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Matsuda A, Plewka J, Rawski M, Mourão A, Zajko W, Siebenmorgen T, Kresik L, Lis K, Jones A, Pachota M, Karim A, Hartman K, Nirwal S, Sonani R, Chykunova Y, Minia I, Mak P, Landthaler M, Nowotny M, Dubin G, Sattler M, Suder P, Popowicz G, Pyrć K, Czarna A. Despite the odds: formation of the SARS-CoV-2 methylation complex. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:6441-6458. [PMID: 38499483 PMCID: PMC11194070 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses modify their single-stranded RNA genome with a methylated cap during replication to mimic the eukaryotic mRNAs. The capping process is initiated by several nonstructural proteins (nsp) encoded in the viral genome. The methylation is performed by two methyltransferases, nsp14 and nsp16, while nsp10 acts as a co-factor to both. Additionally, nsp14 carries an exonuclease domain which operates in the proofreading system during RNA replication of the viral genome. Both nsp14 and nsp16 were reported to independently bind nsp10, but the available structural information suggests that the concomitant interaction between these three proteins would be impossible due to steric clashes. Here, we show that nsp14, nsp10, and nsp16 can form a heterotrimer complex upon significant allosteric change. This interaction is expected to encourage the formation of mature capped viral mRNA, modulating nsp14's exonuclease activity, and protecting the viral RNA. Our findings show that nsp14 is amenable to allosteric regulation and may serve as a novel target for therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Matsuda
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Jacek Plewka
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Michał Rawski
- SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre, Jagiellonian University, 30-392 Kraków, Poland
| | - André Mourão
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Weronika Zajko
- Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Leanid Kresik
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Kinga Lis
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Kraków University of Technology, 31-155 Kraków, Poland
| | - Alisha N Jones
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Magdalena Pachota
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Abdulkarim Karim
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, 44002 Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
- Department of Community Health, College of Health Technology, Cihan University-Erbil, 44001 Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Kinga Hartman
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
| | - Shivlee Nirwal
- Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ravi Sonani
- Protein Crystallography Research Group, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Yuliya Chykunova
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Igor Minia
- Laboratory for RNA Biology, Berlin Institute for Medical System Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Paweł Mak
- Department of Analytical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Markus Landthaler
- Laboratory for RNA Biology, Berlin Institute for Medical System Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcin Nowotny
- Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Dubin
- Protein Crystallography Research Group, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Michael Sattler
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Piotr Suder
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
| | - Grzegorz M Popowicz
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Krzysztof Pyrć
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Czarna
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
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Thomas J, Ghosh A, Ranjan S, Satija J. Cheminformatics approach to identify andrographolide derivatives as dual inhibitors of methyltransferases (nsp14 and nsp16) of SARS-CoV-2. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9801. [PMID: 38684706 PMCID: PMC11058777 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58532-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic outbreak has accelerated tremendous efforts to discover a therapeutic strategy that targets severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to control viral infection. Various viral proteins have been identified as potential drug targets, however, to date, no specific therapeutic cure is available against the SARS-CoV-2. To address this issue, the present work reports a systematic cheminformatic approach to identify the potent andrographolide derivatives that can target methyltransferases of SARS-CoV-2, i.e. nsp14 and nsp16 which are crucial for the replication of the virus and host immune evasion. A consensus of cheminformatics methodologies including virtual screening, molecular docking, ADMET profiling, molecular dynamics simulations, free-energy landscape analysis, molecular mechanics generalized born surface area (MM-GBSA), and density functional theory (DFT) was utilized. Our study reveals two new andrographolide derivatives (PubChem CID: 2734589 and 138968421) as natural bioactive molecules that can form stable complexes with both proteins via hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions. The toxicity analysis predicts class four toxicity for both compounds with LD50 value in the range of 500-700 mg/kg. MD simulation reveals the stable formation of the complex for both the compounds and their average trajectory values were found to be lower than the control inhibitor and protein alone. MMGBSA analysis corroborates the MD simulation result and showed the lowest energy for the compounds 2734589 and 138968421. The DFT and MEP analysis also predicts the better reactivity and stability of both the hit compounds. Overall, both andrographolide derivatives exhibit good potential as potent inhibitors for both nsp14 and nsp16 proteins, however, in-vitro and in vivo assessment would be required to prove their efficacy and safety in clinical settings. Moreover, the drug discovery strategy aiming at the dual target approach might serve as a useful model for inventing novel drug molecules for various other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jobin Thomas
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology (CNBT), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India
| | - Anupam Ghosh
- NanoBio Research Lab, School of Nano Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721301, India
| | - Shivendu Ranjan
- NanoBio Research Lab, School of Nano Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721301, India
| | - Jitendra Satija
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology (CNBT), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India.
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Wang H, Rizvi SRA, Dong D, Lou J, Wang Q, Sopipong W, Su Y, Najar F, Agarwal PK, Kozielski F, Haider S. Emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 NSP10 highlight strong functional conservation of its binding to two non-structural proteins, NSP14 and NSP16. eLife 2023; 12:RP87884. [PMID: 38127066 PMCID: PMC10735223 DOI: 10.7554/elife.87884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 protects its RNA from being recognized by host immune responses by methylation of its 5' end, also known as capping. This process is carried out by two enzymes, non-structural protein 16 (NSP16) containing 2'-O-methyltransferase and NSP14 through its N7 methyltransferase activity, which are essential for the replication of the viral genome as well as evading the host's innate immunity. NSP10 acts as a crucial cofactor and stimulator of NSP14 and NSP16. To further understand the role of NSP10, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of >13 million globally collected whole-genome sequences (WGS) of SARS-CoV-2 obtained from the Global Initiative Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) and compared it with the reference genome Wuhan/WIV04/2019 to identify all currently known variants in NSP10. T12I, T102I, and A104V in NSP10 have been identified as the three most frequent variants and characterized using X-ray crystallography, biophysical assays, and enhanced sampling simulations. In contrast to other proteins such as spike and NSP6, NSP10 is significantly less prone to mutation due to its crucial role in replication. The functional effects of the variants were examined for their impact on the binding affinity and stability of both NSP14-NSP10 and NSP16-NSP10 complexes. These results highlight the limited changes induced by variant evolution in NSP10 and reflect on the critical roles NSP10 plays during the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle. These results also indicate that there is limited capacity for the virus to overcome inhibitors targeting NSP10 via the generation of variants in inhibitor binding pockets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Syed RA Rizvi
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Danni Dong
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Jiaqi Lou
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Watanyoo Sopipong
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Yufeng Su
- College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University LondonUxbridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Fares Najar
- High-Performance Computing Center, Oklahoma State UniversityStillwaterUnited States
| | - Pratul K Agarwal
- High-Performance Computing Center, Oklahoma State UniversityStillwaterUnited States
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Oklahoma State UniversityStillwaterUnited States
| | - Frank Kozielski
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Shozeb Haider
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- UCL Centre for Advanced Research Computing, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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Wang L, Guzman M, Muñoz-Santos D, Honrubia JM, Ripoll-Gomez J, Delgado R, Sola I, Enjuanes L, Zuñiga S. Cell type dependent stability and virulence of a recombinant SARS-CoV-2, and engineering of a propagation deficient RNA replicon to analyze virus RNA synthesis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1268227. [PMID: 37942479 PMCID: PMC10628495 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1268227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Engineering of reverse genetics systems for newly emerged viruses allows viral genome manipulation, being an essential tool for the study of virus life cycle, virus-host interactions and pathogenesis, as well as for the development of effective antiviral strategies. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emergent human coronavirus that has caused the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The engineering of a full-length infectious cDNA clone and a fluorescent replicon of SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan-Hu-1, using a bacterial artificial chromosome, is reported. Viral growth and genetic stability in eleven cell lines were analyzed, showing that both VeroE6 cells overexpressing transmembrane serin protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and human lung derived cells resulted in the optimization of a cell system to preserve SARS-CoV-2 genetic stability. The recombinant SARS-CoV-2 virus and a point mutant expressing the D614G spike protein variant were virulent in a mouse model. The RNA replicon was propagation-defective, allowing its use in BSL-2 conditions to analyze viral RNA synthesis. The SARS-CoV-2 reverse genetics systems developed constitute a useful tool for studying the molecular biology of the virus, the development of genetically defined vaccines and to establish systems for antiviral compounds screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, National Center of Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - María Guzman
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, National Center of Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Santos
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, National Center of Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel Honrubia
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, National Center of Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Ripoll-Gomez
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, National Center of Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Delgado
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre (Imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Sola
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, National Center of Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Enjuanes
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, National Center of Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonia Zuñiga
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, National Center of Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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5
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El-Haddad K, Adhikari TM, Tu ZJ, Cheng YW, Leng X, Zhang X, Rhoads D, Ko JS, Worley S, Li J, Rubin BP, Esper FP. Intra-host mutation rate of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection during the initial pandemic wave. Virus Genes 2023; 59:653-661. [PMID: 37310519 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-023-02011-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 mutation is minimized through a proofreading function encoded by NSP-14. Most estimates of the SARS-CoV-2 mutation rate are derived from population based sequence data. Our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 evolution might be enhanced through analysis of intra-host viral mutation rates in specific populations. Viral genome analysis was performed between paired samples and mutations quantified at allele frequencies (AF) ≥ 0.25, ≥ 0.5 and ≥ 0.75. Mutation rate was determined employing F81 and JC69 evolution models and compared between isolates with (ΔNSP-14) and without (wtNSP-14) non-synonymous mutations in NSP-14 and by patient comorbidity. Forty paired samples with median interval of 13 days [IQR 8.5-20] were analyzed. The estimated mutation rate by F81 modeling was 93.6 (95%CI 90.8-96.4], 40.7 (95%CI 38.9-42.6) and 34.7 (95%CI 33.0-36.4) substitutions/genome/year at AF ≥ 0.25, ≥ 0.5, ≥ 0.75 respectively. Mutation rate in ΔNSP-14 were significantly elevated at AF ≥ 0.25 vs wtNSP-14. Patients with immune comorbidities had higher mutation rate at all allele frequencies. Intra-host SARS-CoV-2 mutation rates are substantially higher than those reported through population analysis. Virus strains with altered NSP-14 have accelerated mutation rate at low AF. Immunosuppressed patients have elevated mutation rate at all AF. Understanding intra-host virus evolution will aid in current and future pandemic modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim El-Haddad
- Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease, Cleveland Clinic Children's, R3, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, 44195 , OH, USA.
| | - Thamali M Adhikari
- Department of Computer and Data Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Zheng Jin Tu
- Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Yu-Wei Cheng
- Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Xiaoyi Leng
- Department of Computer and Data Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Xiangyi Zhang
- Department of Computer and Data Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Daniel Rhoads
- Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jennifer S Ko
- Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Sarah Worley
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Computer and Data Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Brian P Rubin
- Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Frank P Esper
- Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease, Cleveland Clinic Children's, R3, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, 44195 , OH, USA.
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Kyaw T, Drummond G, Bobik A, Peter K. Myocarditis: causes, mechanisms, and evolving therapies. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:225-238. [PMID: 36946552 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2193330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Myocarditis is a severe lymphocyte-mediated inflammatory disorder of the heart, mostly caused by viruses and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Recently, myocarditis as a rare adverse event of mRNA vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 has caused global attention. The clinical consequences of myocarditis can be very severe, but specific treatment options are lacking or not yet clinically proven. AREAS COVERED This paper offers a brief overview of the biology of viruses that frequently cause myocarditis, focusing on mechanisms important for viral entry and replication following host infection. Current and new potential therapeutic targets/strategies especially for viral myocarditis are reviewed systematically. In particular, the immune system in myocarditis is dissected with respect to infective viral and non-infective, ICI-induced myocarditis. EXPERT OPINION Vaccination is an excellent emerging preventative strategy for viral myocarditis, but most vaccines still require further development. Anti-viral treatments that inhibit viral replication need to be considered following viral infection in host myocardium, as lower viral load reduces inflammation severity. Understanding how the immune system continues to damage the heart even after viral clearance will define novel therapeutic targets/strategies. We propose that viral myocarditis can be best treated using a combination of antiviral agents and immunotherapies that control cytotoxic T cell activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tin Kyaw
- Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia
| | - Grant Drummond
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University Melbourne Australia
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alex Bobik
- Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
- Heart Centre, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Karlheinz Peter
- Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
- Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University Melbourne Australia
- Heart Centre, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology, Monash University Melbourne Australia
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Chinthapatla R, Sotoudegan M, Srivastava P, Anderson TK, Moustafa I, Passow K, Kennelly S, Moorthy R, Dulin D, Feng J, Harki D, Kirchdoerfer R, Cameron C, Arnold J. Interfering with nucleotide excision by the coronavirus 3'-to-5' exoribonuclease. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:315-336. [PMID: 36546762 PMCID: PMC9841423 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Some of the most efficacious antiviral therapeutics are ribonucleos(t)ide analogs. The presence of a 3'-to-5' proofreading exoribonuclease (ExoN) in coronaviruses diminishes the potency of many ribonucleotide analogs. The ability to interfere with ExoN activity will create new possibilities for control of SARS-CoV-2 infection. ExoN is formed by a 1:1 complex of nsp14 and nsp10 proteins. We have purified and characterized ExoN using a robust, quantitative system that reveals determinants of specificity and efficiency of hydrolysis. Double-stranded RNA is preferred over single-stranded RNA. Nucleotide excision is distributive, with only one or two nucleotides hydrolyzed in a single binding event. The composition of the terminal basepair modulates excision. A stalled SARS-CoV-2 replicase in complex with either correctly or incorrectly terminated products prevents excision, suggesting that a mispaired end is insufficient to displace the replicase. Finally, we have discovered several modifications to the 3'-RNA terminus that interfere with or block ExoN-catalyzed excision. While a 3'-OH facilitates hydrolysis of a nucleotide with a normal ribose configuration, this substituent is not required for a nucleotide with a planar ribose configuration such as that present in the antiviral nucleotide produced by viperin. Design of ExoN-resistant, antiviral ribonucleotides should be feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rukesh Chinthapatla
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mohamad Sotoudegan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Pankaj Srivastava
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Thomas K Anderson
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Ibrahim M Moustafa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Kellan T Passow
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Samantha A Kennelly
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Ramkumar Moorthy
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - David Dulin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, and LaserLaB Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Junior Research Group 2, Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Cauerstr. 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Joy Y Feng
- Gilead Sciences, Inc, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
| | - Daniel A Harki
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Robert N Kirchdoerfer
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Craig E Cameron
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jamie J Arnold
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Bohn P, Waßmann I, Wendt L, Leske A, Hoenen T, Tews BA, Groseth A. A dsRNA-binding mutant reveals only a minor role of exonuclease activity in interferon antagonism by the arenavirus nucleoprotein. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011049. [PMID: 36603036 PMCID: PMC9815661 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The arenavirus nucleoprotein (NP) plays an important role in the virus' ability to block interferon (IFN) production, and its exonuclease function appears to contribute to this activity. However, efforts to analyze this contribution are complicated by the functional overlap between the exonuclease active site and a neighboring region involved in IKKε-binding and subsequent inhibition of IRF3 activation, which also plays an important role in IFN production. To circumvent this issue, we mutated a residue located away from the active site that is involved in binding of the dsRNA substrate being targeted for exonuclease digestion, i.e. H426A. We found that expression of Tacaribe virus (TCRV) NP containing this RNA-binding H426A mutation was still able to efficiently block IFN-β promoter activity in response to Sendai virus infection, despite being strongly impaired in its exonuclease activity. This was in contrast to a conventional exonuclease active site mutant (E388A), which was impaired with respect to both exonuclease activity and IFN antagonism. Importantly, growth of a recombinant virus encoding the RNA-binding mutation (rTCRV-H426A) was similar to wild-type in IFN-deficient cells, unlike the active site mutant (rTCRV-E388A), which was already markedly impaired in these cells. Further, in IFN-competent cells, the TCRV-H426A RNA-binding mutant showed more robust growth and delayed IFN-β mRNA upregulation compared to the TCRV-E388A active site mutant. Taken together, this novel mutational approach, which allows us to now dissect the different contributions of the NP exonuclease activity and IKKε-binding/IRF3 inhibition to IFN antagonism, clearly suggests that conventional exonuclease mutants targeting the active site overestimate the contribution of the exonuclease function, and that rather other IFN antagonistic functions of NP play the dominant role in IFN-antagonism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Bohn
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Irke Waßmann
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Lisa Wendt
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Anne Leske
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Thomas Hoenen
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Birke A. Tews
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Allison Groseth
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- * E-mail:
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9
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Yuyukina SK, Zharkov DO. Mechanisms of Coronavirus Genome Stability As Potential Targets for Antiviral Drugs. HERALD OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 2022; 92:470-478. [PMID: 36091852 PMCID: PMC9447942 DOI: 10.1134/s1019331622040256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it necessary to create antivirals active against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. One of the widely used strategies to fight off viral infections is the use of modified nucleoside analogues that inhibit viral replication by incorporating DNA or RNA into the growing chain, thus stopping its synthesis. The difficulty of using this method of treatment in the case of SARS-CoV-2 is that coronaviruses have an effective mechanism for maintaining genome stability. Its central element is the nsp14 protein, which is characterized by exonuclease activity, due to which incorrectly included and noncanonical nucleotides are removed from the 3' end of the growing RNA chain. Inhibitors of nsp14 exonuclease and nucleoside analogues resistant to its action are viewed as potential targets for anticoronavirus therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. K. Yuyukina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - D. O. Zharkov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
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10
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Wang M, Zhao Y, Liu J, Li T. SARS-CoV-2 modulation of RIG-I-MAVS signaling: Potential mechanisms of impairment on host antiviral immunity and therapeutic approaches. MEDCOMM - FUTURE MEDICINE 2022; 1:e29. [PMID: 37521851 PMCID: PMC9878249 DOI: 10.1002/mef2.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global infectious disease aroused by RNA virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Patients may suffer from severe respiratory failure or even die, posing a huge challenge to global public health. Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) is one of the major pattern recognition receptors, function to recognize RNA viruses and mediate the innate immune response. RIG-1 and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 contain an N-terminal caspase recruitment domain that is activated upon detection of viral RNA in the cytoplasm of virus-infected cells. Activated RIG-I and mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) protein trigger a series of corresponding immune responses such as the production of type I interferon against viral infection. In this review, we are summarizing the role of the structural, nonstructural, and accessory proteins from SARS-CoV-2 on the RIG-I-MAVS pathway, and exploring the potential mechanism how SARS-CoV-2 could evade the host antiviral response. We then proposed that modulation of the RIG-I-MAVS signaling pathway might be a novel and effective therapeutic strategy to against COVID-19 as well as the constantly mutating coronavirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and HealthMacau University of Science and TechnologyMacauChina
| | - Yue Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and HealthMacau University of Science and TechnologyMacauChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Clinical Laboratory MedicineGuangdong Medical UniversityDongguanChina
| | - Juan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and HealthMacau University of Science and TechnologyMacauChina
| | - Ting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and HealthMacau University of Science and TechnologyMacauChina
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11
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Frazier MN, Riccio AA, Wilson IM, Copeland WC, Stanley RE. Recent insights into the structure and function of coronavirus ribonucleases. FEBS Open Bio 2022; 12:1567-1583. [PMID: 35445579 PMCID: PMC9110870 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses use approximately two-thirds of their 30-kb genomes to encode nonstructural proteins (nsps) with diverse functions that assist in viral replication and transcription, and evasion of the host immune response. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to renewed interest in the molecular mechanisms used by coronaviruses to infect cells and replicate. Among the 16 Nsps involved in replication and transcription, coronaviruses encode two ribonucleases that process the viral RNA-an exonuclease (Nsp14) and an endonuclease (Nsp15). In this review, we discuss recent structural and biochemical studies of these nucleases and the implications for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith N. Frazier
- Signal Transduction LaboratoryDepartment of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthResearch Triangle ParkNCUSA
| | - Amanda A. Riccio
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology LaboratoryDepartment of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthResearch Triangle ParkNCUSA
| | - Isha M. Wilson
- Signal Transduction LaboratoryDepartment of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthResearch Triangle ParkNCUSA
| | - William C. Copeland
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology LaboratoryDepartment of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthResearch Triangle ParkNCUSA
| | - Robin E. Stanley
- Signal Transduction LaboratoryDepartment of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthResearch Triangle ParkNCUSA
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12
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SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 Exoribonuclease Removes the Natural Antiviral 3′-Deoxy-3′,4′-didehydro-cytidine Nucleotide from RNA. Viruses 2022; 14:v14081790. [PMID: 36016411 PMCID: PMC9415739 DOI: 10.3390/v14081790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The on-going global pandemic of COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, which features a proofreading mechanism to facilitate the replication of its large RNA genome. The 3′-to-5′ exoribonuclease (ExoN) activity of SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein 14 (nsp14) removes nucleotides misincorporated during RNA synthesis by the low-fidelity viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and thereby compromises the efficacy of antiviral nucleoside/nucleotide analogues. Here we show biochemically that SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 can excise the natural antiviral chain-terminating nucleotide, 3′-deoxy-3′,4′-didehydro-cytidine 5′-monophosphate (ddhCMP), incorporated by RdRp at the 3′ end of an RNA strand. Nsp14 ExoN processes an RNA strand terminated with ddhCMP more efficiently than that with a non-physiological chain terminator 3′-deoxy-cytidine monophosphate (3′-dCMP), whereas RdRp is more susceptible to chain termination by 3′-dCTP than ddhCTP. These results suggest that nsp14 ExoN could play a role in protecting SARS-CoV-2 from ddhCTP, which is produced as part of the innate immune response against viral infections, and that the SARS-CoV-2 enzymes may have adapted to minimize the antiviral effect of ddhCTP.
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13
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Hernández S, Feracci M, De Jesus CT, El Kazzi P, Kaci R, Garlatti L, Mondielli C, Bailly F, Cotelle P, Touret F, de Lamballerie X, Coutard B, Decroly E, Canard B, Ferron F, Alvarez K. Identification of potent inhibitors of arenavirus and SARS-CoV-2 exoribonucleases by fluorescence polarization assay. Antiviral Res 2022; 204:105364. [PMID: 35716929 PMCID: PMC9212739 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Viral exoribonucleases are uncommon in the world of RNA viruses. To date, they have only been identified in the Arenaviridae and the Coronaviridae families. The exoribonucleases of these viruses play a crucial role in the pathogenicity and interplay with host innate immune response. Moreover, coronaviruses exoribonuclease is also involved in a proofreading mechanism ensuring the genetic stability of the viral genome. Because of their key roles in virus life cycle, they constitute attractive target for drug design. Here we developed a sensitive, robust and reliable fluorescence polarization assay to measure the exoribonuclease activity and its inhibition in vitro. The effectiveness of the method was validated on three different viral exoribonucleases, including SARS-CoV-2, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis and Machupo viruses. We performed a screening of a focused library consisting of 113 metal chelators. Hit compounds were recovered with an IC50 at micromolar level. We confirmed 3 hits in SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero-E6 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Hernández
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Mikael Feracci
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Carolina Trajano De Jesus
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Priscila El Kazzi
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Rafik Kaci
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Laura Garlatti
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Clemence Mondielli
- Evotec (France) SAS, Campus Curie, 195 route d’Espagne, 31036, Toulouse CEDEX, France
| | - Fabrice Bailly
- Univ Lille, INSERM, CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition Research Center, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Philippe Cotelle
- Univ Lille, INSERM, CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition Research Center, F-59000, Lille, France,ENSCL-Centrale Lille, CS 90108, F-59652, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
| | - Franck Touret
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille University -IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Xavier de Lamballerie
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille University -IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Bruno Coutard
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille University -IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Etienne Decroly
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Bruno Canard
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - François Ferron
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France,Corresponding author. AFMB, Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille Cedex 9, France
| | - Karine Alvarez
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France,Corresponding author. AFMB, Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille Cedex 9, France
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14
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Wright LR, Wright DL, Weller SK. Viral Nucleases from Herpesviruses and Coronavirus in Recombination and Proofreading: Potential Targets for Antiviral Drug Discovery. Viruses 2022; 14:v14071557. [PMID: 35891537 PMCID: PMC9324378 DOI: 10.3390/v14071557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In this review, we explore recombination in two very different virus families that have become major threats to human health. The Herpesviridae are a large family of pathogenic double-stranded DNA viruses involved in a range of diseases affecting both people and animals. Coronaviridae are positive-strand RNA viruses (CoVs) that have also become major threats to global health and economic stability, especially in the last two decades. Despite many differences, such as the make-up of their genetic material (DNA vs. RNA) and overall mechanisms of genome replication, both human herpes viruses (HHVs) and CoVs have evolved to rely heavily on recombination for viral genome replication, adaptation to new hosts and evasion of host immune regulation. In this review, we will focus on the roles of three viral exonucleases: two HHV exonucleases (alkaline nuclease and PolExo) and one CoV exonuclease (ExoN). We will review the roles of these three nucleases in their respective life cycles and discuss the state of drug discovery efforts against these targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee R. Wright
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; (L.R.W.); (D.L.W.)
| | - Dennis L. Wright
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; (L.R.W.); (D.L.W.)
| | - Sandra K. Weller
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(860)-679-2310; Fax: +1-(860)-679-1239
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15
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Jin Y, Ouyang M, Yu T, Zhuang J, Wang W, Liu X, Duan F, Guo D, Peng X, Pan JA. Genome-Wide Analysis of the Indispensable Role of Non-structural Proteins in the Replication of SARS-CoV-2. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:907422. [PMID: 35722274 PMCID: PMC9198553 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.907422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the process of replication and transcription of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for antiviral strategy development. The replicase polyprotein is indispensable for viral replication. However, whether all nsps derived from the replicase polyprotein of SARS-CoV-2 are indispensable is not fully understood. In this study, we utilized the SARS-CoV-2 replicon as the system to investigate the role of each nsp in viral replication. We found that except for nsp16, all the nsp deletions drastically impair the replication of the replicon, and nsp14 could recover the replication deficiency caused by its deletion in the viral replicon. Due to the unsuccessful expressions of nsp1, nsp3, and nsp16, we could not draw a conclusion about their in trans-rescue functions. Our study provided a new angle to understand the role of each nsp in viral replication and transcription, helping the evaluation of nsps as the target for antiviral drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyun Jin
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Muzi Ouyang
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ting Yu
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiaxin Zhuang
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenhao Wang
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xue Liu
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fangfang Duan
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Deyin Guo
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoxue Peng
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ji-An Pan
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
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16
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Chen Y, Liu Q, Zhou L, Zhou Y, Yan H, Lan K. Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants: Why, how, and what's next? CELL INSIGHT 2022; 1:100029. [PMID: 37193049 PMCID: PMC9057926 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellin.2022.100029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant poses a striking threat to human society. More than 30 mutations in the Spike protein of the Omicron variant severely compromised the protective immunity elicited by either vaccination or prior infection. The persistent viral evolutionary trajectory generates Omicron-associated lineages, such as BA.1 and BA.2. Moreover, the virus recombination upon Delta and Omicron co-infections has been reported lately, although the impact remains to be assessed. This minireview summarizes the characteristics, evolution and mutation control, and immune evasion mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 variants, which will be helpful for the in-depth understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 variants and policy-making related to COVID-19 pandemic control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Qianyun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Li Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - You Zhou
- Systems Immunity University Research Institute and Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Huan Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Ke Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
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17
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Grellet E, L'Hôte I, Goulet A, Imbert I. Replication of the coronavirus genome: A paradox among positive-strand RNA viruses. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101923. [PMID: 35413290 PMCID: PMC8994683 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus (CoV) genomes consist of positive-sense single-stranded RNA and are among the largest viral RNAs known to date (∼30 kb). As a result, CoVs deploy sophisticated mechanisms to replicate these extraordinarily large genomes as well as to transcribe subgenomic messenger RNAs. Since 2003, with the emergence of three highly pathogenic CoVs (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2), significant progress has been made in the molecular characterization of the viral proteins and key mechanisms involved in CoV RNA genome replication. For example, to allow for the maintenance and integrity of their large RNA genomes, CoVs have acquired RNA proofreading 3'-5' exoribonuclease activity (in nonstructural protein nsp14). In order to replicate the large genome, the viral-RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp; in nsp12) is supplemented by a processivity factor (made of the viral complex nsp7/nsp8), making it the fastest known RdRp. Lastly, a viral structural protein, the nucleocapsid (N) protein, which is primarily involved in genome encapsidation, is required for efficient viral replication and transcription. Therefore, CoVs are a paradox among positive-strand RNA viruses in the sense that they use both a processivity factor and have proofreading activity reminiscent of DNA organisms in addition to structural proteins that mediate efficient RNA synthesis, commonly used by negative-strand RNA viruses. In this review, we present a historical perspective of these unsuspected discoveries and detail the current knowledge on the core replicative machinery deployed by CoVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeline Grellet
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, AMU CNRS UMR 7255, LISM, Marseille, France
| | - India L'Hôte
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, AMU CNRS UMR 7255, LISM, Marseille, France
| | - Adeline Goulet
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, AMU CNRS UMR 7255, LISM, Marseille, France
| | - Isabelle Imbert
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, AMU CNRS UMR 7255, LISM, Marseille, France.
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18
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Yan Q, Liu X, Sun Y, Zeng W, Li Y, Zhao F, Wu K, Fan S, Zhao M, Chen J, Yi L. Swine Enteric Coronavirus: Diverse Pathogen–Host Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073953. [PMID: 35409315 PMCID: PMC8999375 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Swine enteric coronavirus (SeCoV) causes acute gastroenteritis and high mortality in newborn piglets. Since the last century, porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) have swept farms all over the world and caused substantial economic losses. In recent years, porcine delta coronavirus (PDCoV) and swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) have been emerging SeCoVs. Some of them even spread across species, which made the epidemic situation of SeCoV more complex and changeable. Recent studies have begun to reveal the complex SeCoV–host interaction mechanism in detail. This review summarizes the current advances in autophagy, apoptosis, and innate immunity induced by SeCoV infection. These complex interactions may be directly involved in viral replication or the alteration of some signal pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanhui Yan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Q.Y.); (X.L.); (Y.S.); (W.Z.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.); (K.W.); (S.F.); (M.Z.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiaodi Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Q.Y.); (X.L.); (Y.S.); (W.Z.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.); (K.W.); (S.F.); (M.Z.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yawei Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Q.Y.); (X.L.); (Y.S.); (W.Z.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.); (K.W.); (S.F.); (M.Z.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Weijun Zeng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Q.Y.); (X.L.); (Y.S.); (W.Z.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.); (K.W.); (S.F.); (M.Z.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yuwan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Q.Y.); (X.L.); (Y.S.); (W.Z.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.); (K.W.); (S.F.); (M.Z.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Feifan Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Q.Y.); (X.L.); (Y.S.); (W.Z.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.); (K.W.); (S.F.); (M.Z.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Keke Wu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Q.Y.); (X.L.); (Y.S.); (W.Z.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.); (K.W.); (S.F.); (M.Z.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Shuangqi Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Q.Y.); (X.L.); (Y.S.); (W.Z.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.); (K.W.); (S.F.); (M.Z.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Mingqiu Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Q.Y.); (X.L.); (Y.S.); (W.Z.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.); (K.W.); (S.F.); (M.Z.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jinding Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Q.Y.); (X.L.); (Y.S.); (W.Z.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.); (K.W.); (S.F.); (M.Z.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Correspondence: (J.C.); (L.Y.); Tel.: +86-20-8528-8017 (J.C. & L.Y.)
| | - Lin Yi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Q.Y.); (X.L.); (Y.S.); (W.Z.); (Y.L.); (F.Z.); (K.W.); (S.F.); (M.Z.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Correspondence: (J.C.); (L.Y.); Tel.: +86-20-8528-8017 (J.C. & L.Y.)
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19
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Esposito S, D’Abrosca G, Antolak A, Pedone PV, Isernia C, Malgieri G. Host and Viral Zinc-Finger Proteins in COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073711. [PMID: 35409070 PMCID: PMC8998646 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
An unprecedented effort to tackle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has characterized the activity of the global scientific community over the last two years. Hundreds of published studies have focused on the comprehension of the immune response to the virus and on the definition of the functional role of SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Proteins containing zinc fingers, both belonging to SARS-CoV-2 or to the host, play critical roles in COVID-19 participating in antiviral defenses and regulation of viral life cycle. Differentially expressed zinc finger proteins and their distinct activities could thus be important in determining the severity of the disease and represent important targets for drug development. Therefore, we here review the mechanisms of action of host and viral zinc finger proteins in COVID-19 as a contribution to the comprehension of the disease and also highlight strategies for therapeutic developments.
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20
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Costa SM, Saramago M, Matos RG, Arraiano CM, Viegas SC. How hydrolytic exoribonucleases impact human disease: Two sides of the same story. FEBS Open Bio 2022. [PMID: 35247037 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
RNAs are extremely important molecules inside the cell which perform many different functions. For example, messenger RNAs, transfer RNAs, and ribosomal RNAs are involved in protein synthesis, whereas non-coding RNAs have numerous regulatory roles. Ribonucleases are the enzymes responsible for the processing and degradation of all types of RNAs, having multiple roles in every aspect of RNA metabolism. However, the involvement of RNases in disease is still not well understood. This review focuses on the involvement of the RNase II/RNB family of 3'-5' exoribonucleases in human disease. This can be attributed to direct effects, whereby mutations in the eukaryotic enzymes of this family (Dis3 (or Rrp44), Dis3L1 (or Dis3L), and Dis3L2) are associated with a disease, or indirect effects, whereby mutations in the prokaryotic counterparts of RNase II/RNB family (RNase II and/or RNase R) affect the physiology and virulence of several human pathogens. In this review, we will compare the structural and biochemical characteristics of the members of the RNase II/RNB family of enzymes. The outcomes of mutations impacting enzymatic function will be revisited, in terms of both the direct and indirect effects on disease. Furthermore, we also describe the SARS-CoV-2 viral exoribonuclease and its importance to combat COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, RNases may be a good therapeutic target to reduce bacterial and viral pathogenicity. These are the two perspectives on RNase II/RNB family enzymes that will be presented in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana M Costa
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, EAN, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Margarida Saramago
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, EAN, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Rute G Matos
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, EAN, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Cecília M Arraiano
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, EAN, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Sandra C Viegas
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, EAN, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
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21
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Yan W, Zheng Y, Zeng X, He B, Cheng W. Structural biology of SARS-CoV-2: open the door for novel therapies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:26. [PMID: 35087058 PMCID: PMC8793099 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-00884-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the pandemic disease COVID-19, which is so far without efficacious treatment. The discovery of therapy reagents for treating COVID-19 are urgently needed, and the structures of the potential drug-target proteins in the viral life cycle are particularly important. SARS-CoV-2, a member of the Orthocoronavirinae subfamily containing the largest RNA genome, encodes 29 proteins including nonstructural, structural and accessory proteins which are involved in viral adsorption, entry and uncoating, nucleic acid replication and transcription, assembly and release, etc. These proteins individually act as a partner of the replication machinery or involved in forming the complexes with host cellular factors to participate in the essential physiological activities. This review summarizes the representative structures and typically potential therapy agents that target SARS-CoV-2 or some critical proteins for viral pathogenesis, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying viral infection, prevention of infection, and treatment. Indeed, these studies open the door for COVID therapies, leading to ways to prevent and treat COVID-19, especially, treatment of the disease caused by the viral variants are imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhu Yan
- Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Infection and Intervention Laboratory of Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanhui Zheng
- Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Infection and Intervention Laboratory of Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaotao Zeng
- Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Infection and Intervention Laboratory of Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Bin He
- Department of Emergency Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
- The First People's Hospital of Longquanyi District Chengdu, 610100, Chengdu, China.
| | - Wei Cheng
- Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Infection and Intervention Laboratory of Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
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22
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Li TW, Kenney AD, Park JG, Fiches GN, Liu H, Zhou D, Biswas A, Zhao W, Que J, Santoso N, Martinez-Sobrido L, Yount JS, Zhu J. SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 protein associates with IMPDH2 and activates NF-κB signaling. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1007089. [PMID: 36177032 PMCID: PMC9513374 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1007089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection leads to NF-κB activation and induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, though the underlying mechanism for this activation is not fully understood. Our results reveal that the SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 protein contributes to the viral activation of NF-κB signaling. Nsp14 caused the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. Nsp14 induced the upregulation of IL-6 and IL-8, which also occurred in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells. IL-8 upregulation was further confirmed in lung tissue samples from COVID-19 patients. A previous proteomic screen identified the putative interaction of Nsp14 with host Inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2), which is known to regulate NF-κB signaling. We confirmed the Nsp14-IMPDH2 protein interaction and identified that IMPDH2 knockdown or chemical inhibition using ribavirin (RIB) and mycophenolic acid (MPA) abolishes Nsp14- mediated NF-κB activation and cytokine induction. Furthermore, IMPDH2 inhibitors (RIB, MPA) or NF-κB inhibitors (bortezomib, BAY 11-7082) restricted SARS-CoV-2 infection, indicating that IMPDH2-mediated activation of NF-κB signaling is beneficial to viral replication. Overall, our results identify a novel role of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 in inducing NF-κB activation through IMPDH2 to promote viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tai-Wei Li
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Adam D. Kenney
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jun-Gyu Park
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Guillaume N. Fiches
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Helu Liu
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dawei Zhou
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Ayan Biswas
- Department of Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Weiqiang Zhao
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jianwen Que
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Netty Santoso
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | | | - Jacob S. Yount
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jian Zhu
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Jian Zhu,
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23
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Li S, Yang F, Ma C, Cao W, Yang J, Zhao Z, Tian H, Zhu Z, Zheng H. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus nsp14 inhibits NF-κB pathway activation by targeting the IKK complex and p65. ANIMAL DISEASES 2021; 1:24. [PMID: 34778885 PMCID: PMC8514322 DOI: 10.1186/s44149-021-00025-5] [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: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a group of related enveloped RNA viruses that have severe consequences in a wide variety of animals by causing respiratory, enteric or systemic diseases. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is an economically important CoV distributed worldwide that causes diarrhea in pigs. nsp14 is a nonstructural protein of PEDV that is involved in regulation of innate immunity and viral replication. However, the function and mechanism by which nsp14 modulates and manipulates host immune responses remain largely unknown. Here, we report that PEDV nsp14 is an NF-κB pathway antagonist. Overexpression PEDV nsp14 protein remarkably decreases SeV-, poly (I:C)- and TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation. Meanwhile, expression of proinflammatory cytokines is suppressed by nsp14. nsp14 inhibits the phosphorylation of IKKs by interacting with IKKs and p65. Furthermore, nsp14 suppresses TNF-α-induced phosphorylation and nuclear import of p65. Overexpression nsp14 considerably increases PEDV replication. These results suggest a novel mechanism employed by PEDV to suppress the host antiviral response, providing insights that can guide the development of antivirals against CoVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Foot and Mouth Diseases Reference Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046 China
| | - Fan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Foot and Mouth Diseases Reference Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046 China
| | - Caina Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Foot and Mouth Diseases Reference Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046 China
| | - Weijun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Foot and Mouth Diseases Reference Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046 China
| | - Jinping Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Foot and Mouth Diseases Reference Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046 China
| | - Zhenxiang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Foot and Mouth Diseases Reference Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046 China
| | - Hong Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Foot and Mouth Diseases Reference Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046 China
| | - Zixiang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Foot and Mouth Diseases Reference Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046 China
| | - Haixue Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Foot and Mouth Diseases Reference Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046 China
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24
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Schroeder S, Mache C, Kleine-Weber H, Corman VM, Muth D, Richter A, Fatykhova D, Memish ZA, Stanifer ML, Boulant S, Gultom M, Dijkman R, Eggeling S, Hocke A, Hippenstiel S, Thiel V, Pöhlmann S, Wolff T, Müller MA, Drosten C. Functional comparison of MERS-coronavirus lineages reveals increased replicative fitness of the recombinant lineage 5. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5324. [PMID: 34493730 PMCID: PMC8423819 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25519-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is enzootic in dromedary camels across the Middle East and Africa. Virus-induced pneumonia in humans results from animal contact, with a potential for limited onward transmission. Phenotypic changes have been suspected after a novel recombinant clade (lineage 5) caused large nosocomial outbreaks in Saudi Arabia and South Korea in 2016. However, there has been no functional assessment. Here we perform a comprehensive in vitro and ex vivo comparison of viruses from parental and recombinant virus lineages (lineage 3, n = 7; lineage 4, n = 8; lineage 5, n = 9 viruses) from Saudi Arabia, isolated immediately before and after the shift toward lineage 5. Replication of lineage 5 viruses is significantly increased. Transcriptional profiling finds reduced induction of immune genes IFNB1, CCL5, and IFNL1 in lung cells infected with lineage 5 strains. Phenotypic differences may be determined by IFN antagonism based on experiments using IFN receptor knock out and signaling inhibition. Additionally, lineage 5 is more resilient against IFN pre-treatment of Calu-3 cells (ca. 10-fold difference in replication). This phenotypic change associated with lineage 5 has remained undiscovered by viral sequence surveillance, but may be a relevant indicator of pandemic potential. MERS-CoV is enzootic in dromedary camels, can spread to humans but undergoes limited onward transmission. Here, Schroeder et al. compare clinical isolates of MERS-CoV in vitro and show that the predominantly circulating recombinant lineage 5 possess a fitness advantage over parental lineage 3 and 4 due to reduced activation of innate immune signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Schroeder
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christin Mache
- Unit 17, Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses, Robert Koch Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hannah Kleine-Weber
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Victor M Corman
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
| | - Doreen Muth
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Richter
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Diana Fatykhova
- Dept. of Infectious and Respiratory Diseases, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ziad A Memish
- Research and Innovation Department, King Saud Medical City, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Megan L Stanifer
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Steeve Boulant
- Research Group "Cellular polarity and viral infection", German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mitra Gultom
- Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Biomedical Science, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ronald Dijkman
- Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Eggeling
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Vivantes Clinics Neukölln, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Hocke
- Dept. of Infectious and Respiratory Diseases, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Hippenstiel
- Dept. of Infectious and Respiratory Diseases, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thorsten Wolff
- Unit 17, Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses, Robert Koch Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcel A Müller
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany.,Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany.
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25
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Liu C, Shi W, Becker ST, Schatz DG, Liu B, Yang Y. Structural basis of mismatch recognition by a SARS-CoV-2 proofreading enzyme. Science 2021; 373:1142-1146. [PMID: 34315827 PMCID: PMC9836006 DOI: 10.1126/science.abi9310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus 3′-to-5′ exoribonuclease (ExoN), residing in the nonstructural protein (nsp) 10–nsp14 complex, boosts replication fidelity by proofreading RNA synthesis and is critical for the virus life cycle. ExoN also recognizes and excises nucleotide analog inhibitors incorporated into the nascent RNA, undermining the effectiveness of nucleotide analog–based antivirals. Here we present cryo–electron microscopy structures of both wild-type and mutant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nsp10-nsp14 in complex with an RNA substrate bearing a 3′-end mismatch at resolutions ranging from 2.5 to 3.9 angstroms. The structures reveal the molecular determinants of ExoN substrate specificity and offer insight into the molecular mechanisms of mismatch correction during coronavirus RNA synthesis. Our findings provide guidance for rational design of improved anticoronavirus therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Corresponding author. (C.L.); (B.L.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Wei Shi
- Section of Transcription and Gene Regulation, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
| | - Scott T. Becker
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - David G. Schatz
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- Section of Transcription and Gene Regulation, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA.,Corresponding author. (C.L.); (B.L.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Yang Yang
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,Corresponding author. (C.L.); (B.L.); (Y.Y.)
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26
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Identification and evaluation of potential SARS-CoV-2 antiviral agents targeting mRNA cap guanine N7-Methyltransferase. Antiviral Res 2021; 193:105142. [PMID: 34303749 PMCID: PMC8299157 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2021.105142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the currently ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, encodes its own mRNA capping machinery. Insights into this capping system may provide new ideas for therapeutic interventions and drug discovery. In this work, we employ a previously developed Py-FLINT screening approach to study the inhibitory effects of compounds against the cap guanine N7-methyltransferase enzyme, which is involved in SARS-CoV-2 mRNA capping. We screened five commercially available libraries (7039 compounds in total) to identify 83 inhibitors with IC50 < 50 μM, which were further validated using RP HPLC and dot blot assays. Novel fluorescence anisotropy binding assays were developed to examine the targeted binding site. The inhibitor structures were analyzed for structure-activity relationships in order to define common structural patterns. Finally, the most potent inhibitors were tested for antiviral activity on SARS-CoV-2 in a cell based assay.
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27
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Canal B, McClure AW, Curran JF, Wu M, Ulferts R, Weissmann F, Zeng J, Bertolin AP, Milligan JC, Basu S, Drury LS, Deegan TD, Fujisawa R, Roberts EL, Basier C, Labib K, Beale R, Howell M, Diffley JF. Identifying SARS-CoV-2 antiviral compounds by screening for small molecule inhibitors of nsp14/nsp10 exoribonuclease. Biochem J 2021; 478:2445-2464. [PMID: 34198326 PMCID: PMC8286829 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus that emerged in 2019 and rapidly spread across the world causing a deadly pandemic with tremendous social and economic costs. Healthcare systems worldwide are under great pressure, and there is an urgent need for effective antiviral treatments. The only currently approved antiviral treatment for COVID-19 is remdesivir, an inhibitor of viral genome replication. SARS-CoV-2 proliferation relies on the enzymatic activities of the non-structural proteins (nsp), which makes them interesting targets for the development of new antiviral treatments. With the aim to identify novel SARS-CoV-2 antivirals, we have purified the exoribonuclease/methyltransferase (nsp14) and its cofactor (nsp10) and developed biochemical assays compatible with high-throughput approaches to screen for exoribonuclease inhibitors. We have screened a library of over 5000 commercial compounds and identified patulin and aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) as inhibitors of nsp14 exoribonuclease in vitro. We found that patulin and ATA inhibit replication of SARS-CoV-2 in a VERO E6 cell-culture model. These two new antiviral compounds will be valuable tools for further coronavirus research as well as potentially contributing to new therapeutic opportunities for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berta Canal
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Allison W. McClure
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Joseph F. Curran
- Cell Cycle Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Mary Wu
- High Throughput Screening, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Rachel Ulferts
- Cell Biology of Infection Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Florian Weissmann
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Jingkun Zeng
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Agustina P. Bertolin
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Jennifer C. Milligan
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Souradeep Basu
- Cell Cycle Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Lucy S. Drury
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Tom D. Deegan
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Ryo Fujisawa
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Emma L. Roberts
- Cell Cycle Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Clovis Basier
- Cell Cycle Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Karim Labib
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Rupert Beale
- Cell Biology of Infection Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Michael Howell
- High Throughput Screening, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - John F.X. Diffley
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
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Pearson LA, Green CJ, Lin D, Petit AP, Gray DW, Cowling VH, Fordyce EA. Development of a High-Throughput Screening Assay to Identify Inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 Guanine-N7-Methyltransferase Using RapidFire Mass Spectrometry. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2021; 26:749-756. [PMID: 33724070 PMCID: PMC7967019 DOI: 10.1177/24725552211000652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) represents a significant threat to human health. Despite its similarity to related coronaviruses, there are currently no specific treatments for COVID-19 infection, and therefore there is an urgent need to develop therapies for this and future coronavirus outbreaks. Formation of the cap at the 5' end of viral RNA has been shown to help coronaviruses evade host defenses. Nonstructural protein 14 (nsp14) is responsible for N7-methylation of the cap guanosine in coronaviruses. This enzyme is highly conserved among coronaviruses and is a bifunctional protein with both N7-methyltransferase and 3'-5' exonuclease activities that distinguish nsp14 from its human equivalent. Mutational analysis of SARS-CoV nsp14 highlighted its role in viral replication and translation efficiency of the viral genome. In this paper, we describe the characterization and development of a high-throughput assay for nsp14 utilizing RapidFire technology. The assay has been used to screen a library of 1771 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs. From this, we have validated nitazoxanide as a selective inhibitor of the methyltransferase activity of nsp14. Although modestly active, this compound could serve as a starting point for further optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lesley-Anne Pearson
- Drug Discovery Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Charlotte J. Green
- Drug Discovery Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - De Lin
- Drug Discovery Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Alain-Pierre Petit
- Drug Discovery Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - David W. Gray
- Drug Discovery Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Victoria H. Cowling
- Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Euan A.F. Fordyce
- Drug Discovery Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
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Tahir M. Coronavirus genomic nsp14-ExoN, structure, role, mechanism, and potential application as a drug target. J Med Virol 2021; 93:4258-4264. [PMID: 33837972 PMCID: PMC8250946 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), causing a global pandemic with devastating effects on healthcare and social-economic systems, has no special antiviral therapies available for human coronaviruses (CoVs). The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) possesses a nonstructural protein (nsp14), with amino-terminal domain coding for proofreading exoribonuclease (ExoN) that is required for high-fidelity replication. The ability of CoVs during genome replication and transcription to proofread and exclude mismatched nucleotides has long hindered the development of anti-CoV drugs. The resistance of SARS-CoV-2 to antivirals, especially nucleoside analogs (NAs), shows the need to identify new CoV inhibition targets. Therefore, this review highlights the importance of nsp14-ExoN as a target for inhibition. Also, nucleoside analogs could be used in combination with existing anti-CoV therapeutics to target the proofreading mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Tahir
- Department of BiologyUniversity of SulaimaniSulaimanyahKurdistanIraq
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30
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Alsobaie S. Understanding the Molecular Biology of SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review. Infect Drug Resist 2021; 14:2259-2268. [PMID: 34163190 PMCID: PMC8215902 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s306441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses are named after the crown-like spike proteins on their surface. In the 21st century, three coronaviruses, namely severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), SARS-CoV, and Middle East respiratory syndrome related coronavirus (MERS-CoV), have emerged in the human population, presumably evolving from pathogens infecting other animals. Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses responsible for 15-30% of the atypical pneumonia cases in humans worldwide. The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by the newest SARS virus, SARS-CoV-2, an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA betacoronavirus of the family Coronaviridae. As of April 2021, the World Health Organization has reported more than 3 million deaths from COVID-19 and more than 140 million people have been infected with the virus, thereby making it the worst SARS pandemic of all time. Here, I review the current understanding of the molecular biology of coronaviruses and their host interactions, bringing together knowledge of the infection process to aid in the development of therapeutic drugs and/or vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. I also briefly overview the current situation of available treatments, vaccinations, and emerging strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Alsobaie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
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31
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Niu X, Kong F, Hou YJ, Wang Q. Crucial mutation in the exoribonuclease domain of nsp14 of PEDV leads to high genetic instability during viral replication. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:106. [PMID: 34099051 PMCID: PMC8182996 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00598-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Coronavirus (CoV) nonstructural protein 14 (nsp14) has exoribonuclease (ExoN) activity, responsible for proofreading and contributing to replication fidelity. It has been reported that CoVs exhibit variable sensitivity to nsp14-ExoN deficiency. Betacoronavirus murine hepatitis virus (MHV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV were viable upon nsp14-ExoN deficiency. While betacoronavirus Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 were non-viable with disabled nsp14-ExoN. In this study, we investigated the nsp14-ExoN deficiency of alphacoronavirus porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) in viral pathogenesis using reverse genetics. Results Eight nsp14-ExoN deficient mutants, targeting the predicted active sites and the Zinc finger or mental-coordinating sites, of PEDV were designed. Only one mutant E191A with a mutation in the Mg2+-binding site was rescued using the infectious clone of PEDV PC22A strain (icPC22A). The passage no.1–3 (P1-3) of E191A grew to very low titers in Vero cells. To evaluate the pathogenesis of the E191A, 4 or 5-day-old gnotobiotic pigs were inoculated orally with 100 TCID50/pig of the E191A-P1, icPC22A, or mock. All mock pigs did not shed virus in feces or show clinical signs. All pigs inoculated with icPC22A shed high viral RNA levels, had severe diarrhea, and died by 6 days post-inoculation (dpi). In contrast, only 3 pigs (3/4, 75%) in the E191A-P1 group shed low levels of viral RNA and 2 pigs had moderate diarrhea at acute infection phase. At 22 dpi, each pig was challenged orally with 106 plaque forming unit of virulent icPC22A. All pigs in the mock group developed severe diarrhea and 2 of the 5 pigs died. Pigs in the E191A-P1 group had less severe diarrhea and no pigs died. Sanger sequencing analysis revealed that the viral genome in the fecal sample of one E191A-P1-inoculated pig and the P4 virus passaged in vitro lost the E191A mutation, suggesting the genetic instability of the E191A mutant. Conclusion The recombinant PEDV variants carrying mutations at the essential functional sites within nsp14-ExoN were either lethal or genetically unstable. Our finding further confirmed the critical role of nsp14-ExoN in CoV life cycle, suggesting that it may be a target for the design of universal anti-CoV drugs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-021-00598-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Niu
- Center for Food Animal Health, Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH, 44691, USA.,Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Fanzhi Kong
- Center for Food Animal Health, Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH, 44691, USA.,College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinfeng Road, Sartu District, Daqing, 163319, China
| | - Yixuan J Hou
- Center for Food Animal Health, Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH, 44691, USA.,Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516, USA
| | - Qiuhong Wang
- Center for Food Animal Health, Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH, 44691, USA. .,Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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32
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Abolaban FA, Djouider FM. Gamma irradiation-mediated inactivation of enveloped viruses with conservation of genome integrity: Potential application for SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine development. Open Life Sci 2021; 16:558-570. [PMID: 34131589 PMCID: PMC8174122 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2021-0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation inactivation of enveloped viruses occurs as the result of damages at the molecular level of their genome. The rapidly emerging and ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia pandemic prompted by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is now a global health crisis and an economic devastation. The readiness of an active and safe vaccine against the COVID-19 has become a race against time in this unqualified global panic caused by this pandemic. In this review, which we hope will be helpful in the current situation of COVID-19, we analyze the potential use of γ-irradiation to inactivate this virus by damaging at the molecular level its genetic material. This inactivation is a vital step towards the design and development of an urgently needed, effective vaccine against this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fouad A. Abolaban
- Nuclear Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80204, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fathi M. Djouider
- Nuclear Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80204, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
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33
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Sahu U, Biswas D, Singh AK, Khare P. Mechanism involved in the pathogenesis and immune response against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Virusdisease 2021; 32:211-219. [PMID: 33969150 PMCID: PMC8096142 DOI: 10.1007/s13337-021-00687-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS CoV-2, a causative agent of human respiratory tract infection, was first identified in late 2019. It is a newly emerging viral disease with unsatisfactory treatments. The virus is highly contagious and has caused pandemic globally. The number of deaths is increasing exponentially, which is an alarming situation for mankind. The detailed mechanism of the pathogenesis and host immune responses to this virus are not fully known. Here we discuss an overview of SARS CoV-2 pathogenicity, its entry and replication mechanism, and host immune response against this deadly pathogen. Understanding these processes will help to lead the development and identification of drug targets and effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Utkarsha Sahu
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh India
| | - Debasis Biswas
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh India
| | - Anirudh Kumar Singh
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh India
| | - Prashant Khare
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh India
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34
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Li T, Kenney AD, Liu H, Fiches GN, Zhou D, Biswas A, Que J, Santoso N, Yount JS, Zhu J. SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 activates NF-κB signaling and induces IL-8 upregulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021:2021.05.26.445787. [PMID: 34075374 PMCID: PMC8168382 DOI: 10.1101/2021.05.26.445787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection leads to NF-κB activation and induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, though the underlying mechanism for this activation is not fully understood. Our results reveal that the SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 protein contributes to the viral activation of NF-κB signaling. Nsp14 caused the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. Nsp14 induced the upregulation of IL-6 and IL-8, which also occurred in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells. IL-8 upregulation was further confirmed in lung tissue samples from COVID-19 patients. A previous proteomic screen identified the putative interaction of Nsp14 with host Inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2) protein, which is known to regulate NF-κB signaling. We confirmed the Nsp14-IMPDH2 protein interaction and found that IMPDH2 knockdown or chemical inhibition using ribavirin (RIB) and mycophenolic acid (MPA) abolishes Nsp14-mediated NF-κB activation and cytokine induction. Furthermore, IMDPH2 inhibitors (RIB, MPA) efficiently blocked SARS-CoV-2 infection, indicating that IMDPH2, and possibly NF-κB signaling, is beneficial to viral replication. Overall, our results identify a novel role of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 in causing the activation of NF-κB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiwei Li
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Adam D. Kenney
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Helu Liu
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Guillaume N. Fiches
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Dawei Zhou
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Ayan Biswas
- Department of Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Jianwen Que
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Netty Santoso
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jacob S. Yount
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jian Zhu
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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35
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Lin S, Chen H, Chen Z, Yang F, Ye F, Zheng Y, Yang J, Lin X, Sun H, Wang L, Wen A, Dong H, Xiao Q, Deng D, Cao Y, Lu G. Crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 nsp10 bound to nsp14-ExoN domain reveals an exoribonuclease with both structural and functional integrity. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:5382-5392. [PMID: 33956156 PMCID: PMC8136770 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 infection has posed unprecedented threat to global public health. The virus-encoded non-structural protein 14 (nsp14) is a bi-functional enzyme consisting of an exoribonuclease (ExoN) domain and a methyltransferase (MTase) domain and plays a pivotal role in viral replication. Here, we report the structure of SARS-CoV-2 nsp14-ExoN domain bound to its co-factor nsp10 and show that, compared to the SARS-CoV nsp10/nsp14-full-length complex, SARS-CoV-2 nsp14-ExoN retains an integral exoribonuclease fold and preserves an active configuration in the catalytic center. Analysis of the nsp10/nsp14-ExoN interface reveals a footprint in nsp10 extensively overlapping with that observed in the nsp10/nsp16 structure. A marked difference in the co-factor when engaging nsp14 and nsp16 lies in helix-α1′, which is further experimentally ascertained to be involved in nsp14-binding but not in nsp16-engagement. Finally, we also show that nsp10/nsp14-ExoN is enzymatically active despite the absence of nsp14-MTase domain. These data demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 nsp10/nsp14-ExoN functions as an exoribonuclease with both structural and functional integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Lin
- West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Hua Chen
- West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Zimin Chen
- West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Fanli Yang
- West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Fei Ye
- West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yue Zheng
- West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jing Yang
- West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Xi Lin
- West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Honglu Sun
- West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Lingling Wang
- West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Ao Wen
- West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Haohao Dong
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Qingjie Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Disease of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute (Zhangjiang Laboratory), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Dong Deng
- Department of Obstetrics, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Disease of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yu Cao
- West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,Disaster Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Guangwen Lu
- West China Hospital Emergency Department (WCHED), State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.,WestVac Biopharma Co., Ltd, Chengdu, Sichuan 610000, China
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36
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Scholle MD, Liu C, Deval J, Gurard-Levin ZA. Label-Free Screening of SARS-CoV-2 NSP14 Exonuclease Activity Using SAMDI Mass Spectrometry. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2021; 26:766-774. [PMID: 33870746 PMCID: PMC8053483 DOI: 10.1177/24725552211008854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus responsible for the global COVID-19 pandemic. Nonstructural protein 14 (NSP14), which features exonuclease (ExoN) and guanine N7 methyltransferase activity, is a critical player in SARS-CoV-2 replication and fidelity and represents an attractive antiviral target. Initiating drug discovery efforts for nucleases such as NSP14 remains a challenge due to a lack of suitable high-throughput assay methodologies. This report describes the combination of self-assembled monolayers and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry to enable the first label-free and high-throughput assay for NSP14 ExoN activity. The assay was used to measure NSP14 activity and gain insight into substrate specificity and the reaction mechanism. Next, the assay was optimized for kinetically balanced conditions and miniaturized, while achieving a robust assay (Z factor > 0.8) and a significant assay window (signal-to-background ratio > 200). Screening 10,240 small molecules from a diverse library revealed candidate inhibitors, which were counterscreened for NSP14 selectivity and RNA intercalation. The assay methodology described here will enable, for the first time, a label-free and high-throughput assay for NSP14 ExoN activity to accelerate drug discovery efforts and, due to the assay flexibility, can be more broadly applicable for measuring other enzyme activities from other viruses or implicated in various pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cheng Liu
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jerome Deval
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
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37
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Mallory JD, Mallory XF, Kolomeisky AB, Igoshin OA. Theoretical Analysis Reveals the Cost and Benefit of Proofreading in Coronavirus Genome Replication. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:2691-2698. [PMID: 33689357 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c00190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses have unusually large RNA genomes replicated by a multiprotein complex containing an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Exonuclease activity enables the RdRp complex to remove wrongly incorporated bases via proofreading, a process not utilized by other RNA viruses. However, it is unclear why the RdRp complex needs proofreading and what the associated trade-offs are. Here we investigate the interplay among the accuracy, speed, and energetic cost of proofreading in the RdRp complex using a kinetic model and bioinformatics analysis. We find that proofreading nearly optimizes the rate of functional virus production. However, we find that further optimization would lead to a significant increase in the proofreading cost. Unexpected importance of the cost minimization is further supported by other global analyses. We speculate that cost optimization could help avoid cell defense responses. Thus, proofreading is essential for the production of functional viruses, but its rate is limited by energy costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel D Mallory
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Xian F Mallory
- Department of Computer Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, United States
| | - Anatoly B Kolomeisky
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Oleg A Igoshin
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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38
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Cruz-González A, Muñoz-Velasco I, Cottom-Salas W, Becerra A, Campillo-Balderas JA, Hernández-Morales R, Vázquez-Salazar A, Jácome R, Lazcano A. Structural analysis of viral ExoN domains reveals polyphyletic hijacking events. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246981. [PMID: 33730017 PMCID: PMC7968707 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Nidoviruses and arenaviruses are the only known RNA viruses encoding a 3’-5’ exonuclease domain (ExoN). The proofreading activity of the ExoN domain has played a key role in the growth of nidoviral genomes, while in arenaviruses this domain partakes in the suppression of the host innate immune signaling. Sequence and structural homology analyses suggest that these proteins have been hijacked from cellular hosts many times. Analysis of the available nidoviral ExoN sequences reveals a high conservation level comparable to that of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp), which are the most conserved viral proteins. Two highly preserved zinc fingers are present in all nidoviral exonucleases, while in the arenaviral protein only one zinc finger can be identified. This is in sharp contrast with the reported lack of zinc fingers in cellular ExoNs, and opens the possibility of therapeutic strategies in the struggle against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Cruz-González
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Israel Muñoz-Velasco
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Wolfgang Cottom-Salas
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
- Escuela Nacional Preparatoria, Plantel 8 Miguel E. Schulz, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Arturo Becerra
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | | | | | - Alberto Vázquez-Salazar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Rodrigo Jácome
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
- * E-mail: (AL); (RJ)
| | - Antonio Lazcano
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
- El Colegio Nacional, México City, México
- * E-mail: (AL); (RJ)
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Vieira C, Nery L, Martins L, Jabour L, Dias R, Simões E Silva AC. Downregulation of Membrane-bound Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) Receptor has a Pivotal Role in COVID-19 Immunopathology. Curr Drug Targets 2021; 22:254-281. [PMID: 33081670 DOI: 10.2174/1389450121666201020154033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is becoming the major health issue in recent human history with thousands of deaths and millions of cases worldwide. Newer research and old experience with other coronaviruses highlighted a probable underlying mechanism of disturbance of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that is associated with the intrinsic effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection. OBJECTIVE In this review, we aimed to describe the intimate connections between the RAS components, the immune system and COVID-19 pathophysiology. METHODS This non-systematic review article summarizes recent evidence on the relationship between COVID-19 and the RAS. RESULTS Several studies have indicated that the downregulation of membrane-bound ACE2 may exert a key role for the impairment of immune functions and for COVID-19 patients' outcomes. The downregulation may occur by distinct mechanisms, particularly: (1) the shedding process induced by the SARS-CoV-2 fusion pathway, which reduces the amount of membrane-bound ACE2, stimulating more shedding by the high levels of Angiotensin II; (2) the endocytosis of ACE2 receptor with the virus itself and (3) by the interferon inhibition caused by SARS-CoV-2 effects on the immune system, which leads to a reduction of ACE2 receptor expression. CONCLUSION Recent research provides evidence of a reduction of the components of the alternative RAS axis, including ACE2 and Angiotensin-(1-7). In contrast, increased levels of Angiotensin II can activate the AT1 receptor in several organs. Consequently, increased inflammation, thrombosis and angiogenesis occur in patients infected with SARS-COV-2. Attention should be paid to the interactions of the RAS and COVID-19, mainly in the context of novel vaccines and proposed medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Vieira
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Investigation, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Lucas Nery
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Investigation, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Ludimila Martins
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Investigation, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Luiz Jabour
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Investigation, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Raphael Dias
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Investigation, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Simões E Silva
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Investigation, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Colina SE, Serena MS, Echeverría MG, Metz GE. Clinical and molecular aspects of veterinary coronaviruses. Virus Res 2021; 297:198382. [PMID: 33705799 PMCID: PMC7938195 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses are a large group of RNA viruses that infect a wide range of animal species. The replication strategy of coronaviruses involves recombination and mutation events that lead to the possibility of cross-species transmission. The high plasticity of the viral receptor due to a continuous modification of the host species habitat may be the cause of cross-species transmission that can turn into a threat to other species including the human population. The successive emergence of highly pathogenic coronaviruses such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in 2012, and the recent SARS-CoV-2 has incentivized a number of studies on the molecular basis of the coronavirus and its pathogenesis. The high degree of interrelatedness between humans and wild and domestic animals and the modification of animal habitats by human urbanization, has favored new viral spreads. Hence, knowledge on the main clinical signs of coronavirus infection in the different hosts and the distinctive molecular characteristics of each coronavirus is essential to prevent the emergence of new coronavirus diseases. The coronavirus infections routinely studied in veterinary medicine must be properly recognized and diagnosed not only to prevent animal disease but also to promote public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Emanuel Colina
- Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina; CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council), CCT La Plata, Argentina
| | - María Soledad Serena
- Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina; CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council), CCT La Plata, Argentina
| | - María Gabriela Echeverría
- Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina; CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council), CCT La Plata, Argentina
| | - Germán Ernesto Metz
- Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina; CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council), CCT La Plata, Argentina.
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Mohammed MEA. SARS-CoV-2 proteins: Are they useful as targets for COVID-19 drugs and vaccines? Curr Mol Med 2021; 22:50-66. [PMID: 33622224 DOI: 10.2174/1566524021666210223143243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The proteins of coronavirus are classified to nonstructural, structural, and accessory. There are 16 nonstructural viral proteins beside their precursors (1a and 1ab polyproteins). The nonstructural proteins are named as nsp1 to nsp16 and they act as enzymes, coenzymes, and binding proteins to facilitate the replication, transcription, and translation of the virus. The structural proteins are bound to the RNA in the nucleocapsid (N- protein) or to the lipid bilayer membrane of the viral envelope. The lipid bilayer proteins include the membrane protein (M), envelope protein (E), and spike protein (S). Beside their role as structural proteins, they are essential for the host cells binding and invasion. The SARS-CoV-2 contains six accessory proteins which participates in the viral replication, assembly and virus- host interactions. The SARS-CoV-2 accessory proteins are orf3a, orf6, orf7a, orf7b, orf8, and orf10. The functions of the SARS-CoV-2 are not well known, while the functions of their corresponding proteins in SARS-CoV are either well known or poorly studied. Recently, the Oxford University and Pfizer and BioNTech made SARS-CoV-2 vaccines through targeting the spike protein gene. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the health authorities of the United Kingdom approved and started vaccination using the Pfizer and BioNTech mRNA vaccine. Also, The FDA of USA approved the treatment of COVID-19 using two monoclonal antibodies produced by Regeneron pharmaceuticals to target the spike protein. The SARS-CoV-2 proteins can be used for the diagnosis, as drug targets and in vaccination trials for COVID-19. For future COVID-19 research, more efforts should be done to elaborate the functions and structure of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins so as to use them as targets for COVID-19 drug and vaccines. Special attention should be drawn to extensive research on the SARS-CoV-2 nsp3, orf8, and orf10.
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Gorji A, Khaleghi Ghadiri M. Potential roles of micronutrient deficiency and immune system dysfunction in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Nutrition 2021; 82:111047. [PMID: 33277150 PMCID: PMC7647394 DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2020.111047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Preliminary studies indicate that a robust immune response across different cell types is crucial in recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). An enormous number of investigations point to the vital importance of various micronutrients in the interactions between the host immune system and viruses, including COVID-19. There are complex and multifaceted links among micronutrient status, the host immune response, and the virulence of pathogenic viruses. Micronutrients play a critical role in the coordinated recruitment of innate and adaptive immune responses to viral infections, particularly in the regulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory host responses. Furthermore, inadequate amounts of micronutrients not only weaken the immune system in combating viral infections, but also contribute to the emergence of more virulent strains via alterations of the genetic makeup of the viral genome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the evidence that suggests the contribution of micronutrients in the spread as well as the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19. Both the presence of micronutrient deficiencies among infected individuals and the effect of micronutrient supplementation on the immune responses and overall outcome of the disease could be of great interest when weighing the use of micronutrients in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection. These investigations could be of great value in dealing with future viral epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Gorji
- Epilepsy Research Center, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany; Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany.
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Zhao J, Zhao S, Ou J, Zhang J, Lan W, Guan W, Wu X, Yan Y, Zhao W, Wu J, Chodosh J, Zhang Q. COVID-19: Coronavirus Vaccine Development Updates. Front Immunol 2020; 11:602256. [PMID: 33424848 PMCID: PMC7785583 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.602256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a newly emerged coronavirus, and has been pandemic since March 2020 and led to many fatalities. Vaccines represent the most efficient means to control and stop the pandemic of COVID-19. However, currently there is no effective COVID-19 vaccine approved to use worldwide except for two human adenovirus vector vaccines, three inactivated vaccines, and one peptide vaccine for early or limited use in China and Russia. Safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19 are in urgent need. Researchers around the world are developing 213 COVID-19 candidate vaccines, among which 44 are in human trials. In this review, we summarize and analyze vaccine progress against SARS-CoV, Middle-East respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and SARS-CoV-2, including inactivated vaccines, live attenuated vaccines, subunit vaccines, virus like particles, nucleic acid vaccines, and viral vector vaccines. As SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV share the common genus, Betacoronavirus, this review of the major research progress will provide a reference and new insights into the COVID-19 vaccine design and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shan Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junxian Ou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wendong Lan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenyi Guan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaowei Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuqian Yan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianguo Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - James Chodosh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Howe Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Qiwei Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Gurung AB. In silico structure modelling of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13 helicase and Nsp14 and repurposing of FDA approved antiviral drugs as dual inhibitors. GENE REPORTS 2020; 21:100860. [PMID: 32875166 PMCID: PMC7452913 DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2020.100860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The high mortality rate from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in humans and the lack of effective therapeutic regime for its treatment necessitates the identification of new antivirals. SARS-CoV-2 relies on non-structural proteins such as Nsp13 helicase and nsp14 which are the key components of the replication-transcription complex (RTC) to complete its infectious life cycle. Therefore, targeting these essential viral proteins with small molecules will most likely to halt the disease pathogenesis. The lack of experimental structures of these proteins deters the process of structure-based identification of their specific inhibitors. In the present study, the in silico models of SARS-CoV-2 nsp13 helicase and nsp14 protein were elucidated using a comparative homology modelling approach. These in silico model structures were validated using various parameters such as Ramachandran plot, Verify 3D score, ERRAT score, knowledge-based energy and Z-score. The in silico models were further used for virtual screening of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved antiviral drugs. Simeprevir (SMV), Paritaprevir (PTV) and Grazoprevir (GZR) were the common leads identified which show higher binding affinity to both nsp13 helicase and nsp14 as compared to the control inhibitors and therefore, they might be potential dual-target inhibitors. The leads also establish a network of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with the key residues lining the active site pockets. The present findings suggest that these FDA approved antiviral drugs can be subjected to repurposing against SARS-CoV-2 infection after verifying the in silico results through in vitro and in vivo studies.
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Key Words
- 3CLpro, 3C-like proteinase
- COVID-19
- COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019
- DOPE, discrete optimized protein energy
- FDA approved antiviral drugs
- FDA, Food and Drug Administration
- GRAVY, grand average of hydropathicity
- GZR, Grazoprevir
- GpppA, Guanosine-P3-adenosine-5′,5′-triphosphate
- Homology modelling
- MERS-CoV, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- Molecular docking
- N7-MTase, S-adenosyl methionine (SAM)-dependent (guanine-N7) methyltransferase
- Nsp13 helicase
- Nsp14
- Nsps, non-structural proteins
- PDB, protein data bank
- PLpro, papain-like proteinase
- PTV, Paritaprevir
- RMSD, root mean square deviation
- RTC, replication-transcription complex
- RdRp, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
- SAH, S-adenosyl homocysteine
- SARS-CoV, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- SARS-CoV-2
- SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
- SAVES, Structure Analysis and Verification Server
- SF, Sinefungin
- SMV, Simeprevir
- TMHs, transmembrane helices
- ZBD, zinc binding domain
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Bahadur Gurung
- Department of Basic Sciences and Social Sciences, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, Meghalaya, India
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Cross-Protection against MERS-CoV by Prime-Boost Vaccination Using Viral Spike DNA and Protein. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.01176-20. [PMID: 32967955 PMCID: PMC7925194 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01176-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus is an RNA virus with a higher mutation rate than DNA viruses. Therefore, a mutation in S-protein, which mediates viral infection by binding to a human cellular receptor, is expected to cause difficulties in vaccine development. Given that DNA-protein vaccines promote stronger cell-mediated immune responses than protein-only vaccination, we immunized mice with various combinations of DNA priming and protein boosting using the S-subunit sequences of the MERS-CoV EMC/2012 strain. We demonstrated a cross-protective effect against wild-type KOR/KNIH/002, a strain with two mutations in the S amino acids, including one in its RBD. The vaccine also provided cross-neutralization against 15 different S-pseudotyped viruses. These suggested that a vaccine targeting one variant of S can provide cross-protection against multiple viral strains with mutations in S. The regimen of DNA priming/Protein boosting can be applied to the development of other coronavirus vaccines. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes severe respiratory illness and has a high mortality of ∼34%. However, since its discovery in 2012, an effective vaccine has not been developed for it. To develop a vaccine against multiple strains of MERS-CoV, we targeted spike glycoprotein (S) using prime-boost vaccination with DNA and insect cell-expressed recombinant proteins for the receptor-binding domain (RBD), S1, S2, SΔTM, or SΔER. Our S subunits were generated using an S sequence derived from the MERS-CoV EMC/2012 strain. We examined humoral and cellular immune responses of various combinations with DNA plasmids and recombinant proteins in mice. Mouse sera immunized with SΔER DNA priming/SΔTM protein boosting showed cross-neutralization against 15 variants of S-pseudovirions and the wild-type KOR/KNIH/002 strain. In addition, these immunizations provided full protection against the KOR/KNIH/002 strain challenge in human DPP4 knock-in mice. These findings suggest that vaccination with the S subunits derived from one viral strain can provide cross-protection against variant MERS-CoV strains with mutations in S. DNA priming/protein boosting increased gamma interferon production, while protein-alone immunization did not. The RBD subunit alone was insufficient to induce neutralizing antibodies, suggesting the importance of structural conformation. In conclusion, heterologous DNA priming with protein boosting is an effective way to induce both neutralizing antibodies and cell-mediated immune responses for MERS-CoV vaccine development. This study suggests a strategy for selecting a suitable platform for developing vaccines against MERS-CoV or other emerging coronaviruses. IMPORTANCE Coronavirus is an RNA virus with a higher mutation rate than DNA viruses. Therefore, a mutation in S-protein, which mediates viral infection by binding to a human cellular receptor, is expected to cause difficulties in vaccine development. Given that DNA-protein vaccines promote stronger cell-mediated immune responses than protein-only vaccination, we immunized mice with various combinations of DNA priming and protein boosting using the S-subunit sequences of the MERS-CoV EMC/2012 strain. We demonstrated a cross-protective effect against wild-type KOR/KNIH/002, a strain with two mutations in the S amino acids, including one in its RBD. The vaccine also provided cross-neutralization against 15 different S-pseudotyped viruses. These suggested that a vaccine targeting one variant of S can provide cross-protection against multiple viral strains with mutations in S. The regimen of DNA priming/Protein boosting can be applied to the development of other coronavirus vaccines.
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Silva LR, da Silva Santos-Júnior PF, de Andrade Brandão J, Anderson L, Bassi ÊJ, Xavier de Araújo-Júnior J, Cardoso SH, da Silva-Júnior EF. Druggable targets from coronaviruses for designing new antiviral drugs. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115745. [PMID: 33007557 PMCID: PMC7836322 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Severe respiratory infections were highlighted in the SARS-CoV outbreak in 2002, as well as MERS-CoV, in 2012. Recently, the novel CoV (COVID-19) has led to severe respiratory damage to humans and deaths in Asia, Europe, and Americas, which allowed the WHO to declare the pandemic state. Notwithstanding all impacts caused by Coronaviruses, it is evident that the development of new antiviral agents is an unmet need. In this review, we provide a complete compilation of all potential antiviral agents targeting macromolecular structures from these Coronaviruses (Coronaviridae), providing a medicinal chemistry viewpoint that could be useful for designing new therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro Rocha Silva
- Chemistry and Biotechnology Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus A.C. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil; Laboratory of Organic and Medicinal Synthesis, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus Arapiraca, Manoel Severino Barbosa Avenue, Arapiraca 57309-005, Brazil
| | | | - Júlia de Andrade Brandão
- IMUNOREG - Immunoregulation Research Group, Laboratory of Research in Virology and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus AC. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil
| | - Letícia Anderson
- IMUNOREG - Immunoregulation Research Group, Laboratory of Research in Virology and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus AC. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil; CESMAC University Center, Cônego Machado Street, Maceió 57051-160, Brazil
| | - Ênio José Bassi
- IMUNOREG - Immunoregulation Research Group, Laboratory of Research in Virology and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus AC. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil
| | - João Xavier de Araújo-Júnior
- Chemistry and Biotechnology Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus A.C. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil; Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus A.C. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil
| | - Sílvia Helena Cardoso
- Laboratory of Organic and Medicinal Synthesis, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus Arapiraca, Manoel Severino Barbosa Avenue, Arapiraca 57309-005, Brazil
| | - Edeildo Ferreira da Silva-Júnior
- Chemistry and Biotechnology Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus A.C. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil; Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Campus A.C. Simões, Lourival Melo Mota Avenue, Maceió 57072-970, Brazil.
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Gil C, Ginex T, Maestro I, Nozal V, Barrado-Gil L, Cuesta-Geijo MÁ, Urquiza J, Ramírez D, Alonso C, Campillo NE, Martinez A. COVID-19: Drug Targets and Potential Treatments. J Med Chem 2020; 63:12359-12386. [PMID: 32511912 PMCID: PMC7323060 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 290] [Impact Index Per Article: 72.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Currently, humans are immersed in a pandemic caused by the emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which threatens public health worldwide. To date, no drug or vaccine has been approved to treat the severe disease caused by this coronavirus, COVID-19. In this paper, we will focus on the main virus-based and host-based targets that can guide efforts in medicinal chemistry to discover new drugs for this devastating disease. In principle, all CoV enzymes and proteins involved in viral replication and the control of host cellular machineries are potentially druggable targets in the search for therapeutic options for SARS-CoV-2. This Perspective provides an overview of the main targets from a structural point of view, together with reported therapeutic compounds with activity against SARS-CoV-2 and/or other CoVs. Also, the role of innate immune response to coronavirus infection and the related therapeutic options will be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Gil
- Centro de Investigaciones
Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro
de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Tiziana Ginex
- Centro de Investigaciones
Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro
de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés Maestro
- Centro de Investigaciones
Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro
de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Vanesa Nozal
- Centro de Investigaciones
Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro
de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucía Barrado-Gil
- Centro de Investigaciones
Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro
de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Cuesta-Geijo
- Centro de Investigaciones
Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro
de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Urquiza
- Department of Biotechnology,
Instituto Nacional de Investigación y
Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA),
Ctra. de la Coruña km 7.5, 28040 Madrid,
Spain
| | - David Ramírez
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas,
Universidad Autónoma de Chile,
Llano Subercaseaux 2801- piso 6, 7500912 Santiago,
Chile
| | - Covadonga Alonso
- Department of Biotechnology,
Instituto Nacional de Investigación y
Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA),
Ctra. de la Coruña km 7.5, 28040 Madrid,
Spain
| | - Nuria E. Campillo
- Centro de Investigaciones
Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro
de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Martinez
- Centro de Investigaciones
Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro
de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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48
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Ogando NS, Zevenhoven-Dobbe JC, van der Meer Y, Bredenbeek PJ, Posthuma CC, Snijder EJ. The Enzymatic Activity of the nsp14 Exoribonuclease Is Critical for Replication of MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. J Virol 2020; 94:e01246-20. [PMID: 32938769 PMCID: PMC7654266 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01246-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) stand out for their large RNA genome and complex RNA-synthesizing machinery comprising 16 nonstructural proteins (nsps). The bifunctional nsp14 contains 3'-to-5' exoribonuclease (ExoN) and guanine-N7-methyltransferase (N7-MTase) domains. While the latter presumably supports mRNA capping, ExoN is thought to mediate proofreading during genome replication. In line with such a role, ExoN knockout mutants of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) were previously reported to have crippled but viable hypermutation phenotypes. Remarkably, using reverse genetics, a large set of corresponding ExoN knockout mutations has now been found to be lethal for another betacoronavirus, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). For 13 mutants, viral progeny could not be recovered, unless-as happened occasionally-reversion had first occurred. Only a single mutant was viable, likely because its E191D substitution is highly conservative. Remarkably, a SARS-CoV-2 ExoN knockout mutant was found to be unable to replicate, resembling observations previously made for alpha- and gammacoronaviruses, but starkly contrasting with the documented phenotype of ExoN knockout mutants of the closely related SARS-CoV. Subsequently, we established in vitro assays with purified recombinant MERS-CoV nsp14 to monitor its ExoN and N7-MTase activities. All ExoN knockout mutations that proved lethal in reverse genetics were found to severely decrease ExoN activity while not affecting N7-MTase activity. Our study strongly suggests that CoV nsp14 ExoN has an additional function, which apparently is critical for primary viral RNA synthesis and thus differs from the proofreading function that, based on previous MHV and SARS-CoV studies, was proposed to boost longer-term replication fidelity.IMPORTANCE The bifunctional nsp14 subunit of the coronavirus replicase contains 3'-to-5' exoribonuclease (ExoN) and guanine-N7-methyltransferase domains. For the betacoronaviruses MHV and SARS-CoV, ExoN was reported to promote the fidelity of genome replication, presumably by mediating a form of proofreading. For these viruses, ExoN knockout mutants are viable while displaying an increased mutation frequency. Strikingly, we have now established that the equivalent ExoN knockout mutants of two other betacoronaviruses, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, are nonviable, suggesting an additional and critical ExoN function in their replication. This is remarkable in light of the very limited genetic distance between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, which is highlighted, for example, by 95% amino acid sequence identity in their nsp14 sequences. For (recombinant) MERS-CoV nsp14, both its enzymatic activities were evaluated using newly developed in vitro assays that can be used to characterize these key replicative enzymes in more detail and explore their potential as target for antiviral drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natacha S Ogando
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jessika C Zevenhoven-Dobbe
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne van der Meer
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Peter J Bredenbeek
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Clara C Posthuma
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eric J Snijder
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Eskier D, Suner A, Oktay Y, Karakülah G. Mutations of SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 exhibit strong association with increased genome-wide mutation load. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10181. [PMID: 33083157 PMCID: PMC7560320 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a betacoronavirus responsible for COVID-19, a pandemic with global impact that first emerged in late 2019. Since then, the viral genome has shown considerable variance as the disease spread across the world, in part due to the zoonotic origins of the virus and the human host adaptation process. As a virus with an RNA genome that codes for its own genomic replication proteins, mutations in these proteins can significantly impact the variance rate of the genome, affecting both the survival and infection rate of the virus, and attempts at combating the disease. In this study, we analyzed the mutation densities of viral isolates carrying frequently observed mutations for four proteins in the RNA synthesis complex over time in comparison to wildtype isolates. Our observations suggest mutations in nsp14, an error-correcting exonuclease protein, have the strongest association with increased mutation load without selective pressure and across the genome, compared to nsp7, nsp8 and nsp12, which form the core polymerase complex. We propose nsp14 as a priority research target for understanding genomic variance rate in SARS-CoV-2 isolates and nsp14 mutations as potential predictors for high mutability strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doğa Eskier
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey.,Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Aslı Suner
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Yavuz Oktay
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey.,Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Gökhan Karakülah
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey.,Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
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Wang Y, Grunewald M, Perlman S. Coronaviruses: An Updated Overview of Their Replication and Pathogenesis. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2203:1-29. [PMID: 32833200 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0900-2_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs), enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses, are characterized by club-like spikes that project from their surface, an unusually large RNA genome, and a unique replication strategy. CoVs cause a variety of diseases in mammals and birds ranging from enteritis in cows and pigs, and upper respiratory tract and kidney disease in chickens to lethal human respiratory infections. Most recently, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019, is the cause of a catastrophic pandemic, COVID-19, with more than 8 million infections diagnosed worldwide by mid-June 2020. Here we provide a brief introduction to CoVs discussing their replication, pathogenicity, and current prevention and treatment strategies. We will also discuss the outbreaks of the highly pathogenic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which are relevant for understanding COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Matthew Grunewald
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Stanley Perlman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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