1
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Yogev O, Weissbrod O, Battistoni G, Bressan D, Naamati A, Falciatori I, Berkyurek AC, Rasnic R, Izuagbe R, Hosmillo M, Ilan S, Grossman I, McCormick L, Honeycutt CC, Johnston T, Gagne M, Douek DC, Goodfellow I, Hannon GJ, Erlich Y. From a genome-wide screen of RNAi molecules against SARS-CoV-2 to a validated broad-spectrum and potent prophylaxis. Commun Biol 2023; 6:277. [PMID: 36928598 PMCID: PMC10019795 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04589-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Expanding the arsenal of prophylactic approaches against SARS-CoV-2 is of utmost importance, specifically those strategies that are resistant to antigenic drift in Spike. Here, we conducted a screen of over 16,000 RNAi triggers against the SARS-CoV-2 genome, using a massively parallel assay to identify hyper-potent siRNAs. We selected Ten candidates for in vitro validation and found five siRNAs that exhibited hyper-potent activity (IC50 < 20 pM) and strong blockade of infectivity in live-virus experiments. We further enhanced this activity by combinatorial pairing of the siRNA candidates and identified cocktails that were active against multiple types of variants of concern (VOC). We then examined over 2,000 possible mutations in the siRNA target sites by using saturation mutagenesis and confirmed broad protection of the leading cocktail against future variants. Finally, we demonstrated that intranasal administration of this siRNA cocktail effectively attenuates clinical signs and viral measures of disease in the gold-standard Syrian hamster model. Our results pave the way for the development of an additional layer of antiviral prophylaxis that is orthogonal to vaccines and monoclonal antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ohad Yogev
- Eleven Therapeutics, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | | | - Giorgia Battistoni
- Eleven Therapeutics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Dario Bressan
- Eleven Therapeutics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Adi Naamati
- Eleven Therapeutics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Rhys Izuagbe
- University of Cambridge, Department of Pathology, Division of Virology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Myra Hosmillo
- University of Cambridge, Department of Pathology, Division of Virology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Lauren McCormick
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher Cole Honeycutt
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Timothy Johnston
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Matthew Gagne
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Daniel C Douek
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ian Goodfellow
- University of Cambridge, Department of Pathology, Division of Virology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gregory James Hannon
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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2
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Behura A, Naik L, Patel S, Das M, Kumar A, Mishra A, Nayak DK, Manna D, Mishra A, Dhiman R. Involvement of epigenetics in affecting host immunity during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2023; 1869:166634. [PMID: 36577469 PMCID: PMC9790847 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is caused by a highly contagious RNA virus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), originated in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Since then, it has become a global public health concern and leads the disease table with the highest mortality rate, highlighting the necessity for a thorough understanding of its biological properties. The intricate interaction between the virus and the host immune system gives rise to diverse implications of COVID-19. RNA viruses are known to hijack the host epigenetic mechanisms of immune cells to regulate antiviral defence. Epigenetics involves processes that alter gene expression without changing the DNA sequence, leading to heritable phenotypic changes. The epigenetic landscape consists of reversible modifications like chromatin remodelling, DNA/RNA methylation, and histone methylation/acetylation that regulates gene expression. The epigenetic machinery contributes to many aspects of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, like global DNA methylation and receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) methylation determines the viral entry inside the host, viral replication, and infection efficiency. Further, it is also reported to epigenetically regulate the expression of different host cytokines affecting antiviral response. The viral proteins of SARS-CoV-2 interact with various host epigenetic enzymes like histone deacetylases (HDACs) and bromodomain-containing proteins to antagonize cellular signalling. The central role of epigenetic factors in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis is now exploited as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets against COVID-19. This review article highlights the ability of SARS-CoV-2 in regulating the host epigenetic landscape during infection leading to immune evasion. It also discusses the ongoing therapeutic approaches to curtail and control the viral outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assirbad Behura
- Laboratory of Mycobacterial Immunology, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India
| | - Lincoln Naik
- Laboratory of Mycobacterial Immunology, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India
| | - Salina Patel
- Laboratory of Mycobacterial Immunology, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India
| | - Mousumi Das
- Laboratory of Mycobacterial Immunology, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India
| | - Ashish Kumar
- Laboratory of Mycobacterial Immunology, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India
| | - Abtar Mishra
- Laboratory of Mycobacterial Immunology, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India
| | - Dev Kiran Nayak
- Laboratory of Mycobacterial Immunology, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India
| | - Debraj Manna
- Laboratory of Mycobacterial Immunology, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India
| | - Amit Mishra
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342011, India
| | - Rohan Dhiman
- Laboratory of Mycobacterial Immunology, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India.
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3
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Patra SK, Szyf M. Epigenetic perspectives of COVID-19: Virus infection to disease progression and therapeutic control. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2022; 1868:166527. [PMID: 36002132 PMCID: PMC9393109 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 has caused numerous deaths as well as imposed social isolation and upheaval world-wide. Although, the genome and the composition of the virus, the entry process and replication mechanisms are well investigated from by several laboratories across the world, there are many unknown remaining questions. For example, what are the functions of membrane lipids during entry, packaging and exit of virus particles? Also, the metabolic aspects of the infected tissue cells are poorly understood. In the course of virus replication and formation of virus particles within the host cell, the enhanced metabolic activities of the host is directly proportional to viral loads. The epigenetic landscape of the host cells is also altered, particularly the expression/repression of genes associated with cellular metabolism as well as cellular processes that are antagonistic to the virus. Metabolic pathways are enzyme driven processes and the expression profile and mechanism of regulations of the respective genes encoding those enzymes during the course of pathogen invasion might be highly informative on the course of the disease. Recently, the metabolic profile of the patients' sera have been analysed from few patients. In view of this, and to gain further insights into the roles that epigenetic mechanisms might play in this scenario in regulation of metabolic pathways during the progression of COVID-19 are discussed and summarised in this contribution for ensuring best therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Kumar Patra
- Epigenetics and Cancer Research Laboratory, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India.
| | - Moshe Szyf
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McIntyre Medical Sciences Building, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
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4
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Madanagopal P, Muthukumar H, Thiruvengadam K. Computational study and design of effective siRNAs to silence structural proteins associated genes of Indian SARS-CoV-2 strains. Comput Biol Chem 2022; 98:107687. [PMID: 35537364 PMCID: PMC9052778 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2022.107687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a highly transmissible and pathogenic coronavirus that first emerged in late 2019 and has since triggered a pandemic of acute respiratory disease named COVID-19 which poses a significant threat to all public health institutions in the absence of specific antiviral treatment. Since the outbreak began in March 2020, India has reported 4.77 lakh Coronavirus deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The innate RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, on the other hand, allows for the development of nucleic acid-based antiviral drugs in which complementary small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) mediate the post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) of target mRNA. Therefore, in this current study, the potential of RNAi was harnessed to construct siRNA molecules that target the consensus regions of specific structural proteins associated genes of SARS-CoV-2, such as the envelope protein gene (E), membrane protein gene (M), nucleocapsid phosphoprotein gene (N), and surface glycoprotein gene (S) which are important for the viral pathogenesis. Conserved sequences of 811 SARS-CoV-2 strains from around India were collected to design 21 nucleotides long siRNA duplex based on various computational algorithms and parameters targeting E, M, N and S genes. The proposed siRNA molecules possessed sufficient nucleotide-based and other features for effective gene silencing and BLAST results revealed that siRNAs' targets have no significant matches across the whole human genome. Hence, siRNAs were found to have no off-target effects on the genome, ruling out the possibility of off-target silencing. Finally, out of 157 computationally identified siRNAs, only 4 effective siRNA molecules were selected for each target gene which is proposed to exert the best action based on GC content, free energy of folding, free energy of binding, melting temperature, heat capacity and molecular docking analysis with Human AGO2 protein. Our engineered siRNA candidates could be used as a genome-level therapeutic treatment against various sequenced SARS-CoV-2 strains in India. However, future applications will necessitate additional validations in vitro and in vivo animal models.
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5
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Yogev O, Weissbrod O, Battistoni G, Bressan D, Naamti A, Falciatori I, Berkyurek AC, Rasnic R, Hosmillo M, Ilan S, Grossman I, McCormick L, Honeycutt CC, Johnston T, Gagne M, Douek DC, Goodfellow I, Hannon GJ, Erlich Y. Genome wide screen of RNAi molecules against SARS-CoV-2 creates a broadly potent prophylaxis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.04.12.488010. [PMID: 35441162 PMCID: PMC9016640 DOI: 10.1101/2022.04.12.488010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Expanding the arsenal of prophylactic approaches against SARS-CoV-2 is of utmost importance, specifically those strategies that are resistant to antigenic drift in Spike. Here, we conducted a screen with over 16,000 RNAi triggers against the SARS-CoV-2 genome using a massively parallel assay to identify hyper-potent siRNAs. We selected 10 candidates for in vitro validation and found five siRNAs that exhibited hyper-potent activity with IC50<20pM and strong neutralisation in live virus experiments. We further enhanced the activity by combinatorial pairing of the siRNA candidates to develop siRNA cocktails and found that these cocktails are active against multiple types of variants of concern (VOC). We examined over 2,000 possible mutations to the siRNA target sites using saturation mutagenesis and identified broad protection against future variants. Finally, we demonstrated that intranasal administration of the siRNA cocktail effectively attenuates clinical signs and viral measures of disease in the Syrian hamster model. Our results pave the way to development of an additional layer of antiviral prophylaxis that is orthogonal to vaccines and monoclonal antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ohad Yogev
- Eleven Therapeutics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Giorgia Battistoni
- Eleven Therapeutics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, United Kingdom
| | - Dario Bressan
- Eleven Therapeutics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, United Kingdom
| | - Adi Naamti
- Eleven Therapeutics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Myra Hosmillo
- University of Cambridge, Department of Pathology, Division of Virology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Lauren McCormick
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher C. Honeycutt
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Timothy Johnston
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Matthew Gagne
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Daniel C. Douek
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ian Goodfellow
- University of Cambridge, Department of Pathology, Division of Virology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gregory J. Hannon
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, United Kingdom
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6
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Pashkov EA, Korchevaya ER, Faizuloev EB, Svitich OA, Pashkov EP, Nechaev DN, Zverev VV. Potential of application of the RNA interference phenomenon in the treatment of new coronavirus infection COVID-19. Vopr Virusol 2021; 66:241-251. [PMID: 34545716 DOI: 10.36233/0507-4088-61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 has killed more than 4 million people to date and is the most significant global health problem. The first recorded case of COVID-19 had been noted in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and already on March 11, 2020, World Health Organization declared a pandemic due to the rapid spread of this infection. In addition to the damage to the respiratory system, SARS-CoV-2 is capable of causing severe complications that can affect almost all organ systems. Due to the insufficient effectiveness of the COVID-19 therapy, there is an urgent need to develop effective specific medicines. Among the known approaches to the creation of antiviral drugs, a very promising direction is the development of drugs whose action is mediated by the mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi). A small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule suppresses the expression of a target gene in this regulatory pathway. The phenomenon of RNAi makes it possible to quickly create a whole series of highly effective antiviral drugs, if the matrix RNA (mRNA) sequence of the target viral protein is known. This review examines the possibility of clinical application of siRNAs aimed at suppressing reproduction of the SARS-CoV-2, taking into account the experience of similar studies using SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV infection models. It is important to remember that the effectiveness of siRNA molecules targeting viral genes may decrease due to the formation of viral resistance. In this regard, the design of siRNAs targeting the cellular factors necessary for the reproduction of SARS-CoV-2 deserves special attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Pashkov
- FSAEI HE I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) of the Ministry of the Health of Russia; FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»
| | - E R Korchevaya
- FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»
| | - E B Faizuloev
- FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»
| | - O A Svitich
- FSAEI HE I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) of the Ministry of the Health of Russia; FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»
| | - E P Pashkov
- FSAEI HE I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) of the Ministry of the Health of Russia
| | - D N Nechaev
- FSAEI HE I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) of the Ministry of the Health of Russia
| | - V V Zverev
- FSAEI HE I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) of the Ministry of the Health of Russia; FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»
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7
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Hassanzadeh P. The significance of bioengineered nanoplatforms against SARS-CoV-2: From detection to genome editing. Life Sci 2021; 274:119289. [PMID: 33676931 PMCID: PMC7930743 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 outbreak can impose serious negative impacts on the infrastructures of societies including the healthcare systems. Despite the increasing research efforts, false positive or negative results that may be associated with serologic or even RT-PCR tests, inappropriate or variable immune response, and high rates of mutations in coronavirus may negatively affect virus detection process and effectiveness of the vaccines or drugs in development. Nanotechnology-based research attempts via developing state-of-the-art techniques such as nanomechatronics ones and advanced materials including the sensors for detecting the pathogen loads at very low concentrations or site-specific delivery of therapeutics, and real-time protections against the pandemic outbreaks by nanorobots can provide outstanding biomedical breakthroughs. Considering the unique characteristics of pathogens particularly the newly-emerged ones and avoiding the exaggerated optimism or simplistic views on the prophylactic and therapeutic approaches including the one-size-fits-all ones or presenting multiple medications that may be associated with synergistic toxicities rather than enhanced efficiencies might pave the way towards the development of more appropriate treatment strategies with reduced safety concerns. This paper highlights the significance of nanoplatforms against the viral disorders and their capabilities of genome editing that may facilitate taking more appropriate measures against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parichehr Hassanzadeh
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 13169-43551, Iran.
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8
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Gatta AK, Josyula VR. Small interfering RNA: a tailored approach to explore the therapeutic potential in COVID-19. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 23:640-642. [PMID: 33520405 PMCID: PMC7826051 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Kiran Gatta
- Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Venkata Rao Josyula
- Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
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9
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Chowdhury UF, Sharif Shohan MU, Hoque KI, Beg MA, Sharif Siam MK, Moni MA. A computational approach to design potential siRNA molecules as a prospective tool for silencing nucleocapsid phosphoprotein and surface glycoprotein gene of SARS-CoV-2. Genomics 2021; 113:331-343. [PMID: 33321203 PMCID: PMC7832576 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
An outbreak, caused by an RNA virus, SARS-CoV-2 named COVID-19 has become pandemic with a magnitude which is daunting to all public health institutions in the absence of specific antiviral treatment. Surface glycoprotein and nucleocapsid phosphoprotein are two important proteins of this virus facilitating its entry into host cell and genome replication. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a prospective tool of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway for the control of human viral infections by suppressing viral gene expression through hybridization and neutralization of target complementary mRNA. So, in this study, the power of RNA interference technology was harnessed to develop siRNA molecules against specific target genes namely, nucleocapsid phosphoprotein gene and surface glycoprotein gene. Conserved sequence from 139 SARS-CoV-2 strains from around the globe was collected to construct 78 siRNA that can inactivate nucleocapsid phosphoprotein and surface glycoprotein genes. Finally, based on GC content, free energy of folding, free energy of binding, melting temperature, efficacy prediction and molecular docking analysis, 8 siRNA molecules were selected which are proposed to exert the best action. These predicted siRNAs should effectively silence the genes of SARS-CoV-2 during siRNA mediated treatment assisting in the response against SARS-CoV-2.
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MESH Headings
- Argonaute Proteins/chemistry
- Argonaute Proteins/genetics
- Base Composition
- COVID-19/therapy
- COVID-19/virology
- Computational Chemistry
- Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/genetics
- Drug Design
- Evolution, Molecular
- Gene Expression Regulation, Viral/drug effects
- Genetic Therapy/methods
- Humans
- Molecular Docking Simulation
- Pandemics
- Phosphoproteins/genetics
- Phylogeny
- RNA Folding
- RNA Interference
- RNA, Messenger/antagonists & inhibitors
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Small Interfering/chemistry
- RNA, Small Interfering/pharmacology
- RNA, Small Interfering/therapeutic use
- RNA, Viral/antagonists & inhibitors
- RNA, Viral/genetics
- SARS-CoV-2/drug effects
- SARS-CoV-2/genetics
- Sequence Alignment
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Thermodynamics
- COVID-19 Drug Treatment
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Affiliation(s)
- Umar Faruq Chowdhury
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Kazi Injamamul Hoque
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mirza Ashikul Beg
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Mohammad Ali Moni
- WHO Collaborating Centre for eHealth, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia.
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10
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Dyall J, Gross R, Kindrachuk J, Johnson RF, Olinger GG, Hensley LE, Frieman MB, Jahrling PB. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: Current Therapeutic Options and Potential Targets for Novel Therapies. Drugs 2017; 77:1935-1966. [PMID: 29143192 PMCID: PMC5733787 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-017-0830-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
No specific antivirals are currently available for two emerging infectious diseases, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). A literature search was performed covering pathogenesis, clinical features and therapeutics, clinically developed drugs for repurposing and novel drug targets. This review presents current knowledge on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical features of the SARS and MERS coronaviruses. The rationale for and outcomes with treatments used for SARS and MERS is discussed. The main focus of the review is on drug development and the potential that drugs approved for other indications provide for repurposing. The drugs we discuss belong to a wide range of different drug classes, such as cancer therapeutics, antipsychotics, and antimalarials. In addition to their activity against MERS and SARS coronaviruses, many of these approved drugs have broad-spectrum potential and have already been in clinical use for treating other viral infections. A wealth of knowledge is available for these drugs. However, the information in this review is not meant to guide clinical decisions, and any therapeutic described here should only be used in context of a clinical trial. Potential targets for novel antivirals and antibodies are discussed as well as lessons learned from treatment development for other RNA viruses. The article concludes with a discussion of the gaps in our knowledge and areas for future research on emerging coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Dyall
- Integrated Research Facility, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA.
| | - Robin Gross
- Integrated Research Facility, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Jason Kindrachuk
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MN, Canada
| | - Reed F Johnson
- Emerging Viral Pathogens Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | | | - Lisa E Hensley
- Integrated Research Facility, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Matthew B Frieman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peter B Jahrling
- Integrated Research Facility, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
- Emerging Viral Pathogens Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
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11
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Hemagglutinin-targeting Artificial MicroRNAs Expressed by Adenovirus Protect Mice From Different Clades of H5N1 Infection. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2016; 5:e311. [PMID: 27093169 PMCID: PMC5014526 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2016.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Influenza virus (IV) is a continuously evolving virus that widely spreads in humans and contributes to substantial morbidity and mortality. Re-emergence of human infection with avian influenza virus H5N1 poses extra challenge to IV control. Artificial microRNA (amiRNA)-mediated RNA interference has become a powerful antiviral approach due to its high specificity and rapid effect. Here, we designed several amiRNAs targeting the hemagglutinin gene of H5N1, a major determinant of pathogenicity. Expression and delivery efficiency were enhanced by presenting functional amiRNA with chimpanzee adenovirus serotype 68 (AdC68). One amiRNA, HA-1405, significantly limited H5N1 replication in vitro and inhibited 96.7% of clade 2.3.2 replication. AdC68-conjugated HA-1405 treatment remarkably decreased different clades of H5N1 plaque formation in Madin–Darby canine kidney cells. Moreover, prophylactic administration with rAd(HA-1405) markedly alleviated clinical symptoms and reduced ~3- to 40-folds of lung viral RNA copies against four clades of H5N1 in Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice. Our results further showed that rAd(HA-1405) conferred 70 and 40% immediate protection against lethal clade 2.3.2 and clade 2.3.4 H5N1 challenge, respectively. In conclusion, these data provided information that HA-targeting amiRNA delivered by AdC68 could be pursued as a potential agent for highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses prevention.
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12
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Abstract
Since the discovery of the RNA interference (RNAi) phenomenon, RNAi-based therapies now present a huge potential for the treatment of many diseases, including inflammatory and infectious diseases and cancers. While numerous reports have described the development of small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery systems for in-vivo applications, only a small number of siRNA-based therapies are currently under clinical development. This is essentially due to the lack of efficient and safe siRNA delivery systems for intravenous administration. However, the delivery of siRNA after local injection could represent an attractive route of administration to limit the issues of toxicity associated with systemic injection. We will describe here the different synthetic vectors which have been developed for the local delivery of siRNA in various organs.
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Larrat S, Morand P, Bas A, Vigne S, Crance JM, Boyer V, Nicod S, Grossi L, Buisson M, Burmeister WP, Seigneurin JM, Germi R. Inhibition of Epstein–Barr virus replication by small interfering RNA targeting the Epstein–Barr virus protease gene. Antivir Ther 2009. [DOI: 10.1177/135965350901400508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) protease (PR), coded by the BVRF2 gene, is essential for the maturation of the viral capsid and viral DNA packaging during the late stage of the EBV lytic cycle. Like the other herpesvirus serine PRs, EBV PR could be a target for the inhibition of EBV replication. To date, no data have been reported on the inhibition of EBV PR messenger RNA (mRNA) by small interfering RNA (siRNA). Methods In this study, siRNAs targeting EBV PR were delivered to the epithelial 293 cell line stably transfected with the complete B95-8 EBV episome. EBV DNA and PR mRNA were quantified by real-time PCR in cells and supernatant, protein expression was assessed by immunoblotting, and production of EBV infectious particles in the culture medium was measured by Raji cell superinfection. Results The EBV PR mRNA within the cells was reduced by 73%, the PR protein by 35% and the amount of virus in the cell supernatant was drastically decreased by 86% or 95%, depending on the method. Conclusions The strong effect of the siRNA targeting EBV PR on EBV replication attests to the crucial role played by EBV PR in the production of infectious particles and suggests that targeting this enzyme can be a new strategy against EBV-associated diseases where virus replication occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Larrat
- UMI 3265, UJF-EMBL-CNRS, Unit of Virus Host Cell Interactions, Grenoble, France
- Département de Virologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Grenoble, France
| | - Patrice Morand
- UMI 3265, UJF-EMBL-CNRS, Unit of Virus Host Cell Interactions, Grenoble, France
- Département de Virologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Grenoble, France
| | - Ariane Bas
- UMI 3265, UJF-EMBL-CNRS, Unit of Virus Host Cell Interactions, Grenoble, France
- Département de Virologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Grenoble, France
| | - Solenne Vigne
- Unité de Virologie, Centre de Recherches du Service de Santé des Armées, Grenoble, France
| | - Jean-Marc Crance
- Unité de Virologie, Centre de Recherches du Service de Santé des Armées, Grenoble, France
| | - Véronique Boyer
- UMI 3265, UJF-EMBL-CNRS, Unit of Virus Host Cell Interactions, Grenoble, France
| | - Sandrine Nicod
- Département de Virologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Grenoble, France
| | - Laurence Grossi
- UMI 3265, UJF-EMBL-CNRS, Unit of Virus Host Cell Interactions, Grenoble, France
| | - Marlyse Buisson
- UMI 3265, UJF-EMBL-CNRS, Unit of Virus Host Cell Interactions, Grenoble, France
- Département de Virologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Grenoble, France
| | - Wim P Burmeister
- UMI 3265, UJF-EMBL-CNRS, Unit of Virus Host Cell Interactions, Grenoble, France
| | - Jean-Marie Seigneurin
- UMI 3265, UJF-EMBL-CNRS, Unit of Virus Host Cell Interactions, Grenoble, France
- Département de Virologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Grenoble, France
| | - Raphaële Germi
- UMI 3265, UJF-EMBL-CNRS, Unit of Virus Host Cell Interactions, Grenoble, France
- Département de Virologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Grenoble, France
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