to develop more efficient SARS-CoV-2 fusion inhibitors and achieved significant findings. First, we found that the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) sequence of SARS-CoV-2 spike fusion protein plays a critical role in viral infectivity and can serve as an ideal template for design of fusion-inhibitory peptides. Second, a panel of novel lipopeptides was generated with greatly improved activity in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 fusion and infection. Third, we showed that the new inhibitors maintained the potent inhibitory activity against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, including those with the major mutations of the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 strains circulating in the United Kingdom and South Africa, respectively. Fourth, the new inhibitors also cross-inhibited other human CoVs, including SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, HCoV-229E, and HCoV-NL63. Fifth, the structural properties of the new inhibitors were characterized by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and crystallographic approach, which revealed the mechanisms underlying the high binding and inhibition. Combined, our studies provide important information for understanding the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 fusion and a framework for the development of peptide therapeutics for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 and other CoVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danwei Yu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuanmei Zhu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tao Jiao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tong Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xia Xiao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bo Qin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huihui Chong
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaobo Lei
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lili Ren
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sheng Cui
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianwei Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuxian He
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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12
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Abstract
Parainfluenza viruses, members of the enveloped, negative-sense, single stranded RNA Paramyxoviridae family, impact global child health as the cause of significant lower respiratory tract infections. Parainfluenza viruses enter cells by fusing directly at the cell surface membrane. How this fusion occurs via the coordinated efforts of the two molecules that comprise the viral surface fusion complex, and how these efforts may be blocked, are the subjects of this chapter. The receptor binding protein of parainfluenza forms a complex with the fusion protein of the virus, remaining stably associated until a receptor is reached. At that point, the receptor binding protein actively triggers the fusion protein to undergo a series of transitions that ultimately lead to membrane fusion and viral entry. In recent years it has become possible to examine this remarkable process on the surface of viral particles and to begin to understand the steps in the transition of this molecular machine, using a structural biology approach. Understanding the steps in entry leads to several possible strategies to prevent fusion and inhibit infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara C Marcink
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Matteo Porotto
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Anne Moscona
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy; Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
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13
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Antivirals targeting paramyxovirus membrane fusion. Curr Opin Virol 2021; 51:34-47. [PMID: 34592709 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2021.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The Paramyxoviridae family includes enveloped single-stranded negative-sense RNA viruses such as measles, mumps, human parainfluenza, canine distemper, Hendra, and Nipah viruses, which cause a tremendous global health burden. The ability of paramyxoviral glycoproteins to merge viral and host membranes allows entry of the viral genome into host cells, as well as cell-cell fusion, an important contributor to disease progression. Recent molecular and structural advances in our understanding of the paramyxovirus membrane fusion machinery gave rise to various therapeutic approaches aiming at inhibiting viral infection, spread, and cytopathic effects. These therapeutic approaches include peptide mimics, antibodies, and small molecule inhibitors with various levels of success at inhibiting viral entry, increasing the potential of effective antiviral therapeutic development.
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14
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Raihan T, Rabbee MF, Roy P, Choudhury S, Baek KH, Azad AK. Microbial Metabolites: The Emerging Hotspot of Antiviral Compounds as Potential Candidates to Avert Viral Pandemic Alike COVID-19. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:732256. [PMID: 34557521 PMCID: PMC8452873 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.732256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The present global COVID-19 pandemic caused by the noble pleomorphic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has created a vulnerable situation in the global healthcare and economy. In this pandemic situation, researchers all around the world are trying their level best to find suitable therapeutics from various sources to combat against the SARS-CoV-2. To date, numerous bioactive compounds from different sources have been tested to control many viral diseases. However, microbial metabolites are advantageous for drug development over metabolites from other sources. We herein retrieved and reviewed literatures from PubMed, Scopus and Google relevant to antiviral microbial metabolites by searching with the keywords "antiviral microbial metabolites," "microbial metabolite against virus," "microorganism with antiviral activity," "antiviral medicine from microbial metabolite," "antiviral bacterial metabolites," "antiviral fungal metabolites," "antiviral metabolites from microscopic algae' and so on. For the same purpose, the keywords "microbial metabolites against COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2" and "plant metabolites against COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2" were used. Only the full text literatures available in English and pertinent to the topic have been included and those which are not available as full text in English and pertinent to antiviral or anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity were excluded. In this review, we have accumulated microbial metabolites that can be used as antiviral agents against a broad range of viruses including SARS-CoV-2. Based on this concept, we have included 330 antiviral microbial metabolites so far available to date in the data bases and were previously isolated from fungi, bacteria and microalgae. The microbial source, chemical nature, targeted viruses, mechanism of actions and IC50/EC50 values of these metabolites are discussed although mechanisms of actions of many of them are not yet elucidated. Among these antiviral microbial metabolites, some compounds might be very potential against many other viruses including coronaviruses. However, these potential microbial metabolites need further research to be developed as effective antiviral drugs. This paper may provide the scientific community with the possible secret of microbial metabolites that could be an effective source of novel antiviral drugs to fight against many viruses including SARS-CoV-2 as well as the future viral pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Topu Raihan
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | | | - Puja Roy
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Swapnila Choudhury
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Kwang-Hyun Baek
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
| | - Abul Kalam Azad
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
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15
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Bovier FT, Rybkina K, Biswas S, Harder O, Marcink TC, Niewiesk S, Moscona A, Alabi CA, Porotto M. Inhibition of Measles Viral Fusion Is Enhanced by Targeting Multiple Domains of the Fusion Protein. ACS NANO 2021; 15:12794-12803. [PMID: 34291895 PMCID: PMC9164017 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c02057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Measles virus (MeV) infection remains a significant public health threat despite ongoing global efforts to increase vaccine coverage. As eradication of MeV stalls, and vulnerable populations expand, effective antivirals against MeV are in high demand. Here, we describe the development of an antiviral peptide that targets the MeV fusion (F) protein. This antiviral peptide construct is composed of a carbobenzoxy-d-Phe-l-Phe-Gly (fusion inhibitor peptide; FIP) conjugated to a lipidated MeV F C-terminal heptad repeat (HRC) domain derivative. Initial in vitro testing showed high antiviral potency and specific targeting of MeV F-associated cell plasma membranes, with minimal cytotoxicity. The FIP and HRC-derived peptide conjugates showed synergistic antiviral activities when administered individually. However, their chemical conjugation resulted in markedly increased antiviral potency. In vitro mechanistic experiments revealed that the FIP-HRC lipid conjugate exerted its antiviral activity predominantly through stabilization of the prefusion F, while HRC-derived peptides alone act predominantly on the F protein after its activation. Coupled with in vivo experiments showing effective prevention of MeV infection in cotton rats, FIP-HRC lipid conjugates show promise as potential MeV antivirals via specific targeting and stabilization of the prefusion MeV F structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca T Bovier
- Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Ksenia Rybkina
- Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Sudipta Biswas
- Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Olivia Harder
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Tara C Marcink
- Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Stefan Niewiesk
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Anne Moscona
- Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
- Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Christopher A Alabi
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Matteo Porotto
- Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
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16
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Pattnaik GP, Chakraborty H. Cholesterol: A key player in membrane fusion that modulates the efficacy of fusion inhibitor peptides. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2021; 117:133-155. [PMID: 34420578 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The interaction of cholesterol with the neighboring lipids modulates several physical properties of the membrane. Mostly, it affects membrane fluidity, membrane permeability, lateral diffusion of lipids, bilayer thickness, and water penetration into the lipid bilayer. Due to the smaller head group to hydrophobic cross-sectional area of the tail, cholesterol induces intrinsic negative curvature to the membrane. The interaction of cholesterol with sphingolipids forms lipid rafts; generates phase separation in the membrane. The cholesterol-dependent modifications of membrane physical properties modulate viral infections by affecting the fusion between viral and host cell membranes. Cholesterol demonstrates a strong impact on the structure, depth of penetration, conformation, and organization of fusion peptides in membrane milieu. Further, cholesterol has been implicated to modify the fusion inhibitory efficiency of peptide-based membrane fusion inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hirak Chakraborty
- School of Chemistry, Sambalpur University, Burla, Odisha, India; Centre of Excellence in Natural Products and Therapeutics, Sambalpur University, Burla, Odisha, India.
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17
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Pu J, Zhou JT, Liu P, Yu F, He X, Lu L, Jiang S. Viral Entry Inhibitors Targeting Six-Helical Bundle Core Against Highly Pathogenic Enveloped Viruses with Class I Fusion Proteins. Curr Med Chem 2021; 29:700-718. [PMID: 33992055 DOI: 10.2174/0929867328666210511015808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
TypeⅠ enveloped viruses bind to cell receptors through surface glycoproteins to initiate infection or undergo receptor-mediated endocytosis. They also initiate membrane fusion in the acidic environment of endocytic compartments, releasing genetic material into the cell. In the process of membrane fusion, envelope protein exposes fusion peptide, followed by insertion into the cell membrane or endosomal membrane. Further conformational changes ensue in which the type 1 envelope protein forms a typical six-helix bundle structure, shortening the distance between viral and cell membranes so that fusion can occur. Entry inhibitors targeting viral envelope proteins, or host factors, are effective antiviral agents and have been widely studied. Some have been used clinically, such as T20 and Maraviroc for human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) or Myrcludex B for hepatitis D virus (HDV). This review focuses on entry inhibitors that target the six-helical bundle core against highly pathogenic enveloped viruses with class I fusion proteins, including retroviruses, coronaviruses, influenza A viruses, paramyxoviruses, and filoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Pu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH/CAMS, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Joey Tianyi Zhou
- Institute of High Performance Computing, The Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Ping Liu
- Institute of High Performance Computing, The Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Fei Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Xiaoyang He
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH/CAMS, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH/CAMS, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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18
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Outlaw VK, Cheloha RW, Jurgens EM, Bovier FT, Zhu Y, Kreitler DF, Harder O, Niewiesk S, Porotto M, Gellman SH, Moscona A. Engineering Protease-Resistant Peptides to Inhibit Human Parainfluenza Viral Respiratory Infection. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:5958-5966. [PMID: 33825470 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c01565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The lower respiratory tract infections affecting children worldwide are in large part caused by the parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs), particularly HPIV3, along with human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus, enveloped negative-strand RNA viruses. There are no vaccines for these important human pathogens, and existing treatments have limited or no efficacy. Infection by HPIV is initiated by viral glycoprotein-mediated fusion between viral and host cell membranes. A viral fusion protein (F), once activated in proximity to a target cell, undergoes a series of conformational changes that first extend the trimer subunits to allow insertion of the hydrophobic domains into the target cell membrane and then refold the trimer into a stable postfusion state, driving the merger of the viral and host cell membranes. Lipopeptides derived from the C-terminal heptad repeat (HRC) domain of HPIV3 F inhibit infection by interfering with the structural transitions of the trimeric F assembly. Clinical application of this strategy, however, requires improving the in vivo stability of antiviral peptides. We show that the HRC peptide backbone can be modified via partial replacement of α-amino acid residues with β-amino acid residues to generate α/β-peptides that retain antiviral activity but are poor protease substrates. Relative to a conventional α-lipopeptide, our best α/β-lipopeptide exhibits improved persistence in vivo and improved anti-HPIV3 antiviral activity in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor K Outlaw
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Ross W Cheloha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Eric M Jurgens
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Francesca T Bovier
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, 81100, Italy.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Yun Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100045, China
| | - Dale F Kreitler
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Olivia Harder
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Stefan Niewiesk
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Matteo Porotto
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, 81100, Italy.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Samuel H Gellman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Anne Moscona
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, United States
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19
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Borisevich SS, Gureev MA, Yarovaya ОI, Zarubaev VV, Kostin GA, Porozov YB, Salakhutdinov NF. Can molecular dynamics explain decreased pathogenicity in mutant camphecene-resistant influenza virus? J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:5481-5492. [PMID: 33480324 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1871414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
ABSTARCTThe development of new anti-influenza drugs remains an active area, and efforts in this direction will likely continue far into the future. In this paper, we present the results of a theoretical study explaining the mechanisms behind the antiviral activity of camphor derivatives. These include camphecene and a number of its analogues. The compounds tested can inhibit hemagglutinin (HA) by binding to it at two possible sites. Moreover, the binding site located at the site of proteolysis is the most important. Serial passaging of influenza in the presence of camphecene leads to the formation of mutation-associated resistance. Specifically, camphecene causes a significant mutation in HA (V615L). This substitution likely reduces the affinity of the compound for the binding site due to steric restriction of the positioning of camphecene in the binding cavity. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation results show that the mutant HA is a more stable structure in terms of thermodynamics. In other words, launching conformational rearrangements preceding the transition from pre- to post-fusion requires more energy than in wild type HA. This may well explain the lower virulence seen with the camphecene-resistant strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia S Borisevich
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Ufa Institute of Chemistry UFRS RAS, Ufa, Russia
| | - Maxim A Gureev
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Оlga I Yarovaya
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, N.N. Vorozhtsov Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Vladimir V Zarubaev
- Department of Virology, Saint Petersburg Pasteur Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Gennadiy A Kostin
- Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Yuriy B Porozov
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Food Biotechnology and Engineering, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia.,Department of Computational Biology, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
| | - Nariman F Salakhutdinov
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, N.N. Vorozhtsov Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
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20
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de Vries RD, Schmitz KS, Bovier FT, Noack D, Haagmans BL, Biswas S, Rockx B, Gellman SH, Alabi CA, de Swart RL, Moscona A, Porotto M. Intranasal fusion inhibitory lipopeptide prevents direct contact SARS-CoV-2 transmission in ferrets. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.11.04.361154. [PMID: 33173865 PMCID: PMC7654853 DOI: 10.1101/2020.11.04.361154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Containment of the COVID-19 pandemic requires reducing viral transmission. SARS-CoV-2 infection is initiated by membrane fusion between the viral and host cell membranes, mediated by the viral spike protein. We have designed a dimeric lipopeptide fusion inhibitor that blocks this critical first step of infection for emerging coronaviruses and document that it completely prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection in ferrets. Daily intranasal administration to ferrets completely prevented SARS-CoV-2 direct-contact transmission during 24-hour co-housing with infected animals, under stringent conditions that resulted in infection of 100% of untreated animals. These lipopeptides are highly stable and non-toxic and thus readily translate into a safe and effective intranasal prophylactic approach to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2. ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY A dimeric form of a SARS-CoV-2-derived lipopeptide is a potent inhibitor of fusion and infection in vitro and transmission in vivo .
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Francesca T. Bovier
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Host–Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Danny Noack
- Department Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Sudipta Biswas
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Barry Rockx
- Department Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Christopher A. Alabi
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Rik L. de Swart
- Department Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anne Moscona
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Host–Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matteo Porotto
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Host–Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
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21
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Outlaw VK, Bovier FT, Mears MC, Cajimat MN, Zhu Y, Lin MJ, Addetia A, Lieberman NAP, Peddu V, Xie X, Shi PY, Greninger AL, Gellman SH, Bente DA, Moscona A, Porotto M. Inhibition of Coronavirus Entry In Vitro and Ex Vivo by a Lipid-Conjugated Peptide Derived from the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein HRC Domain. mBio 2020; 11:e01935-20. [PMID: 33082259 PMCID: PMC7587434 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01935-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has erupted into a global pandemic that has led to tens of millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. The development of therapeutics to treat infection or as prophylactics to halt viral transmission and spread is urgently needed. SARS-CoV-2 relies on structural rearrangements within a spike (S) glycoprotein to mediate fusion of the viral and host cell membranes. Here, we describe the development of a lipopeptide that is derived from the C-terminal heptad repeat (HRC) domain of SARS-CoV-2 S that potently inhibits infection by SARS-CoV-2. The lipopeptide inhibits cell-cell fusion mediated by SARS-CoV-2 S and blocks infection by live SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 cell monolayers more effectively than previously described lipopeptides. The SARS-CoV-2 lipopeptide exhibits broad-spectrum activity by inhibiting cell-cell fusion mediated by SARS-CoV-1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and blocking infection by live MERS-CoV in cell monolayers. We also show that the SARS-CoV-2 HRC-derived lipopeptide potently blocks the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in human airway epithelial (HAE) cultures, an ex vivo model designed to mimic respiratory viral propagation in humans. While viral spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection was widespread in untreated airways, those treated with SARS-CoV-2 HRC lipopeptide showed no detectable evidence of viral spread. These data provide a framework for the development of peptide therapeutics for the treatment of or prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 as well as other coronaviruses.IMPORTANCE SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, continues to spread globally, placing strain on health care systems and resulting in rapidly increasing numbers of cases and mortalities. Despite the growing need for medical intervention, no FDA-approved vaccines are yet available, and treatment has been limited to supportive therapy for the alleviation of symptoms. Entry inhibitors could fill the important role of preventing initial infection and preventing spread. Here, we describe the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a lipopeptide that is derived from the HRC domain of the SARS-CoV-2 S glycoprotein that potently inhibits fusion mediated by SARS-CoV-2 S glycoprotein and blocks infection by live SARS-CoV-2 in both cell monolayers (in vitro) and human airway tissues (ex vivo). Our results highlight the SARS-CoV-2 HRC-derived lipopeptide as a promising therapeutic candidate for SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor K Outlaw
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Francesca T Bovier
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Caserta, Italy
| | - Megan C Mears
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Maria N Cajimat
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Yun Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Michelle J Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Amin Addetia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Nicole A P Lieberman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Vikas Peddu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Xuping Xie
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Pei-Yong Shi
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Alexander L Greninger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Samuel H Gellman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Dennis A Bente
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Anne Moscona
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Matteo Porotto
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Caserta, Italy
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22
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Pattnaik GP, Chakraborty H. Entry Inhibitors: Efficient Means to Block Viral Infection. J Membr Biol 2020; 253:425-444. [PMID: 32862236 PMCID: PMC7456447 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-020-00136-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The emerging and re-emerging viral infections are constant threats to human health and wellbeing. Several strategies have been explored to develop vaccines against these viral diseases. The main effort in the journey of development of vaccines is to neutralize the fusion protein using antibodies. However, significant efforts have been made in discovering peptides and small molecules that inhibit the fusion between virus and host cell, thereby inhibiting the entry of viruses. This class of inhibitors is called entry inhibitors, and they are extremely efficient in reducing viral infection as the entry of the virus is considered as the first step of infection. Nevertheless, these inhibitors are highly selective for a particular virus as antibody-based vaccines. The recent COVID-19 pandemic lets us ponder to shift our attention towards broad-spectrum antiviral agents from the so-called ‘one bug-one drug’ approach. This review discusses peptide and small molecule-based entry inhibitors against class I, II, and III viruses and sheds light on broad-spectrum antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hirak Chakraborty
- School of Chemistry, Sambalpur University, Jyoti Vihar, Burla, Odisha, 768 019, India. .,Centre of Excellence in Natural Products and Therapeutics, Sambalpur University, Jyoti Vihar, Burla, Odisha, 768 019, India.
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23
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Verma
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Naidu Subbarao
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
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24
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A boost to the antiviral activity: Cholesterol tagged peptides derived from glycoprotein B of Herpes Simplex virus type I. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 162:882-893. [PMID: 32569683 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.06.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Conformational changes of viral glycoproteins govern the fusion of viral and cellular membranes in the entry of enveloped viruses. Peptides mimicking domains of viral glycoproteins are apt to interfere with the fusion event, likely hampering the conformational rearrangements from the pre- to the post-fusion structures. We previously developed a peptide sequence with a high potential to inhibit the entry of herpes simplex type 1, which was able to trap glycoprotein B at an intermediate stage, arresting fusion. We propose that similarly to other viruses, membrane targeting through cholesterol conjugation may potently block fusion. The peptide conjugated to polyethylenglycol and cholesterol interacts with viral and cell membranes thanks to the presence of cholesterol and blocks the conformational rearrangements of the glycoprotein B. Here, we also probed the effect of the linker (polyethylenglycol) length on the activity. By targeting the peptide gBh1m to the membranes where fusion occurs and by engineering sequences with increased binding affinity for gB we have enhanced the antiviral potency of our prototype inhibitors. Our results provide proof of concept for the application of cholesterol tagging to develop inhibitors of HSV-1.
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25
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Aggarwal M, Plemper RK. Structural Insight into Paramyxovirus and Pneumovirus Entry Inhibition. Viruses 2020; 12:E342. [PMID: 32245118 PMCID: PMC7150754 DOI: 10.3390/v12030342] [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: 03/07/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Paramyxoviruses and pneumoviruses infect cells through fusion (F) protein-mediated merger of the viral envelope with target membranes. Members of these families include a range of major human and animal pathogens, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), measles virus (MeV), human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs), and highly pathogenic Nipah virus (NiV). High-resolution F protein structures in both the metastable pre- and the postfusion conformation have been solved for several members of the families and a number of F-targeting entry inhibitors have progressed to advanced development or clinical testing. However, small-molecule RSV entry inhibitors have overall disappointed in clinical trials and viral resistance developed rapidly in experimental settings and patients, raising the question of whether the available structural information may provide a path to counteract viral escape through proactive inhibitor engineering. This article will summarize current mechanistic insight into F-mediated membrane fusion and examine the contribution of structural information to the development of small-molecule F inhibitors. Implications are outlined for future drug target selection and rational drug engineering strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard K Plemper
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA;
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26
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Branttie JM, Dutch RE. Parainfluenza virus 5 fusion protein maintains pre-fusion stability but not fusogenic activity following mutation of a transmembrane leucine/isoleucine domain. J Gen Virol 2020; 101:467-472. [PMID: 32100701 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The paramyxoviruses Hendra virus (HeV) and parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) require the fusion (F) protein to efficiently infect cells. For fusion to occur, F undergoes dramatic, essentially irreversible conformational changes to merge the viral and cell membranes into a continuous bilayer. Recently, a transmembrane (TM) domain leucine/isoleucine (L/I) zipper was shown to be critical in maintaining the expression, stability and pre-fusion conformation of HeV F, allowing for fine-tuned timing of membrane fusion. To analyse the effect of the TM domain L/I zipper in another paramyxovirus, we created alanine mutations to the TM domain of PIV5 F, a paramyxovirus model system. Our data show that while the PIV5 F TM L/I zipper does not significantly affect total expression and only modestly affects surface expression and pre-fusion stability, it is critical for fusogenic activity. These results suggest that the roles of TM L/I zipper motifs differ among members of the family Paramyxoviridae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Mawuena Branttie
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine University of Kentucky Biomedical Biological Sciences Research Bldg, 741 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Rebecca Ellis Dutch
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine University of Kentucky Biomedical Biological Sciences Research Bldg, 741 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY, USA
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27
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Liu N, Girvin ME, Brenowitz M, Lai JR. Conformational and lipid bilayer-perturbing properties of Marburg virus GP2 segments containing the fusion loop and membrane-proximal external region/transmembrane domain. Heliyon 2019; 5:e03018. [PMID: 31890962 PMCID: PMC6926192 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e03018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusion of host and viral membranes is a crucial step during infection by enveloped viruses. In the structurally-defined "class I″ viral glycoproteins, the formation of a highly stable α-helical bundle by the ectodomain of the fusion subunit (e.g., GP2 for Marburg virus, MARV) is postulated to provide the energetic driving force to overcome barriers associated with membrane fusion. Upon cell binding, the fusion subunit is proposed to form an extended intermediate that bridges both the viral and host membranes, and collapse of this extended intermediate brings the two membranes into proximity. While there is much high-resolution structural data available for prefusion and post-fusion structures of viral glycoproteins, little information is available about intermediate conformations especially in the context of the fusion loop/peptide (FL or FP) and membrane-proximal external region (MPER)/transmembrane (TM) segments. We present structural and functional studies on segments of MARV GP2 that encompass the FL and MPER/TM in detergent micelles and lipid bicelles. A protein that contains most elements of GP2 ("MGP2-full") is α-helical in membrane-mimicking environments and has pH-dependent membrane lytic activity. MGP2-full is monomeric under such conditions, contrasting with the trimeric species that has been described previously for MARV GP2 ectodomain in aqueous buffer. Variants of MARV GP2 containing the N- and C-terminal halves ("MGP2-FNL" and "MGP2-CMT", respectively) have similar properties. This work provides novel insight into conformational and membrane-perturbing properties of the MARV fusion subunit and how they may relate to viral membrane fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Mark E Girvin
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Michael Brenowitz
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.,Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Jonathan R Lai
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
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28
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Ferren M, Horvat B, Mathieu C. Measles Encephalitis: Towards New Therapeutics. Viruses 2019; 11:E1017. [PMID: 31684034 PMCID: PMC6893791 DOI: 10.3390/v11111017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Measles remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide among vaccine preventable diseases. Recent decline in vaccination coverage resulted in re-emergence of measles outbreaks. Measles virus (MeV) infection causes an acute systemic disease, associated in certain cases with central nervous system (CNS) infection leading to lethal neurological disease. Early following MeV infection some patients develop acute post-infectious measles encephalitis (APME), which is not associated with direct infection of the brain. MeV can also infect the CNS and cause sub-acute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in immunocompetent people or measles inclusion-body encephalitis (MIBE) in immunocompromised patients. To date, cellular and molecular mechanisms governing CNS invasion are still poorly understood. Moreover, the known MeV entry receptors are not expressed in the CNS and how MeV enters and spreads in the brain is not fully understood. Different antiviral treatments have been tested and validated in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo, mainly in small animal models. Most treatments have high efficacy at preventing infection but their effectiveness after CNS manifestations remains to be evaluated. This review describes MeV neural infection and current most advanced therapeutic approaches potentially applicable to treat MeV CNS infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Ferren
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, INSERM U1111, University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France.
| | - Branka Horvat
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, INSERM U1111, University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France.
| | - Cyrille Mathieu
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, INSERM U1111, University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France.
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29
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Parveen N, Rydell GE, Larson G, Hytönen VP, Zhdanov VP, Höök F, Block S. Competition for Membrane Receptors: Norovirus Detachment via Lectin Attachment. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:16303-16311. [PMID: 31533424 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b06036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Virus internalization into the host cells occurs via multivalent interactions, in which a single virus binds to multiple receptors in parallel. Because of analytical and experimental limitations this complex type of interaction is still poorly understood and quantified. Herein, the multivalent interaction of norovirus-like particles (noroVLPs) with H or B type 1 glycosphingolipids (GSLs), embedded in a supported phospholipid bilayer, is investigated by following the competition between noroVLPs and a lectin (from Ralstonia solanacearum) upon binding to these GSLs. Changes in noroVLP and lectin coverage, caused by competition, were monitored for both GSLs and at different GSL concentrations using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring. The study yields information about the minimum GSL concentration needed for (i) noroVLPs to achieve firm attachment to the bilayer prior to competition and to (ii) remain firmly attached to the bilayer during competition. We show that these two concentrations are almost identical for the H type 1-noroVLP interaction but differ for B type 1, indicating an accumulation of B type 1 GSLs in the noroVLP-bilayer interaction area. Furthermore, the GSL concentration required for firm attachment is significantly larger for H type 1 than for B type 1, indicating a higher affinity of noroVLP toward B type 1. This finding is supported by extracting the energy of single noroVLP-H type 1 and noroVLP-B type 1 bonds from the competition kinetics, which were estimated to be 5 and 6 kcal/mol, respectively. This demonstrates the potential of utilizing competitive binding kinetics to analyze multivalent interactions, which has remained difficult to quantify using conventional approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagma Parveen
- Department of Physics , Chalmers University of Technology , Gothenburg , Sweden.,Laboratory for Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Department of Chemistry , KU Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
| | - Gustaf E Rydell
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska Academy , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Göran Larson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Vesa P Hytönen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech , Tampere University , Tampere, Finland and Fimlab Laboratories , Tampere , Finland
| | - Vladimir P Zhdanov
- Department of Physics , Chalmers University of Technology , Gothenburg , Sweden.,Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Russian Academy of Sciences , Novosibirsk , Russia
| | - Fredrik Höök
- Department of Physics , Chalmers University of Technology , Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Stephan Block
- Department of Physics , Chalmers University of Technology , Gothenburg , Sweden.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Freie Universität Berlin , Berlin , Germany
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30
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Mathieu C, Porotto M, Figueira TN, Horvat B, Moscona A. Fusion Inhibitory Lipopeptides Engineered for Prophylaxis of Nipah Virus in Primates. J Infect Dis 2019; 218:218-227. [PMID: 29566184 PMCID: PMC6009590 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The emerging zoonotic paramyxovirus Nipah virus (NiV) causes severe respiratory and neurological disease in humans, with high fatality rates. Nipah virus can be transmitted via person-to-person contact, posing a high risk for epidemic outbreaks. However, a broadly applicable approach for human NiV outbreaks in field settings is lacking. Methods We engineered new antiviral lipopeptides and analyzed in vitro fusion inhibition to identify an optimal candidate for prophylaxis of NiV infection in the lower respiratory tract, and we assessed antiviral efficiency in 2 different animal models. Results We show that lethal NiV infection can be prevented with lipopeptides delivered via the respiratory route in both hamsters and nonhuman primates. By targeting retention of peptides for NiV prophylaxis in the respiratory tract, we avoid its systemic delivery in individuals who need only prevention, and thus we increase the safety of treatment and enhance utility of the intervention. Conclusions The experiments provide a proof of concept for the use of antifusion lipopeptides for prophylaxis of lethal NiV. These results advance the goal of rational development of potent lipopeptide inhibitors with desirable pharmacokinetic and biodistribution properties and a safe effective delivery method to target NiV and other pathogenic viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrille Mathieu
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York.,CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, Immunobiology of Viral Infections Team, Inserm, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France
| | - Matteo Porotto
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York
| | - Tiago N Figueira
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York.,Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Branka Horvat
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, Immunobiology of Viral Infections Team, Inserm, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France
| | - Anne Moscona
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York.,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York
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31
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Cholesterol-conjugated stapled peptides inhibit Ebola and Marburg viruses in vitro and in vivo. Antiviral Res 2019; 171:104592. [PMID: 31473342 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.104592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Filoviridae currently includes five official and one proposed genera. Genus Ebolavirus includes five established and one proposed ebolavirus species for Bombali virus (BOMV), Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), Ebola virus (EBOV), Reston virus (RESTV), Sudan virus (SUDV) and Taï Forest virus (TAFV), and genus Marburgvirus includes a single species for Marburg virus (MARV) and Ravn virus (RAVV). Ebola virus (EBOV) has emerged as a significant public health concern since the 2013-2016 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Western Africa. Currently, there are no therapeutics approved and the need for Ebola-specific therapeutics remains a gap. In search for anti-Ebola therapies we tested the idea of using inhibitory properties of peptides corresponding to the C-terminal heptad-repeat (HR2) domains of class I fusion proteins against EBOV infection. The fusion protein GP2 of EBOV belongs to class I, suggesting that a similar strategy to HIV may be applied to inhibit EBOV infection. The serum half-life of peptides was expanded by cholesterol conjugation to allow daily dosing. The peptides were further constrained to stabilize a helical structure to increase the potency of inhibition. The EC50s of lead peptides were in low micromolar range, as determined by a high-content imaging test of EBOV-infected cells. Lead peptides were tested in an EBOV lethal mouse model and efficacy of the peptides were determined following twice-daily administration of peptides for 9 days. The most potent peptide was able to protect mice from lethal challenge of mouse-adapted Ebola virus. These data show that engineered peptides coupled with cholesterol can inhibit viral production, protect mice against lethal EBOV infection, and may be used to build novel therapeutics against EBOV.
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32
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Outlaw VK, Bottom-Tanzer S, Kreitler DF, Gellman SH, Porotto M, Moscona A. Dual Inhibition of Human Parainfluenza Type 3 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infectivity with a Single Agent. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:12648-12656. [PMID: 31268705 PMCID: PMC7192198 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b04615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Human parainfluenza virus 3 (HPIV3) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cause lower respiratory infection in infants and young children. There are no vaccines for these pathogens, and existing treatments have limited or questionable efficacy. Infection by HPIV3 or RSV requires fusion of the viral and cell membranes, a process mediated by a trimeric fusion glycoprotein (F) displayed on the viral envelope. Once triggered, the pre-fusion form of F undergoes a series of conformational changes that first extend the molecule to allow for insertion of the hydrophobic fusion peptide into the target cell membrane and then refold the trimeric assembly into an energetically stable post-fusion state, a process that drives the merger of the viral and host cell membranes. Peptides derived from defined regions of HPIV3 F inhibit infection by HPIV3 by interfering with the structural transitions of the trimeric F assembly. Here we describe lipopeptides derived from the C-terminal heptad repeat (HRC) domain of HPIV3 F that potently inhibit infection by both HPIV3 and RSV. The lead peptide inhibits RSV infection as effectively as does a peptide corresponding to the RSV HRC domain itself. We show that the inhibitors bind to the N-terminal heptad repeat (HRN) domains of both HPIV3 and RSV F with high affinity. Co-crystal structures of inhibitors bound to the HRN domains of HPIV3 or RSV F reveal remarkably different modes of binding in the N-terminal segment of the inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor K. Outlaw
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, United States
| | - Samantha Bottom-Tanzer
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, 10032, United States
- Center for Host–Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, 10032, United States
| | - Dale F. Kreitler
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, United States
| | - Samuel H. Gellman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, United States
| | - Matteo Porotto
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, 10032, United States
- Center for Host–Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, 10032, United States
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Italy
| | - Anne Moscona
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, 10032, United States
- Center for Host–Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, 10032, United States
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, 10032, United States
- Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, 10032, United States
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33
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Nyanguile O. Peptide Antiviral Strategies as an Alternative to Treat Lower Respiratory Viral Infections. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1366. [PMID: 31293570 PMCID: PMC6598224 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Lower respiratory infection caused by human pathogens such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant healthcare burden that must be addressed. The preferred options to achieve this goal are usually to develop vaccines for prophylaxis and to develop antiviral small molecules to treat infected patients with convenient, orally administrable drugs. However, developing a vaccine against RSV poses special challenges with the diminished immune system of infants and the elderly, and finding a universal flu vaccine is difficult because the product must target a large array of viral strains. On the other hand, the use of small-molecule antivirals can result in the emergence of resistant viruses as it has well-been reported for HIV, influenza, and hepatitis C virus (HCV). This paper reviews peptide antiviral strategies as an alternative to address these challenges. The discovery of influenza and RSV peptidic fusion inhibitors will be discussed and compared to small molecules in view of escape mutations. The importance of constraining peptides into macrocycles to improve both their inhibitory activity and pharmacological properties will be highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Origène Nyanguile
- HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Institute of Life Technologies, Sion, Switzerland
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34
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Design and Characterization of Cholesterylated Peptide HIV-1/2 Fusion Inhibitors with Extremely Potent and Long-Lasting Antiviral Activity. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.02312-18. [PMID: 30867304 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02312-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV infection requires lifelong treatment with multiple antiretroviral drugs in a combination, which ultimately causes cumulative toxicities and drug resistance, thus necessitating the development of novel antiviral agents. We recently found that enfuvirtide (T-20)-based lipopeptides conjugated with fatty acids have dramatically increased in vitro and in vivo anti-HIV activities. Herein, a group of cholesterol-modified fusion inhibitors were characterized with significant findings. First, novel cholesterylated inhibitors, such as LP-83 and LP-86, showed the most potent activity in inhibiting divergent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Second, the cholesterylated inhibitors were highly active to inhibit T-20-resistant mutants that still conferred high resistance to the fatty acid derivatives. Third, the cholesterylated inhibitors had extremely potent activity to block HIV envelope (Env)-mediated cell-cell fusion, especially a truncated minimum lipopeptide (LP-95), showing a greatly increased potency relative to its inhibition on virus infection. Fourth, the cholesterylated inhibitors efficiently bound to both the cellular and viral membranes to exert their antiviral activities. Fifth, the cholesterylated inhibitors displayed low cytotoxicity and binding capacity with human serum albumin. Sixth, we further demonstrated that LP-83 exhibited extremely potent and long-lasting anti-HIV activity in rhesus monkeys. Taken together, the present results help our understanding on the mechanism of action of lipopeptide-based viral fusion inhibitors and facilitate the development of novel anti-HIV drugs.IMPORTANCE The peptide drug enfuvirtide (T-20) remains the only membrane fusion inhibitor available for treatment of viral infection, which is used in combination therapy of HIV-1 infection; however, it exhibits relatively low antiviral activity and a genetic barrier to inducing resistance, calling for the continuous development for novel anti-HIV agents. In this study, we report cholesterylated fusion inhibitors showing the most potent and broad anti-HIV activities to date. The new inhibitors have been comprehensively characterized for their modes of action and druggability, including small size, low cytotoxicity, binding ability to human serum albumin (HSA), and, especially, extremely potent and long-lasting antiviral activity in rhesus monkeys. Therefore, the present studies have provided new drug candidates for clinical development, which can also be used as tools to probe the mechanisms of viral entry and inhibition.
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35
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Gomes B, Sanna G, Madeddu S, Hollmann A, Santos NC. Combining 25-Hydroxycholesterol with an HIV Fusion Inhibitor Peptide: Interaction with Biomembrane Model Systems and Human Blood Cells. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:582-591. [PMID: 30816690 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The fusion between the viral and the target cell membrane is a crucial step in the life cycle of enveloped viruses. The blocking of this process is a well-known therapeutic approach that led to the development of the fusion inhibitor peptide enfuvirtide, clinically used against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1. Despite this significant advance on viral treatment, the appearance of resistance has limited its clinical use. Such a limitation has led to the development of other fusion inhibitor peptides, such as C34, that present the same structural domain as enfuvirtide (heptad repeat sequence) but have different functional domains (pocket-binding domain in the case of C34 and lipid-binding domain in the case of enfuvirtide). Recently, the antiviral properties of 25-hydroxycholesterol were demonstrated, which boosted the interest in this oxysterol. The combination of two distinct antiviral molecules, C34 and 25-hydroxycholesterol, may help to suppress the emergence of resistant viruses. In this work, we characterized the interaction of the C34-25-hydroxycholesterol conjugate with biomembrane model systems and human blood cells. Lipid vesicles and monolayers with defined lipid compositions were used as biomembrane model systems. The conjugate interacts preferentially with membranes rich in sphingomyelin (a lipid enriched in lipid rafts) and presents a poor partition to membranes composed solely of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol. We hypothesize that cholesterol causes a repulsive effect that is overcome in the presence of sphingomyelin. Importantly, the peptide shows a preference for human peripheral blood mononuclear cells relative to erythrocytes, which shows its potential to target CD4+ cells. Antiviral activity results against different wild-type and drug-resistant HIV strains further demonstrated the potential of C34-HC as a good candidate for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Gomes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon 1649-028, Portugal
| | - Giusepinna Sanna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Cagliary, Cagliari 09123, Italy
| | - Silvia Madeddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Cagliary, Cagliari 09123, Italy
| | - Axel Hollmann
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compounds, CIBAAL−University of Santiago del Estero and CONICET, Santiago del Estero, Argentina
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Basic and Applied Microbiology, University of Quilmes, Bernal B1876BXD, Argentina
| | - Nuno C. Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon 1649-028, Portugal
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36
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Role of the Ebola membrane in the protection conferred by the three-mAb cocktail MIL77. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17628. [PMID: 30514891 PMCID: PMC6279787 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35964-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
MIL77, which has a higher manufacturing capacity than ZMapp, comprises MIL77-1, MIL77-2, and MIL77-3. The mechanisms by which these antibodies inhibit glycoprotein are unclear. Infection by viruses with lipid-bilayer envelopes occurs via the fusion of the viral membrane with the membrane of the target cell. Therefore, the interaction between the antibodies and the EBOV membrane is crucial. We examined the interactions between MIL77 and the viral membrane using SPR. MIL77-1 selectively binds to viral membranes, while MIL77-2 and MIL77-3 do not. MIL77-1’s ability to screen the more rigid domains of the membranes results in a locally increased concentration of the drug at the fusion site. Although MIL77-2 recognizes an epitope of GP, it is not necessary in the MIL77 cocktail. These results highlight the importance of EBOV membrane interactions in improving the efficiency of a neutralizing antibody. Furthermore, the viral membrane may be an important target of antibodies against EBOV.
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37
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Wang C, Zhao L, Xia S, Zhang T, Cao R, Liang G, Li Y, Meng G, Wang W, Shi W, Zhong W, Jiang S, Liu K. De Novo Design of α-Helical Lipopeptides Targeting Viral Fusion Proteins: A Promising Strategy for Relatively Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Drug Discovery. J Med Chem 2018; 61:8734-8745. [PMID: 30192544 PMCID: PMC7075651 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Class I enveloped viruses share similarities in their apparent use of a hexameric coiled-coil assembly to drive the merging of virus and host cell membranes. Inhibition of coiled coil-mediated interactions using bioactive peptides that replicate an α-helical chain from the viral fusion machinery has significant antiviral potential. Here, we present the construction of a series of lipopeptides composed of a de novo heptad repeat sequence-based α-helical peptide plus a hydrocarbon tail. Promisingly, the constructs adopted stable α-helical conformations and exhibited relatively broad-spectrum antiviral activities against Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and influenza A viruses (IAVs). Together, these findings reveal a new strategy for relatively broad-spectrum antiviral drug discovery by relying on the tunability of the α-helical coiled-coil domains present in all class I fusion proteins and the amphiphilic nature of the individual helices from this multihelix motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Tai-Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- State
Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Tai-Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Shuai Xia
- Key
Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic
Medical Sciences & Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, 130 Dong An Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Tianhong Zhang
- State
Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Tai-Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Ruiyuan Cao
- State
Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Tai-Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Guodong Liang
- State
Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Tai-Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yue Li
- Key Laboratory
of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of the Ministry of
Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Guangpeng Meng
- Key Laboratory
of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of the Ministry of
Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Weicong Wang
- Department
of Clinical Trial Center, China National Clinical Research Center
for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Weiguo Shi
- State
Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Tai-Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Wu Zhong
- State
Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Tai-Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Key
Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic
Medical Sciences & Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, 130 Dong An Road, Shanghai 200032, China
- Lindsley
F. Kimball Research Institute, New York
Blood Center, New York, New York 10065, United
States
| | - Keliang Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 27 Tai-Ping Road, Beijing 100850, China
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38
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Structural and Functional Characterization of Membrane Fusion Inhibitors with Extremely Potent Activity against Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), HIV-2, and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus. J Virol 2018; 92:JVI.01088-18. [PMID: 30089693 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01088-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
T-20 (enfuvirtide) is the only membrane fusion inhibitor available for the treatment of viral infection; however, it has low anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) activity and a low genetic barrier for drug resistance. We recently reported that T-20 sequence-based lipopeptides possess extremely potent in vitro and in vivo efficacies (X. Ding, Z. Zhang, H. Chong, Y. Zhu, H. Wei, X. Wu, J. He, X. Wang, Y. He, 2017, J Virol 91:e00831-17, https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00831-17; H. Chong, J. Xue, Y. Zhu, Z. Cong, T. Chen, Y. Guo, Q. Wei, Y. Zhou, C. Qin, Y. He, 2018, J Virol 92:e00775-18, https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00775-18). Here, we focused on characterizing the structure-activity relationships of the T-20 derivatives. First, a novel lipopeptide termed LP-52 was generated with improved target-binding stability and anti-HIV activity. Second, a large panel of truncated lipopeptides was characterized, revealing a 21-amino-acid sequence core structure. Third, it was surprisingly found that the addition of the gp41 pocket-binding residues in the N terminus of the new inhibitors resulted in increased binding but decreased antiviral activities. Fourth, while LP-52 showed the most potent activity in inhibiting divergent HIV-1 subtypes, its truncated versions, such as LP-55 (25-mer) and LP-65 (24-mer), still maintained their potencies at very low picomolar concentrations; however, both the N- and C-terminal motifs of LP-52 played crucial roles in the inhibition of T-20-resistant HIV-1 mutants, HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) isolates. Fifth, we verified that LP-52 can bind to target cell membranes and human serum albumin and has low cytotoxicity and a high genetic barrier to inducing drug resistance.IMPORTANCE Development of novel membrane fusion inhibitors against HIV and other enveloped viruses is highly important in terms of the peptide drug T-20, which remains the only one for clinical use, even if it is limited by large dosages and resistance. Here, we report a novel T-20 sequence-based lipopeptide showing extremely potent and broad activities against HIV-1, HIV-2, SIV, and T-20-resistant mutants, as well as an extremely high therapeutic selectivity index and genetic resistance barrier. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) of the T-20 derivatives has been comprehensively characterized, revealing a critical sequence core structure and the target sites of viral vulnerability that do not include the gp41 pocket. The results also suggest that membrane-anchored inhibitors possess unique modes of action relative to unconjugated peptides. Combined, our series studies have not only provided drug candidates for clinical development but also offered important tools to elucidate the mechanisms of viral fusion and inhibition.
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39
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Figueira TN, Augusto MT, Rybkina K, Stelitano D, Noval MG, Harder OE, Veiga AS, Huey D, Alabi CA, Biswas S, Niewiesk S, Moscona A, Santos NC, Castanho MARB, Porotto M. Effective in Vivo Targeting of Influenza Virus through a Cell-Penetrating/Fusion Inhibitor Tandem Peptide Anchored to the Plasma Membrane. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 29:3362-3376. [PMID: 30169965 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The impact of influenza virus infection is felt each year on a global scale when approximately 5-10% of adults and 20-30% of children globally are infected. While vaccination is the primary strategy for influenza prevention, there are a number of likely scenarios for which vaccination is inadequate, making the development of effective antiviral agents of utmost importance. Anti-influenza treatments with innovative mechanisms of action are critical in the face of emerging viral resistance to the existing drugs. These new antiviral agents are urgently needed to address future epidemic (or pandemic) influenza and are critical for the immune-compromised cohort who cannot be vaccinated. We have previously shown that lipid tagged peptides derived from the C-terminal region of influenza hemagglutinin (HA) were effective influenza fusion inhibitors. In this study, we modified the influenza fusion inhibitors by adding a cell penetrating peptide sequence to promote intracellular targeting. These fusion-inhibiting peptides self-assemble into ∼15-30 nm nanoparticles (NPs), target relevant infectious tissues in vivo, and reduce viral infectivity upon interaction with the cell membrane. Overall, our data show that the CPP and the lipid moiety are both required for efficient biodistribution, fusion inhibition, and efficacy in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- T N Figueira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina , Universidade de Lisboa , 1649-028 Lisbon , Portugal.,Department of Pediatrics , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States
| | - M T Augusto
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina , Universidade de Lisboa , 1649-028 Lisbon , Portugal.,Department of Pediatrics , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States
| | - K Rybkina
- Department of Pediatrics , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States
| | - D Stelitano
- Department of Pediatrics , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States
| | - M G Noval
- Department of Pediatrics , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States
| | - O E Harder
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine , The Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio 43210 , United States
| | - A S Veiga
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina , Universidade de Lisboa , 1649-028 Lisbon , Portugal
| | - D Huey
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine , The Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio 43210 , United States
| | - C A Alabi
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Cornell University , Ithaca , New York 14853 , United States
| | - S Biswas
- Department of Pediatrics , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States
| | - S Niewiesk
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine , The Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio 43210 , United States
| | - A Moscona
- Department of Pediatrics , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States.,Department of Microbiology & Immunology , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States.,Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States
| | - N C Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina , Universidade de Lisboa , 1649-028 Lisbon , Portugal
| | - M A R B Castanho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina , Universidade de Lisboa , 1649-028 Lisbon , Portugal
| | - M Porotto
- Department of Pediatrics , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction , Columbia University Medical Center , New York , New York 10032 , United States.,Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli' , 81100 Caserta , Caserta , Italy
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40
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Kowalczyk R, Harris PWR, Williams GM, Yang SH, Brimble MA. Peptide Lipidation - A Synthetic Strategy to Afford Peptide Based Therapeutics. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1030:185-227. [PMID: 29081055 PMCID: PMC7121180 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-66095-0_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Peptide and protein aberrant lipidation patterns are often involved in many diseases including cancer and neurological disorders. Peptide lipidation is also a promising strategy to improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of peptide-based drugs. Self-adjuvanting peptide-based vaccines commonly utilise the powerful TLR2 agonist PamnCys lipid to stimulate adjuvant activity. The chemical synthesis of lipidated peptides can be challenging hence efficient, flexible and straightforward synthetic routes to access homogeneous lipid-tagged peptides are in high demand. A new technique coined Cysteine Lipidation on a Peptide or Amino acid (CLipPA) uses a 'thiol-ene' reaction between a cysteine and a vinyl ester and offers great promise due to its simplicity, functional group compatibility and selectivity. Herein a brief review of various synthetic strategies to access lipidated peptides, focusing on synthetic methods to incorporate a PamnCys motif into peptides, is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Kowalczyk
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, 23 Symonds St, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Paul W R Harris
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, 23 Symonds St, Auckland, New Zealand.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, 3A Symonds St, Auckland, New Zealand.,Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Geoffrey M Williams
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, 23 Symonds St, Auckland, New Zealand.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, 3A Symonds St, Auckland, New Zealand.,Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Sung-Hyun Yang
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, 23 Symonds St, Auckland, New Zealand.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, 3A Symonds St, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Margaret A Brimble
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, 23 Symonds St, Auckland, New Zealand. .,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, 3A Symonds St, Auckland, New Zealand. .,Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand.
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41
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Identification of a peptide derived from the heptad repeat 2 region of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) spike glycoprotein that is capable of suppressing PEDV entry and inducing neutralizing antibodies. Antiviral Res 2017; 150:1-8. [PMID: 29203391 PMCID: PMC7113693 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Heptad repeat (HR) regions are highly conserved motifs located in the glycoproteins of enveloped viruses that form a six-helix bundle structure and is important in the process of virus fusion. Peptides derived from the HR regions of some viruses have also been shown to inhibit viral entry. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) was predicted to have HR regions (HR1 and HR2) in the spike glycoprotein S2 subunit. Based on this analysis, six peptides derived from HR1 and HR2 were selected, expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and characterized. Three peptides (HR2M, HR2L and HR2P) were identified as potential competitive inhibitors in PEDV in vitro infection assays, with the HR2P peptide representing the most potent inhibitor. Further study indicated that immunization of HR2P in mice elicited antibodies capable of neutralizing PEDV infection in vitro. These results demonstrate that the HR2P peptide and anti-HR2P antibody can serve as a tool for dissecting the fusion mechanism of PEDV, guiding the search for potent inhibitors with therapeutic value against PEDV infection. Six peptides derived from heptad repeat (HR) 1 and 2 regions of PEDV S glycoprotein were expressed and characterized. Three peptides (HR2M, HR2L and HR2P) exhibited antiviral activity in vitro. Immunization of the HR2P peptide in mice elicited antibodies capable of neutralizing PEDV infection in vitro. HR2P peptide can serve as a potential antiviral drug against PEDV infection.
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42
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Biophysical Properties and Antiviral Activities of Measles Fusion Protein Derived Peptide Conjugated with 25-Hydroxycholesterol. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22111869. [PMID: 29088094 PMCID: PMC5775476 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22111869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Measles virus (MV) infection is re-emerging, despite the availability of an effective vaccine. The mechanism of MV entry into a target cell relies on coordinated action between the MV hemagglutinin (H) receptor binding protein and the fusion envelope glycoprotein (F) which mediates fusion between the viral and cell membranes. Peptides derived from the C-terminal heptad repeat (HRC) of F can interfere with this process, blocking MV infection. As previously described, biophysical properties of HRC-derived peptides modulate their antiviral potency. In this work, we characterized a MV peptide fusion inhibitor conjugated to 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC), a cholesterol derivative with intrinsic antiviral activity, and evaluated its interaction with membrane model systems and human blood cells. The peptide (MV.
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43
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Quinn K, Traboni C, Penchala SD, Bouliotis G, Doyle N, Libri V, Khoo S, Ashby D, Weber J, Nicosia A, Cortese R, Pessi A, Winston A. A first-in-human study of the novel HIV-fusion inhibitor C34-PEG 4-Chol. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9447. [PMID: 28842581 PMCID: PMC5572697 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09230-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-acting injectable antiretroviral (LA-ARV) drugs with low toxicity profiles and propensity for drug-drug interactions are a goal for future ARV regimens. C34-PEG4-Chol is a novel cholesterol tagged LA HIV-fusion-inhibitor (FI). We assessed pre-clinical toxicology and first-in-human administration of C34-PEG4-Chol. Pre-clinical toxicology was conducted in 2 species. HIV-positive men were randomised to a single subcutaneous dose of C34-PEG4-Chol at incrementing doses or placebo. Detailed clinical (including injection site reaction (ISR) grading), plasma pharmacokinetic (time-to-minimum-effective-concentration (MEC, 25 ng/mL) and pharmacodynamic (plasma HIV RNA) parameters were assessed. In both mice and dogs, no-observed-adverse effect level (NOAEL) was observed at a 12 mg/kg/dose after two weeks. Of 5 men enrolled, 3 received active drug (10 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg). In 2 individuals grade 3 ISR occurred and the study was halted. Both ISR emerged within 12 hours of active drug dosing. No systemic toxicities were observed. The time-to-MEC was >72 and >96 hours after 10 and 20 mg dose, respectively, and mean change in HIV RNA was −0.9 log10 copies/mL. These human pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic data, although limited to 3 subjects, of C34-PEG-4-Chol suggest continuing evaluation of this agent as a LA-ARV. However, alternative administration routes must be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Killian Quinn
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W2 1NY, UK
| | | | | | | | - Nicki Doyle
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W2 1NY, UK
| | - Vincenzo Libri
- Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Saye Khoo
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
| | - Deborah Ashby
- School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Jonathan Weber
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W2 1NY, UK
| | - Alfredo Nicosia
- JV Bio, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145, Napoli, Italy.,CEINGE, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145, Napoli, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cortese
- JV Bio, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145, Napoli, Italy.,CEINGE, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145, Napoli, Italy
| | - Antonello Pessi
- JV Bio, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145, Napoli, Italy. .,CEINGE, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145, Napoli, Italy. .,PeptiPharma, Viale Città D'Europa 679, 00144, Roma, Italy.
| | - Alan Winston
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W2 1NY, UK.
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44
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Park JE, Gallagher T. Lipidation increases antiviral activities of coronavirus fusion-inhibiting peptides. Virology 2017; 511:9-18. [PMID: 28802158 PMCID: PMC7112077 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) can cause life-threatening respiratory diseases. Their infectious entry requires viral spike (S) proteins, which attach to cell receptors, undergo proteolytic cleavage, and then refold in a process that catalyzes virus-cell membrane fusion. Fusion-inhibiting peptides bind to S proteins, interfere with refolding, and prevent infection. Here we conjugated fusion-inhibiting peptides to various lipids, expecting this to secure peptides onto cell membranes and thereby increase antiviral potencies. Cholesterol or palmitate adducts increased antiviral potencies up to 1000-fold. Antiviral effects were evident after S proteolytic cleavage, implying that lipid conjugates affixed the peptides at sites of protease-triggered fusion activation. Unlike lipid-free peptides, the lipopeptides suppressed CoV S protein-directed virus entry taking place within endosomes. Cell imaging revealed intracellular peptide aggregates, consistent with their endocytosis into compartments where CoV entry takes place. These findings suggest that lipidations localize antiviral peptides to protease-rich sites of CoV fusion, thereby protecting cells from diverse CoVs. Lipidation increases antiviral activities of CoV fusion-inhibiting peptides. Fusion-inhibiting peptides target proteolytically-triggered CoV spike proteins. Lipidated peptides suppress CoVs that are occluded within endosomes before cytosolic entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Eun Park
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - Tom Gallagher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
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45
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Antiviral Lipopeptide-Cell Membrane Interaction Is Influenced by PEG Linker Length. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22071190. [PMID: 28714870 PMCID: PMC5776016 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22071190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 07/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A set of lipopeptides was recently reported for their broad-spectrum antiviral activity against viruses belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family, including human parainfluenza virus type 3 and Nipah virus. Among them, the peptide with a 24-unit PEG linker connecting it to a cholesterol moiety (VG-PEG24-Chol) was found to be the best membrane fusion inhibitory peptide. Here, we evaluated the interaction of the same set of peptides with biomembrane model systems and isolated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). VG-PEG24-Chol showed the highest insertion rate and it was among the peptides that induced a larger change on the surface pressure of cholesterol rich membranes. This peptide also displayed a high affinity towards PBMC membranes. These data provide new information about the dynamics of peptide-membrane interactions of a specific group of antiviral peptides, known for their potential as multipotent paramyxovirus antivirals.
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46
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The Role of Human Parainfluenza Virus Infections in the Immunopathology of the Respiratory Tract. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2017; 17:16. [PMID: 28283855 PMCID: PMC7089069 DOI: 10.1007/s11882-017-0685-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Viral infections are leading causes of both upper and lower airway acute illness in all age groups of healthy persons, and have also been implicated in the acute exacerbations of chronic respiratory disorders like asthma and COPD. Human rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus and coronavirus have been considered as the most important respiratory pathogens and relatively little attention has been paid to the role of parainfluenza viruses (hPIVs). Human parainfluenza viruses are single-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the paramyxovirus family that may evoke lower respiratory infections in infants, children and immunocompromised individuals. Among non-immune compromised adults, hPIV infection typically causes mild disease manifested as upper respiratory tract symptoms and is infrequently associated with severe croup or pneumonia. Moreover, hPIV infection may be associated with viral exacerbations of chronic airway diseases, asthma or COPD or chronic rhinosinusitis. In this review, we summarized the basic epidemiology and immunology of hPIVs and addressed the more recent data implicating the role of parainfluenza viruses in the exacerbation of chronic airway disorders.
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47
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Mathieu C, Augusto MT, Niewiesk S, Horvat B, Palermo LM, Sanna G, Madeddu S, Huey D, Castanho MARB, Porotto M, Santos NC, Moscona A. Broad spectrum antiviral activity for paramyxoviruses is modulated by biophysical properties of fusion inhibitory peptides. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43610. [PMID: 28344321 PMCID: PMC5361215 DOI: 10.1038/srep43610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Human paramyxoviruses include global causes of lower respiratory disease like the parainfluenza viruses, as well as agents of lethal encephalitis like Nipah virus. Infection is initiated by viral glycoprotein-mediated fusion between viral and host cell membranes. Paramyxovirus viral fusion proteins (F) insert into the target cell membrane, and form a transient intermediate that pulls the viral and cell membranes together as two heptad-repeat regions refold to form a six-helix bundle structure that can be specifically targeted by fusion-inhibitory peptides. Antiviral potency can be improved by sequence modification and lipid conjugation, and by adding linkers between the protein and lipid components. We exploit the uniquely broad spectrum antiviral activity of a parainfluenza F-derived peptide sequence that inhibits both parainfluenza and Nipah viruses, to investigate the influence of peptide orientation and intervening linker length on the peptides' interaction with transitional states of F, solubility, membrane insertion kinetics, and protease sensitivity. We assessed the impact of these features on biodistribution and antiviral efficacy in vitro and in vivo. The engineering approach based on biophysical parameters resulted in a peptide that is a highly effective inhibitor of both paramyxoviruses and a set of criteria to be used for engineering broad spectrum antivirals for emerging paramyxoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrille Mathieu
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, 21 Avenue Tony Garnier, 69365 Lyon Cedex 07, France.,INSERM U1111, Lyon, France.,CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Marcelo T Augusto
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Stefan Niewiesk
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
| | - Branka Horvat
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, 21 Avenue Tony Garnier, 69365 Lyon Cedex 07, France.,INSERM U1111, Lyon, France.,CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Laura M Palermo
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY, USA.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY, USA
| | - Giuseppina Sanna
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY, USA.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Silvia Madeddu
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY, USA.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Devra Huey
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
| | - Miguel A R B Castanho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Matteo Porotto
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY, USA.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY, USA
| | - Nuno C Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Anne Moscona
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY, USA.,Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY, USA.,Department of Microbiology &Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY, USA.,Department of Physiology &Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY, USA
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48
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In Vivo Efficacy of Measles Virus Fusion Protein-Derived Peptides Is Modulated by the Properties of Self-Assembly and Membrane Residence. J Virol 2016; 91:JVI.01554-16. [PMID: 27733647 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01554-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Measles virus (MV) infection is undergoing resurgence and remains one of the leading causes of death among young children worldwide despite the availability of an effective measles vaccine. MV infects its target cells by coordinated action of the MV hemagglutinin (H) and fusion (F) envelope glycoproteins; upon receptor engagement by H, the prefusion F undergoes a structural transition, extending and inserting into the target cell membrane and then refolding into a postfusion structure that fuses the viral and cell membranes. By interfering with this structural transition of F, peptides derived from the heptad repeat (HR) regions of F can inhibit MV infection at the entry stage. In previous work, we have generated potent MV fusion inhibitors by dimerizing the F-derived peptides and conjugating them to cholesterol. We have shown that prophylactic intranasal administration of our lead fusion inhibitor efficiently protects from MV infection in vivo We show here that peptides tagged with lipophilic moieties self-assemble into nanoparticles until they reach the target cells, where they are integrated into cell membranes. The self-assembly feature enhances biodistribution and the half-life of the peptides, while integration into the target cell membrane increases fusion inhibitor potency. These factors together modulate in vivo efficacy. The results suggest a new framework for developing effective fusion inhibitory peptides. IMPORTANCE Measles virus (MV) infection causes an acute illness that may be associated with infection of the central nervous system (CNS) and severe neurological disease. No specific treatment is available. We have shown that fusion-inhibitory peptides delivered intranasally provide effective prophylaxis against MV infection. We show here that specific biophysical properties regulate the in vivo efficacy of MV F-derived peptides.
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49
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Urbanowicz RA, Lacek K, Lahm A, Bienkowska-Szewczyk K, Ball JK, Nicosia A, Cortese R, Pessi A. Cholesterol conjugation potentiates the antiviral activity of an HIV immunoadhesin. J Pept Sci 2016; 21:743-9. [PMID: 26292842 DOI: 10.1002/psc.2802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Revised: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Immunoadhesins are engineered proteins combining the constant domain (Fc) of an antibody with a ligand-binding (adhesion) domain. They have significant potential as therapeutic agents, because they maintain the favourable pharmacokinetics of antibodies with an expanded repertoire of ligand-binding domains: proteins, peptides, or small molecules. We have recently reported that the addition of a cholesterol group to two HIV antibodies can dramatically improve their antiviral potency. Cholesterol, which can be conjugated at various positions in the antibody, including the constant (Fc) domain, endows the conjugate with affinity for the membrane lipid rafts, thus increasing its concentration at the site where viral entry occurs. Here, we extend this strategy to an HIV immunoadhesin, combining a cholesterol-conjugated Fc domain with the peptide fusion inhibitor C41. The immunoadhesin C41-Fc-chol displayed high affinity for Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) 293 cells, and when tested on a panel of HIV-1 strains, it was considerably more potent than the unconjugated C41-Fc construct. Potentiation of antiviral activity was comparable to what was previously observed for the cholesterol-conjugated HIV antibodies. Given the key role of cholesterol in lipid raft formation and viral fusion, we expect that the same strategy should be broadly applicable to enveloped viruses, for many of which it is already known the sequence of a peptide fusion inhibitor similar to C41. Moreover, the sequence of heptad repeat-derived fusion inhibitors can often be predicted from genomic information alone, opening a path to immunoadhesins against emerging viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Urbanowicz
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom.,Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Krzysztof Lacek
- CEINGE, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145, Napoli, Italy.,Laboratory of Virus Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, 80-822, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Armin Lahm
- PeptiPharma, Viale Città D'Europa 679, 00144, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Jonathan K Ball
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom.,Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Alfredo Nicosia
- CEINGE, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145, Napoli, Italy.,Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Antonello Pessi
- CEINGE, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145, Napoli, Italy.,PeptiPharma, Viale Città D'Europa 679, 00144, Roma, Italy.,JV Bio, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145, Napoli, Italy
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50
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Prevention of measles virus infection by intranasal delivery of fusion inhibitor peptides. J Virol 2014; 89:1143-55. [PMID: 25378493 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02417-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Measles virus (MV) infection is undergoing resurgence and remains one of the leading causes of death among young children worldwide despite the availability of an effective measles vaccine. MV infects its target cells by coordinated action of the MV H and the fusion (F) envelope glycoprotein; upon receptor engagement by H, the prefusion F undergoes a structural transition, extending and inserting into the target cell membrane and then refolding into a postfusion structure that fuses the viral and cell membranes. By interfering with this structural transition of F, peptides derived from the heptad-repeat (HR) regions of F can potently inhibit MV infection at the entry stage. We show here that specific features of H's interaction with its receptors modulate the susceptibility of MV F to peptide fusion inhibitors. A higher concentration of inhibitory peptides is required to inhibit F-mediated fusion when H is engaged to its nectin-4 receptor than when H is engaged to its CD150 receptor. Peptide inhibition of F may be subverted by continued engagement of receptor by H, a finding that highlights the ongoing role of H-receptor interaction after F has been activated and that helps guide the design of more potent inhibitory peptides. Intranasal administration of these peptides results in peptide accumulation in the airway epithelium with minimal systemic levels of peptide and efficiently prevents MV infection in vivo in animal models. The results suggest an antiviral strategy for prophylaxis in vulnerable and/or immunocompromised hosts. IMPORTANCE Measles virus (MV) infection causes an acute illness that may be associated with infection of the central nervous system (CNS) and severe neurological disease. No specific treatment is available. We have shown that parenterally delivered fusion-inhibitory peptides protect mice from lethal CNS MV disease. Here we show, using established small-animal models of MV infection, that fusion-inhibitory peptides delivered intranasally provide effective prophylaxis against MV infection. Since the fusion inhibitors are stable at room temperature, this intranasal strategy is feasible even outside health care settings, could be used to protect individuals and communities in case of MV outbreaks, and could complement global efforts to control measles.
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