Inhibition of human cytomegalovirus proteinase by salcomine derivatives

Anti-influenza virus activity of a salcomine derivative mediated by inhibition of viral RNA synthesis

Influenza virus infection is a major threat to global health. Although vaccines and anti-influenza virus drugs are available, annual influenza virus epidemics result in severe illness, and an influenza pandemic occurs every 20-30 years. To identify candidate anti-influenza virus compounds, we screened approximately 5,000 compounds in an in-house library. We identified MZ7465, a salcomine derivative, as a potent inhibitor of influenza virus propagation. We analyzed the antiviral propagation mechanism of the hit compound by determining the amounts of viral proteins and RNA in infected cells treated with or without the hit compound. Treatment of infected cells with MZ7465 decreased both viral protein and RNA synthesis. In addition, an in vitro assay showed that viral RNA synthesis was directly inhibited by MZ7465. These results suggest that salcomine and its derivatives are potential candidates for the treatment of influenza virus infections.

Comparison of colorimetric, fluorometric, and visual methods for determining anti-influenza (H1N1 and H3N2) virus activities and toxicities of compounds

Methods have been developed previously for rapid evaluation of compounds for antiviral activity in 96-well microplates, which include visual quantitation of antiviral activity based upon inhibition of virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) or by less subjective colorimetric or fluorometric means. In the present studies we compared a number of colorimetric (crystal violet, MTT [3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide], and neutral red) and fluorometric (Alamar Blue, bisbenzimide [Hoechst 33258], fluorescein diacetate, and rhodamine 6G) methods to visual scoring of antiviral activity in influenza A virus infections in Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Toxicity determinations using these same methods were also made for anti-influenza inhibitors and other compounds known to inhibit cell proliferation. Against influenza A/Texas/36/91 (H1N1) and A/Sydney/05/97 (H3N2) viruses, visual scoring and dye or stain methods produced results that were not significantly different from each other in deriving 50% virus-inhibitory concentrations (EC(50) values) for six anti-influenza compounds (amantadine, rimantadine, ribavirin, RWJ-270201 [BCX-1812], oseltamivir carboxylate, and zanamivir), with the exception of Alamar Blue which quantified lower EC(50) values than expected. In uninfected replicating cells, the visual and Alamar Blue methods underestimated the 50% cytotoxic concentrations (IC(50) values) of ribavirin, 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine, and 6-azauridine, but more accurately assessed the toxicities of amantadine, rimantadine, and cycloheximide. Visual scoring, coupled with the use of one of these dyes or stains except Alamar Blue, can be used to accurately and rapidly quantify the anti-influenza virus activities and toxicities of potential new influenza virus inhibitors. These methods should also be applicable to evaluating antiviral effects against other lytic virus infections.

The herpesvirus proteases as targets for antiviral chemotherapy

Viruses of the family Herpesviridae are responsible for a diverse set of human diseases. The available treatments are largely ineffective, with the exception of a few drugs for treatment of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections. For several members of this DNA virus family, advances have been made recently in the biochemistry and structural biology of the essential viral protease, revealing common features that may be possible to exploit in the development of a new class of anti-herpesvirus agents. The herpesvirus proteases have been identified as belonging to a unique class of serine protease, with a Ser-His-His catalytic triad. A new, single domain protein fold has been determined by X-ray crystallography for the proteases of at least three different herpesviruses. Also unique for serine proteases, dimerization has been shown to be required for activity of the cytomegalovirus and HSV proteases. The dimerization requirement seriously impacts methods needed for productive, functional analysis and inhibitor discovery. The conserved functional and catalytic properties of the herpesvirus proteases lead to common considerations for this group of proteases in the early phases of inhibitor discovery. In general, classical serine protease inhibitors that react with active site residues do not readily inactivate the herpesvirus proteases. There has been progress however, with activated carbonyls that exploit the selective nucleophilicity of the active site serine. In addition, screening of chemical libraries has yielded novel structures as starting points for drug development. Recent crystal structures of the herpesvirus proteases now allow more direct interpretation of ligand structure-activity relationships. This review first describes basic functional aspects of herpesvirus protease biology and enzymology. Then we discuss inhibitors identified to date and the prospects for their future development.