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Bayraktar C, Kayabolen A, Odabas A, Durgun A, Kok I, Sevinc K, Supramaniam A, Idris A, Bagci-Onder T. ACE2-Decorated Virus-Like Particles Effectively Block SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:6931-6943. [PMID: 39005960 PMCID: PMC11246629 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s446093] [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: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Over the past three years, extensive research has been dedicated to understanding and combating COVID-19. Targeting the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and the ACE2 receptor has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy against SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to develop ACE2-coated virus-like particles (ACE2-VLPs), which can be utilized to prevent viral entry into host cells and efficiently neutralize the virus. Methods Virus-like particles were generated through the utilization of a packaging plasmid in conjunction with a plasmid containing the ACE2 envelope sequence. Subsequently, ACE2-VLPs and ACE2-EVs were purified via ultracentrifugation. The quantification of VLPs was validated through multiple methods, including Nanosight 3000, TEM imaging, and Western blot analysis. Various packaging systems were explored to optimize the ACE2-VLP configuration for enhanced neutralization capabilities. The evaluation of neutralization effectiveness was conducted using pseudoviruses bearing different spike protein variants. Furthermore, the study assessed the neutralization potential against the Omicron BA.1 variant in Vero E6 cells. Results ACE2-VLPs showed a high neutralization capacity even at low doses and demonstrated superior efficacy in in vitro pseudoviral assays compared to extracellular vesicles carrying ACE2. ACE2-VLPs remained stable under various environmental temperatures and effectively blocked all tested variants of concern in vitro. Notably, they exhibited significant neutralization against Omicron BA.1 variant in Vero E6 cells. Given their superior efficacy compared to extracellular vesicles and proven success against live virus, ACE2-VLPs stand out as crucial candidates for treating SARS-CoV-2 infections. Conclusion This novel therapeutic approach of coating VLPs with receptor particles provides a proof-of-concept for designing effective neutralization strategies for other viral diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Canan Bayraktar
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Alisan Kayabolen
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Arda Odabas
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aysegul Durgun
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ipek Kok
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Kenan Sevinc
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aroon Supramaniam
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Medical Science Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Adi Idris
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, School of Medical Science Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Tugba Bagci-Onder
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Chao Z, Selivanovitch E, Kallitsis K, Lu Z, Pachaury A, Owens R, Daniel S. Recreating the biological steps of viral infection on a cell-free bioelectronic platform to profile viral variants of concern. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5606. [PMID: 38961055 PMCID: PMC11222515 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49415-6] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Viral mutations frequently outpace technologies used to detect harmful variants. Given the continual emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, platforms that can identify the presence of a virus and its propensity for infection are needed. Our electronic biomembrane sensing platform recreates distinct SARS-CoV-2 host cell entry pathways and reports the progression of entry as electrical signals. We focus on two necessary entry processes mediated by the viral Spike protein: virus binding and membrane fusion, which can be distinguished electrically. We find that closely related variants of concern exhibit distinct fusion signatures that correlate with trends in cell-based infectivity assays, allowing us to report quantitative differences in their fusion characteristics and hence their infectivity potentials. We use SARS-CoV-2 as our prototype, but we anticipate that this platform can extend to other enveloped viruses and cell lines to quantifiably assess virus entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongmou Chao
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, 124 Olin Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Ekaterina Selivanovitch
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, 124 Olin Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Konstantinos Kallitsis
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Dr., Cambridge, CB3 0AS, UK
| | - Zixuan Lu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Dr., Cambridge, CB3 0AS, UK
| | - Ambika Pachaury
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, 124 Olin Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Róisín Owens
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Dr., Cambridge, CB3 0AS, UK
| | - Susan Daniel
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, 124 Olin Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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Houghton MJ, Balland E, Gartner MJ, Thomas BJ, Subbarao K, Williamson G. The flavonoid quercetin decreases ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression but not SARS-CoV-2 infection in cultured human lung cells. Biofactors 2024. [PMID: 38886986 DOI: 10.1002/biof.2084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on host cells, via its spike protein, and transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2) cleaves the spike-ACE2 complex to facilitate virus entry. As rate-limiting steps for virus entry, modulation of ACE2 and/or TMPRSS2 may decrease SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and COVID-19 severity. In silico modeling suggested the natural bioactive flavonoid quercetin can bind to ACE2 and a recent randomized clinical trial demonstrated that oral supplementation with quercetin increased COVID-19 recovery. A range of cultured human cells were assessed for co-expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2. Immortalized Calu-3 lung cells, cultured and matured at an air-liquid interface (Calu-3-ALIs), were established as the most appropriate. Primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) were obtained from healthy adult males (N = 6) and cultured under submerged conditions to corroborate the outcomes. Upon maturation or reaching 80% confluence, respectively, the Calu-3-ALIs and PBECs were treated with quercetin, and mRNA and protein expression were assessed by droplet digital PCR and ELISA, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, and the effects of pre- and co-treatment with quercetin, was assessed by median tissue culture infectious dose assay. Quercetin dose-dependently decreased ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA and protein in both Calu-3-ALIs and PBECs after 4 h, while TMPRSS2 remained suppressed in response to prolonged treatment with lower doses (twice daily for 3 days). Quercetin also acutely decreased ADAM17 mRNA, but not ACE, in Calu-3-ALIs, and this warrants further investigation. Calu-3-ALIs, but not PBECs, were successfully infected with SARS-CoV-2; however, quercetin had no antiviral effect, neither directly nor indirectly through downregulation of ACE2 and TMPRSS2. Calu-3-ALIs were reaffirmed to be an optimal cell model for research into the regulation of ACE2 and TMPRSS2, without the need for prior genetic modification, and will prove valuable in future coronavirus and respiratory infectious disease work. However, our data demonstrate that a significant decrease in the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 by a promising prophylactic candidate may not translate to infection prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael James Houghton
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University, BASE Facility, Notting Hill, VIC, Australia
- Victorian Heart Institute, Monash University, Victorian Heart Hospital, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Eglantine Balland
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University, BASE Facility, Notting Hill, VIC, Australia
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Matthew James Gartner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Belinda Jane Thomas
- Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Monash Lung and Sleep, Monash Health, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Kanta Subbarao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Gary Williamson
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University, BASE Facility, Notting Hill, VIC, Australia
- Victorian Heart Institute, Monash University, Victorian Heart Hospital, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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Bastani MN, Jalilian S. Unraveling the enigma: The emerging significance of pulmonary surfactant proteins in predicting, diagnosing, and managing COVID-19. Immun Inflamm Dis 2024; 12:e1302. [PMID: 38860749 PMCID: PMC11165688 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1302] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe cases of COVID-19 often lead to the development of acute respiratory syndrome, a critical condition believed to be caused by the harmful effects of SARS-CoV-2 on type II alveolar cells. These cells play a crucial role in producing pulmonary surfactants, which are essential for proper lung function. Specifically focusing on surfactant proteins, including Surfactant protein A (SP-A), Surfactant protein B, Surfactant protein C, and Surfactant protein D (SP-D), changes in the levels of pulmonary surfactants may be a significant factor in the pathological changes seen in COVID-19 infection. OBJECTIVE This study aims to gain insights into surfactants, particularly their impacts and changes during COVID-19 infection, through a comprehensive review of current literature. The study focuses on the function of surfactants as prognostic markers, diagnostic factors, and essential components in the management and treatment of COVID-19. FINDING In general, pulmonary surfactants serve to reduce the surface tension at the gas-liquid interface, thereby significantly contributing to the regulation of respiratory mechanics. Additionally, these surfactants play a crucial role in the innate immune system within the pulmonary microenvironment. Within the spectrum of COVID-19 infections, a compelling association is observed, characterized by elevated levels of SP-D and SP-A across a range of manifestations from mild to severe pneumonia. The sudden decline in respiratory function observed in COVID-19 patients may be attributed to the decreased synthesis of surfactants by type II alveolar cells. CONCLUSION Collectin proteins such as SP-A and SP-D show promise as biomarkers, offering potential avenues for predicting and monitoring pulmonary alveolar injury in the context of COVID-19. This clarification enhances our understanding of the molecular complexities contributing to respiratory complications in severe COVID-19 cases, providing a foundation for targeted therapeutic approaches using surfactants and refined clinical management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Navid Bastani
- Department of Medical Virology, School of MedicineAhvaz Jundishapur University of Medical SciencesAhvazIran
| | - Shahram Jalilian
- Department of Medical Virology, School of MedicineAhvaz Jundishapur University of Medical SciencesAhvazIran
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5
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Lee S, Yoon SJ, Oh JH, Ryu JS, Park Y, Hwang ES. MPoMA protects against lung epithelial cell injury via p65 degradation. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116674. [PMID: 38703509 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Numerous cases of lung injury caused by viral infection were reported during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic. While there have been significant efforts to develop drugs that block viral infection and spread, the development of drugs to reduce or reverse lung injury has been a lower priority. This study aimed to identify compounds from a library of compounds that prevent viral infection that could reduce and prevent lung epithelial cell damage. We investigated the cytotoxicity of the compounds, their activity in inhibiting viral spike protein binding to cells, and their activity in reducing IL-8 production in lung epithelial cells damaged by amodiaquine (AQ). We identified N-(4-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-3-methylphenyl)-N-methylacetamide (MPoMA) as a non-cytotoxic inhibitor against viral infection and AQ-induced cell damage. MPoMA inhibited the expression of IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, and fibronectin induced by AQ and protected against AQ-induced morphological changes. However, MPoMA did not affect basal IL-8 expression in lung epithelial cells in the absence of AQ. Further mechanistic analysis confirmed that MPoMA selectively promoted the proteasomal degradation of inflammatory mediator p65, thereby reducing intracellular p65 expression and p65-mediated inflammatory responses. MPoMA exerted potent anti-inflammatory and protective functions in epithelial cells against LPS-induced acute lung injury in vivo. These findings suggest that MPoMA may have beneficial effects in suppressing viral infection and preventing lung epithelial cell damage through the degradation of p65 and inhibition of the production of inflammatory cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soheun Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Suh Jin Yoon
- College of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hyun Oh
- College of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Sang Ryu
- College of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunjeong Park
- College of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eun Sook Hwang
- College of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea.
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6
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Nakagawa Y, Fujii M, Ito N, Ojika M, Akase D, Aida M, Kinoshita T, Sakurai Y, Yasuda J, Igarashi Y, Ito Y. Molecular basis of N-glycan recognition by pradimicin a and its potential as a SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitor. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 105:117732. [PMID: 38643719 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Virus entry inhibitors are emerging as an attractive class of therapeutics for the suppression of viral transmission. Naturally occurring pradimicin A (PRM-A) has received particular attention as the first-in-class entry inhibitor that targets N-glycans present on viral surface. Despite the uniqueness of its glycan-targeted antiviral activity, there is still limited knowledge regarding how PRM-A binds to viral N-glycans. Therefore, in this study, we performed binding analysis of PRM-A with synthetic oligosaccharides that reflect the structural motifs characteristic of viral N-glycans. Binding assays and molecular modeling collectively suggest that PRM-A preferentially binds to branched oligomannose motifs of N-glycans via simultaneous recognition of two mannose residues at the non-reducing ends. We also demonstrated, for the first time, that PRM-A can effectively inhibit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in vitro. Significantly, the anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect of PRM-A is attenuated in the presence of the synthetic branched oligomannose, suggesting that the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection is due to the interaction of PRM-A with the branched oligomannose-containing N-glycans. These data provide essential information needed to understand the antiviral mechanism of PRM-A and suggest that PRM-A could serve as a candidate SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitor targeting N-glycans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Nakagawa
- Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan; Department of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
| | - Masato Fujii
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Nanaka Ito
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Makoto Ojika
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Dai Akase
- Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Misako Aida
- Office of Research and Academia-Government-Community Collaboration, Hiroshima University, 1-3-2 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8511, Japan
| | - Takaaki Kinoshita
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Yasuteru Sakurai
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Jiro Yasuda
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Igarashi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama 939-0398, Japan
| | - Yukishige Ito
- Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
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Gentile D, Chiummiento L, Santarsiere A, Funicello M, Lupattelli P, Rescifina A, Venuti A, Piperno A, Sciortino MT, Pennisi R. Targeting Viral and Cellular Cysteine Proteases for Treatment of New Variants of SARS-CoV-2. Viruses 2024; 16:338. [PMID: 38543704 PMCID: PMC10976049 DOI: 10.3390/v16030338] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants caused the persistence of the COVID-19 epidemic and challenged the effectiveness of the existing vaccines. The viral proteases are the most attractive targets for developing antiviral drugs. In this scenario, our study explores the use of HIV-1 protease inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2. An in silico screening of a library of HIV-1 proteases identified four anti-HIV compounds able to interact with the 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2. Thus, in vitro studies were designed to evaluate their potential antiviral effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2. We employed pseudovirus technology to simulate, in a highly safe manner, the adsorption of the alpha (α-SARS-CoV-2) and omicron (ο-SARS-CoV-2) variants of SARS-CoV-2 and study the inhibitory mechanism of the selected compounds for cell-virus interaction. The results reported a mild activity against the viral proteases 3CLpro and PLpro, but efficient inhibitory effects on the internalization of both variants mediated by cathepsin B/L. Our findings provide insights into the feasibility of using drugs exhibiting antiviral effects for other viruses against the viral and host SARS-CoV-2 proteases required for entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Gentile
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy
| | - Lucia Chiummiento
- Department of Scienze, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Alessandro Santarsiere
- Department of Scienze, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Maria Funicello
- Department of Scienze, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Paolo Lupattelli
- Department of Chimica, Sapienza University of Roma, p. le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Rescifina
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, V. le A. Doria, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Assunta Venuti
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Health Organization, 69366 LYON CEDEX 07, France
| | - Anna Piperno
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Sciortino
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Rosamaria Pennisi
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
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Pang HH, Li NS, Hsu YP, Ju SP, Syu GD, Du PX, Huang CY, Wei KC, Yang HW. AI-Driven Design System for Fabrication of Inhalable Nanocatchers for Virus Capture and Neutralization. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302927. [PMID: 37986024 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302927] [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: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The global pandemic presents a critical threat to humanity, with no effective rapid-response solutions for early-stage virus dissemination. This study aims to create an AI-driven entry-blocker design system (AIEB) to fabricate inhalable virus-like nanocatchers (VLNCs) fused with entry-blocking peptides (EBPs) to counter pandemic viruses and explore therapeutic applications. This work focuses on developing angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-mimic domain-fused VLNCs (ACE2@VLNCs) using AIEB and analyzing their interaction with the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD), demonstrating their potential to hinder SARS-CoV-2 infection. Aerosol-based tests show ACE2@VLNCs persist over 70 min in the air and neutralize pseudoviruses within 30 min, indicating their utility in reducing airborne virus transmission. In vivo results reveal ACE2@VLNCs mitigate over 67% of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Biosafety studies confirm their safety, causing no damage to eyes, skin, lungs, or trachea, and not eliciting significant immune responses. These findings offer crucial insights into pandemic virus prevention and treatment, highlighting the potential of the ACE2@VLNCs system as a promising strategy against future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Han Pang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Nan-Si Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Pei Hsu
- Department of Materials and Optoelectronic Science, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan
| | - Shin-Pon Ju
- Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan
| | - Guan-Da Syu
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- International Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Pin-Xian Du
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Yin Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, 33305, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Chen Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, 33305, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan
- Department of Neurosurgery, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, New Taipei City, 23652, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Wei Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
- Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
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9
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Wang YL, Cheng ST, Shen CF, Huang SW, Cheng CM. Impact of the COVID-19 vaccine booster strategy on vaccine protection: a pilot study of a military hospital in Taiwan. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2023; 12:337-345. [PMID: 38025918 PMCID: PMC10655154 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2023.12.4.337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The global fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has led to widespread vaccination efforts, yet the optimal dosing schedule for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines remains a subject of ongoing research. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of administering two booster doses as the third and fourth doses at different intervals to enhance vaccine protection. Materials and Methods This study was conducted at a military regional hospital operated by the Ministry of National Defense in Taiwan. A cohort of vaccinated individuals was selected, and their vaccine potency was assessed at various time intervals following their initial vaccine administration. The study participants received booster doses as the third and fourth doses, with differing time intervals between them. The study monitored neutralizing antibody titers and other relevant parameters to assess vaccine efficacy. Results Our findings revealed that the potency of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine exhibited a significant decline 80 days after the initial vaccine administration. However, a longer interval of 175 days between booster injections resulted in significantly higher neutralizing antibody titers. The individuals who received the extended interval boosters exhibited a more robust immune response, suggesting that a vaccine schedule with a 175-day interval between injections may provide superior protection against SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion This study underscores the importance of optimizing vaccine booster dosing schedules to maximize protection against SARS-CoV-2. The results indicate that a longer interval of 175 days between the third and fourth doses of the vaccine can significantly enhance the neutralizing antibody response, potentially offering improved protection against the virus. These findings have important implications for vaccine distribution and administration strategies in the ongoing battle against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Further research and large-scale trials are needed to confirm and extend these findings for broader public health implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Li Wang
- Department of Emergent Room, Armed Force Hualien General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
- International Intercollegiate Ph.D. Program, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Tsai Cheng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Fen Shen
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Wei Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Health and Biotechnology Law, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Min Cheng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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10
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Lin YJ, Sundhar N, Devi HS, Pien HF, Wen SFM, Sheu JL, Tsai BCK, Huang CY. Development and evaluation of a novel chromium III-based compound for potential inhibition of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20011. [PMID: 37809843 PMCID: PMC10559739 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20011] [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: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused 403 million cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and resulted in more than 5.7 million deaths worldwide. Extensive research has identified several potential drug treatments for COVID-19. However, the development of new compounds or therapies is necessary to prevent the emergence of drug resistance in SARS-CoV-2. In this study, a novel compound based on hexaacetotetraaquadihydroxochromium(III)diiron(III) nitrate, which contains small amounts of chromium (III), was synthesised and evaluated for its effectiveness against multiple variants of COVID-19 using both in vitro and in vivo models. This innovative compound demonstrated interference with the interaction between the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Furthermore, in vitro experiments showed that this compound downregulated the expression of ACE2 and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2). It also exhibited a reduction in the activity of 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Pretreatment with this small chromium (III)-based compound resulted in reduced ACE2-rich cell infection by various variants of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-pseudotyped lentivirus. Finally, the compound effectively inhibited viral infection by multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-pseudotyped lentivirus in both the abdominal and thoracic regions of mice. In conclusion, this compound lowers the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells, inhibits viral maturation and replication in vitro, and reduces infection levels of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-pseudotyped lentivirus in the abdomen and thorax following pretreatment. Small chromium (III)-based compounds have the potential to restrict the progression of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jung Lin
- Cardiovascular and Mitochondrial Related Disease Research Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
- School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Navaneethan Sundhar
- Cardiovascular and Mitochondrial Related Disease Research Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hema Sri Devi
- Cardiovascular and Mitochondrial Related Disease Research Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
| | | | | | | | - Bruce Chi-Kang Tsai
- Cardiovascular and Mitochondrial Related Disease Research Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yang Huang
- Cardiovascular and Mitochondrial Related Disease Research Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Center of General Education, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology, Hualien, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
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11
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Llewellyn GN, Chen HY, Rogers GL, Huang X, Sell PJ, Henley JE, Cannon PM. Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors based on ACE2 receptor or engineered Spike-binding peptides. J Virol 2023; 97:e0068423. [PMID: 37555663 PMCID: PMC10506483 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00684-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
With increasing resistance of SARS-CoV-2 variants to antibodies, there is interest in developing entry inhibitors that target essential receptor-binding regions of the viral Spike protein and thereby present a high bar for viral resistance. Such inhibitors could be derivatives of the viral receptor, ACE2, or peptides engineered to interact specifically with the Spike receptor-binding pocket. We compared the efficacy of a series of both types of entry inhibitors, constructed as fusions to an antibody Fc domain. Such a design can increase protein stability and act to both neutralize free virus and recruit effector functions to clear infected cells. We tested the reagents against prototype variants of SARS-CoV-2, using both Spike pseudotyped vesicular stomatitis virus vectors and replication-competent viruses. These analyses revealed that an optimized ACE2 derivative could neutralize all variants we tested with high efficacy. In contrast, the Spike-binding peptides had varying activities against different variants, with resistance observed in the Spike proteins from Beta, Gamma, and Omicron (BA.1 and BA.5). The resistance mapped to mutations at Spike residues K417 and N501 and could be overcome for one of the peptides by linking two copies in tandem, effectively creating a tetrameric reagent in the Fc fusion. Finally, both the optimized ACE2 and tetrameric peptide inhibitors provided some protection to human ACE2 transgenic mice challenged with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, which typically causes death in this model within 7-9 days. IMPORTANCE The increasing resistance of SARS-CoV-2 variants to therapeutic antibodies has highlighted the need for new treatment options, especially in individuals who do not respond to vaccination. Receptor decoys that block viral entry are an attractive approach because of the presumed high bar to developing viral resistance. Here, we compare two entry inhibitors based on derivatives of the ACE2 receptor, or engineered peptides that bind to the receptor-binding pocket of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. In each case, the inhibitors were fused to immunoglobulin Fc domains, which can further enhance therapeutic properties, and compared for activity against different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Potent inhibition against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants was demonstrated in vitro, and even relatively low single doses of optimized reagents provided some protection in a mouse model, confirming their potential as an alternative to antibody therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- George N. Llewellyn
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hsu-Yu Chen
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Geoffrey L. Rogers
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Xiaoli Huang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Philip J. Sell
- The Hastings Foundation and The Wright Foundation Laboratories, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jill E. Henley
- The Hastings Foundation and The Wright Foundation Laboratories, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Paula M. Cannon
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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12
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Milan Bonotto R, Mitrović A, Sosič I, Martinez-Orellana P, Dattola F, Gobec S, Kos J, Marcello A. Cathepsin inhibitors nitroxoline and its derivatives inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antiviral Res 2023:105655. [PMID: 37355023 PMCID: PMC10287183 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
The severity of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the recurring (re)emergence of viruses prompted the development of new therapeutic approaches that target viral and host factors crucial for viral infection. Among them, host peptidases cathepsins B and L have been described as essential enzymes during SARS-CoV-2 entry. In this study, we evaluated the effect of potent selective cathepsin inhibitors as antiviral agents. We demonstrated that selective cathepsin B inhibitors, such as the antimicrobial agent nitroxoline and its derivatives, impair SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. Antiviral activity observed at early stage of virus entry was cell-type dependent and correlated well with the intracellular content and enzymatic function of cathepsins B or L. Furthermore, tested inhibitors were effective against the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 D614 as well as against the more recent BA.1_4 (Omicron). Taken together, our results highlight the important role of host cysteine cathepsin B in SARS-CoV-2 virus entry and show that cathepsin-specific inhibitors, such as nitroxoline and its derivatives, could be used to treat COVID-19. Finally, these results also suggest that nitroxoline has potential to be further explored as repurposed drug in antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Milan Bonotto
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Ana Mitrović
- Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Izidor Sosič
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Pamela Martinez-Orellana
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Federica Dattola
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Stanislav Gobec
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janko Kos
- Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Alessandro Marcello
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, 99, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
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13
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Bugatti K, Sartori A, Battistini L, Coppa C, Vanhulle E, Noppen S, Provinciael B, Naesens L, Stevaert A, Contini A, Vermeire K, Zanardi F. Novel Polymyxin-Inspired Peptidomimetics Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Spike:hACE2 Interface. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108765. [PMID: 37240111 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Though the bulk of the COVID-19 pandemic is behind, the search for effective and safe anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs continues to be relevant. A highly pursued approach for antiviral drug development involves targeting the viral spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 to prevent its attachment to the cellular receptor ACE2. Here, we exploited the core structure of polymyxin B, a naturally occurring antibiotic, to design and synthesize unprecedented peptidomimetics (PMs), intended to target contemporarily two defined, non-overlapping regions of the S receptor-binding domain (RBD). Monomers 1, 2, and 8, and heterodimers 7 and 10 bound to the S-RBD with micromolar affinity in cell-free surface plasmon resonance assays (KD ranging from 2.31 μM to 2.78 μM for dimers and 8.56 μM to 10.12 μM for monomers). Although the PMs were not able to fully protect cell cultures from infection with authentic live SARS-CoV-2, dimer 10 exerted a minimal but detectable inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 entry in U87.ACE2+ and A549.ACE2.TMPRSS2+ cells. These results validated a previous modeling study and provided the first proof-of-feasibility of using medium-sized heterodimeric PMs for targeting the S-RBD. Thus, heterodimers 7 and 10 may serve as a lead for the development of optimized compounds, which are structurally related to polymyxin, with improved S-RBD affinity and anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Bugatti
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Sartori
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Lucia Battistini
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Crescenzo Coppa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Venezian 21, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Emiel Vanhulle
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sam Noppen
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Becky Provinciael
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Naesens
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annelies Stevaert
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alessandro Contini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Venezian 21, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Kurt Vermeire
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Franca Zanardi
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
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14
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Pregnolato M, Zizzi P. SARS-CoV-2 spike and ACE2 entanglement-like binding. QUANTUM MACHINE INTELLIGENCE 2023; 5:8. [PMID: 36743386 PMCID: PMC9882746 DOI: 10.1007/s42484-023-00098-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We describe the binding between the glycoprotein Spike of SARS-CoV-2 and the human host cell receptor ACE2 as a quantum circuit, comprising the one-qubit Hadamard quantum logic gate performing the quantum superposition of the S1 subunit of the Spike protein, and the two-qubit quantum logic gate CNOT, which performs maximum entanglement between the Spike-qubit S1 and the ACE2 receptor protein. Also, we consider two strategies to prevent the binding process between the Spike-qubit S1 and the ACE2 receptor. The first one is the use of competitive peptidomimetic inhibitors that can selectively bind to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the Spike glycoprotein with much higher affinity than the cell surface receptor itself. These inhibitors are targeted to the CNOT quantum logic gate and will get maximally entangled with the S1 qubit in place of the natural ACE2 receptor. The second one is to use covalent inhibitors, which will destroy S1 by acting as a projective quantum measurement. Finally, the conjecture that S1 is a quantum bio-robot is formulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Pregnolato
- Department of Drug Science, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Paola Zizzi
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta, 11, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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15
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Eilts F, Bauer S, Fraser K, Dordick JS, Wolff MW, Linhardt RJ, Zhang F. The diverse role of heparan sulfate and other GAGs in SARS-CoV-2 infections and therapeutics. Carbohydr Polym 2023; 299:120167. [PMID: 36876764 PMCID: PMC9516881 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In December 2019, the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which infects host cells primarily through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. In addition to ACE2, several studies have shown the importance of heparan sulfate (HS) on the host cell surface as a co-receptor for SARS-CoV-2-binding. This insight has driven research into antiviral therapies, aimed at inhibiting the HS co-receptor-binding, e.g., by glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), a family of sulfated polysaccharides that includes HS. Several GAGs, such as heparin (a highly sulfated analog of HS), are used to treat various health indications, including COVID-19. This review is focused on current research on the involvement of HS in SARS-CoV-2 infection, implications of viral mutations, as well as the use of GAGs and other sulfated polysaccharides as antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Eilts
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA; Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen (THM), Giessen, Germany
| | - Sarah Bauer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Keith Fraser
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan S Dordick
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Michael W Wolff
- Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen (THM), Giessen, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Giessen, Germany
| | - Robert J Linhardt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.
| | - Fuming Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.
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16
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Motallebnezhad M, Omraninava M, Esmaeili Gouvarchin Ghaleh H, Jonaidi-Jafari N, Hazrati A, Malekpour K, Bagheri Y, Izadi M, Ahmadi M. Potential therapeutic applications of extracellular vesicles in the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 241:154280. [PMID: 36580795 PMCID: PMC9759301 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.154280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which has emerged as a global health crisis. Recently, more than 50 different types of potential COVID-19 vaccines have been developed to elicit a strong immune response against SARS-CoV-2. However, genetic mutations give rise to the new variants of SARS-CoV-2 which is highly associated with the reduced effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. There is still no efficient antiviral agent to specifically target the SARS-CoV-2 infection and treatment of COVID-19. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 may contribute to discovering a novel potential therapeutic approach to the management of COVID-19. Recently, extracellular vesicle (EV)-based therapeutic strategies have received great attention on account of their potential benefits in the administration of viral diseases. EVs are extracellular vesicles containing specific biomolecules which play an important role in cell-to-cell communications. It has been revealed that EVs are involved in the pathogenesis of different inflammatory diseases such as cancer and viral infections. EVs are released from virus-infected cells which could mediate the interaction of infected and uninfected host cells. Hence, these extracellular nanoparticles have been considered a novel approach for drug delivery to mediate the treatment of a wide range of diseases including, COVID-19. EVs are considered a cell-free therapeutic strategy that could ameliorate the cytokine storm and its complications in COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, EV-based cargo delivery such as immunomodulatory agents in combination with antiviral drugs may have therapeutic benefits in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this review, we will highlight the potential of EVs as a therapeutic candidate in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. Also, we will discuss the future perspectives regarding the beneficial effects of Evs in the development of COVID-19 vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Motallebnezhad
- Health Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Melodi Omraninava
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
| | | | - Nematollah Jonaidi-Jafari
- Health Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Hazrati
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kosar Malekpour
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yasser Bagheri
- Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Morteza Izadi
- Health Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Majid Ahmadi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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17
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Li X, Yuan H, Li X, Wang H. Spike protein mediated membrane fusion during SARS-CoV-2 infection. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28212. [PMID: 36224449 PMCID: PMC9874878 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has posed a serious threat to public health and has quickly become a global concern. The infection of SARS-CoV-2 begins with the binding of its spike protein to the receptor-angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which, after a series of conformation changes, results in the fusion of viral-cell membranes and the release of the viral RNA genome into the cytoplasm. In addition, infected host cells can express spike protein on their cell surface, which will interact with ACE2 on neighboring cells, leading to cell membrane fusion and the formation of multinucleated cells or syncytia. Both viral entry and syncytia formation are mediated by spike-ACE2 interaction and share some common mechanisms of membrane fusion. Here in this review, we will summarize our current understanding of spike-mediated membrane fusion, which may shed light on future broad-spectrum antiviral development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology and ImmunologyXi'an Jiaotong University Health Science CenterXi'anChina
| | - Huijun Yuan
- Department of Pathogen Biology and ImmunologyXi'an Jiaotong University Health Science CenterXi'anChina
| | - Xiaozhen Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology and ImmunologyXi'an Jiaotong University Health Science CenterXi'anChina
| | - Hongliang Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology and ImmunologyXi'an Jiaotong University Health Science CenterXi'anChina
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to DiseasesXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anChina
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18
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Sharun K, Tiwari R, Yatoo MI, Natesan S, Megawati D, Singh KP, Michalak I, Dhama K. A comprehensive review on pharmacologic agents, immunotherapies and supportive therapeutics for COVID-19. NARRA J 2022; 2:e92. [PMID: 38449903 PMCID: PMC10914132 DOI: 10.52225/narra.v2i3.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has affected many countries throughout the world. As urgency is a necessity, most efforts have focused on identifying small molecule drugs that can be repurposed for use as anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. Although several drug candidates have been identified using in silico method and in vitro studies, most of these drugs require the support of in vivo data before they can be considered for clinical trials. Several drugs are considered promising therapeutic agents for COVID-19. In addition to the direct-acting antiviral drugs, supportive therapies including traditional Chinese medicine, immunotherapies, immunomodulators, and nutritional therapy could contribute a major role in treating COVID-19 patients. Some of these drugs have already been included in the treatment guidelines, recommendations, and standard operating procedures. In this article, we comprehensively review the approved and potential therapeutic drugs, immune cells-based therapies, immunomodulatory agents/drugs, herbs and plant metabolites, nutritional and dietary for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khan Sharun
- Division of Surgery, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
| | - Ruchi Tiwari
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Sciences, UP Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalay Evum Go-Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura, India
| | - Mohd I. Yatoo
- Division of Veterinary Clinical Complex, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Shuhama, Alusteng Srinagar, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Senthilkumar Natesan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar, Opp to Airforce station HQ, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Dewi Megawati
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Warmadewa University, Denpasar, Indonesia
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Karam P. Singh
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
| | - Izabela Michalak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Advanced Material Technologies, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
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19
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Maranduca MA, Vamesu CG, Tanase DM, Clim A, Drochioi IC, Pinzariu AC, Filip N, Dima N, Tudorancea I, Serban DN, Serban IL. The RAAS Axis and SARS-CoV-2: From Oral to Systemic Manifestations. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58121717. [PMID: 36556919 PMCID: PMC9784172 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58121717] [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: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the essential regulators of arterial blood pressure, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) seems to be one of the most complex mechanisms in the human body. Since the discovery of its key components and their actions, new substances and functions are still being unraveled. The main pathway begins with the secretion of renin in the kidney and culminates with the synthesis of angiotensin II (Ang II)-a strong vasoconstrictor-thanks to the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Research conducted in 2000 identified another enzyme, named ACE2, that converts Ang II into Ang-(1-7), a heptapeptide with opposing effects to those of Ang II: vasodilation and anti-inflammatory properties. This particular enzyme became of paramount importance during the last two decades, as a result of the confrontation of the human race with life-threatening epidemics. Multiple studies have been performed in order to uncover the link between ACE2 and human coronaviruses, the results of which we systemized in order to create an overview of the pathogenic mechanism. Human coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, attach to ACE2 via their spike proteins (S), causing the destruction of the enzyme. Because ACE2 limits the production of Ang II (by converting it into Ang-(1-7)), its destruction leads to a dysregulated inflammatory response. The purpose of this review is to decipher the complex pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the multiorgan complications (oral, cardiac, pulmonary, systemic) that appear as a result of the interaction of the SARS CoV-2 virus with the angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minela Aida Maranduca
- Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences II, Discipline of Physiology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Internal Medicine Clinic, “St. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Calin George Vamesu
- Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences II, Discipline of Physiology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Daniela Maria Tanase
- Internal Medicine Clinic, “St. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Internal Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Andreea Clim
- Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences II, Discipline of Physiology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ilie Cristian Drochioi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Reconstructive, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700020 Iasi, Romania
- Correspondence: (I.C.D.); (A.C.P.)
| | - Alin Constantin Pinzariu
- Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences II, Discipline of Physiology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Correspondence: (I.C.D.); (A.C.P.)
| | - Nina Filip
- Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences II, Discipline of Biochemistry, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Nicoleta Dima
- Internal Medicine Clinic, “St. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Internal Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ionut Tudorancea
- Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences II, Discipline of Physiology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Cardiology Clinic, “St. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Dragomir Nicolae Serban
- Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences II, Discipline of Physiology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ionela Lacramioara Serban
- Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences II, Discipline of Physiology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
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20
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Chavda VP, Bezbaruah R, Deka K, Nongrang L, Kalita T. The Delta and Omicron Variants of SARS-CoV-2: What We Know So Far. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1926. [PMID: 36423021 PMCID: PMC9698608 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10111926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The world has not yet completely overcome the fear of the havoc brought by SARS-CoV-2. The virus has undergone several mutations since its initial appearance in China in December 2019. Several variations (i.e., B.1.616.1 (Kappa variant), B.1.617.2 (Delta variant), B.1.617.3, and BA.2.75 (Omicron variant)) have emerged throughout the pandemic, altering the virus's capacity to spread, risk profile, and even symptoms. Humanity faces a serious threat as long as the virus keeps adapting and changing its fundamental function to evade the immune system. The Delta variant has two escape alterations, E484Q and L452R, as well as other mutations; the most notable of these is P681R, which is expected to boost infectivity, whereas the Omicron has about 60 mutations with certain deletions and insertions. The Delta variant is 40-60% more contagious in comparison to the Alpha variant. Additionally, the AY.1 lineage, also known as the "Delta plus" variant, surfaced as a result of a mutation in the Delta variant, which was one of the causes of the life-threatening second wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nevertheless, the recent Omicron variants represent a reminder that the COVID-19 epidemic is far from ending. The wave has sparked a fervor of investigation on why the variant initially appeared to propagate so much more rapidly than the other three variants of concerns (VOCs), whether it is more threatening in those other ways, and how its type of mutations, which induce minor changes in its proteins, can wreck trouble. This review sheds light on the pathogenicity, mutations, treatments, and impact on the vaccine efficacy of the Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek P. Chavda
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, L M College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad 380008, Gujarat, India
| | - Rajashri Bezbaruah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh 786004, Assam, India
| | - Kangkan Deka
- NETES Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Mirza, Guwahati 781125, Assam, India
| | - Lawandashisha Nongrang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh 786004, Assam, India
| | - Tutumoni Kalita
- Girijananda Chowdhury Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Azara, Guwahati 781017, Assam, India
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21
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Youn JY, Wang J, Li Q, Huang K, Cai H. Robust therapeutic effects on COVID-19 of novel small molecules: Alleviation of SARS-CoV-2 S protein induction of ACE2/TMPRSS2, NOX2/ROS, and MCP-1. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:957340. [PMID: 36187008 PMCID: PMC9520320 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.957340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
While new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) constantly emerge to prolong the pandemic of COVID-19, robust and safe therapeutics are in urgent need. During the previous and ongoing fight against the pandemic in China, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has proven to be markedly effective in treating COVID-19. Among active ingredients of TCM recipes, small molecules such as quercetin, glabridin, gallic acid, and chrysoeriol have been predicted to target viral receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) via system pharmacology/molecular docking/visualization analyses. Of note, endothelial dysfunction induced by oxidative stress and inflammation represents a critical mediator of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-organ injuries in patients with COVID-19. Hence, in the present study, we examined whether quercetin, glabridin, gallic acide and chrysoeriol regulate viral receptors of ACE2 and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), redox modulator NADPH oxidase isoform 2 (NOX2), and inflammatory protein of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in endothelial cells to mediate therapeutic protection against COVID-19. Indeed, quercetin, glabridin, gallic acide and chrysoeriol completely attenuated SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S protein)-induced upregulation in ACE2 protein expression in endothelial cells. In addition, these small molecules abolished S protein upregulation of cleaved/active form of TMPRSS2, while native TMPRSS2 was not significantly regulated. Moreover, these small molecules completely abrogated S protein-induced upregulation in NOX2 protein expression, which resulted in alleviated superoxide production, confirming their preventive efficacies against S protein-induced oxidative stress in endothelial cells. In addition, treatment with these small molecules abolished S protein induction of MCP-1 expression. Collectively, our findings for the first time demonstrate that these novel small molecules may be used as novel and robust therapeutic options for the treatment of patients with COVID-19, via effective attenuation of S protein induction of endothelial oxidative stress and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Youn Youn
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United State
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Cardiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Li
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United State
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kai Huang
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United State
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Hua Cai
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United State
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Hua Cai,
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22
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Mohamed Y, El-Maradny YA, Saleh AK, Nayl AA, El-Gendi H, El-Fakharany EM. A comprehensive insight into current control of COVID-19: Immunogenicity, vaccination, and treatment. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 153:113499. [PMID: 36076589 PMCID: PMC9343749 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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23
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Ruchawapol C, Fu WW, Xu HX. A review on computational approaches that support the researches on traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) against COVID-19. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 104:154324. [PMID: 35841663 PMCID: PMC9259013 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 highly caused contagious infections and massive deaths worldwide as well as unprecedentedly disrupting global economies and societies, and the urgent development of new antiviral medications are required. Medicinal herbs are promising resources for the discovery of prophylactic candidate against COVID-19. Considerable amounts of experimental efforts have been made on vaccines and direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), but neither of them was fast and fully developed. PURPOSE This study examined the computational approaches that have played a significant role in drug discovery and development against COVID-19, and these computational methods and tools will be helpful for the discovery of lead compounds from phytochemicals and understanding the molecular mechanism of action of TCM in the prevention and control of the other diseases. METHODS A search conducting in scientific databases (PubMed, Science Direct, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and Web of Science) found a total of 2172 articles, which were retrieved via web interface of the following websites. After applying some inclusion and exclusion criteria and full-text screening, only 292 articles were collected as eligible articles. RESULTS In this review, we highlight three main categories of computational approaches including structure-based, knowledge-mining (artificial intelligence) and network-based approaches. The most commonly used database, molecular docking tool, and MD simulation software include TCMSP, AutoDock Vina, and GROMACS, respectively. Network-based approaches were mainly provided to help readers understanding the complex mechanisms of multiple TCM ingredients, targets, diseases, and networks. CONCLUSION Computational approaches have been broadly applied to the research of phytochemicals and TCM against COVID-19, and played a significant role in drug discovery and development in terms of the financial and time saving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chattarin Ruchawapol
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Cai Lun Lu 1200, Shanghai 201203, China; Engineering Research Centre of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Cai Lun Lu 1200, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wen-Wei Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Cai Lun Lu 1200, Shanghai 201203, China; Engineering Research Centre of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Cai Lun Lu 1200, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Hong-Xi Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Cai Lun Lu 1200, Shanghai 201203, China; Engineering Research Centre of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Cai Lun Lu 1200, Shanghai 201203, China.
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24
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Zhou F, Deng J, Heybati K, Zuo QK, Ali S, Hou W, Wong CY, Ramaraju HB, Chang O, Dhivagaran T, Silver Z. Efficacy and safety of corticosteroid regimens for the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a meta-analysis. Future Virol 2022; 17:463-489. [PMID: 35814934 PMCID: PMC9249165 DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2021-0244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Aim To evaluate the efficacy and safety of corticosteroids for treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Materials & methods Efficacy outcomes included time to negative SARS-CoV-2 tests, length of stay, duration and incidence of intensive unit care stay, incidence of mortality and duration and incidence of mechanical ventilation. Safety outcomes included the incidence of adverse events and severe adverse events, incidence of hyperglycemia and incidence of nosocomial infections. Results Ninety-five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies (n = 42,205) were included. Corticosteroids were associated with increased length of stay (based on RCT only), increased time to negative tests, decreased length of mechanical ventilation and increased odds of hyperglycemia. Conclusion Corticosteroids should be considered in patients requiring mechanical ventilation, and glycemic monitoring may be needed when administering corticosteroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangwen Zhou
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Jiawen Deng
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Kiyan Heybati
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Qi Kang Zuo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, 185 S Orange Ave, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
- Faculty of Science, McGill University, 845 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, QC, H3A 0G5, Canada
| | - Saif Ali
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Wenteng Hou
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Chi Yi Wong
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | | | - Oswin Chang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Thanansayan Dhivagaran
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
- Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences Program (iBioMed), McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Zachary Silver
- Faculty of Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
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25
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Fernandes LA, Gomes AA, Guimarães BG, de Lourdes Borba Magalhães M, Ray P, da Silva GF. Engineering defensin α‐helix to produce high‐affinity
SARS‐CoV
‐2 spike protein binding ligands. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4355. [PMID: 35634778 PMCID: PMC9144876 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The binding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) spike protein to the angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor expressed on the host cells is a critical initial step for viral infection. This interaction is blocked through competitive inhibition by soluble ACE2 protein. Therefore, developing high‐affinity and cost‐effective ACE2 mimetic ligands that disrupt this protein–protein interaction is a promising strategy for viral diagnostics and therapy. We employed human and plant defensins, a class of small (2–5 kDa) and highly stable proteins containing solvent‐exposed alpha‐helix, conformationally constrained by two disulfide bonds. Therefore, we engineered the amino acid residues on the constrained alpha‐helix of defensins to mimic the critical residues on the ACE2 helix 1 that interact with the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein. The engineered proteins (h‐deface2, p‐deface2, and p‐deface2‐MUT) were soluble and purified to homogeneity with a high yield from a bacterial expression system. The proteins demonstrated exceptional thermostability (Tm 70.7°C), high‐affinity binding to the spike protein with apparent Kd values of 54.4 ± 11.3, 33.5 ± 8.2, and 14.4 ± 3.5 nM for h‐deface2, p‐deface2, and p‐deface2‐MUT, respectively, and were used in a diagnostic assay that detected SARS‐CoV‐2 neutralizing antibodies. This work addresses the challenge of developing helical ACE2 mimetics by demonstrating that defensins provide promising scaffolds to engineer alpha‐helices in a constrained form for designing of high‐affinity ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Antônio Fernandes
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Center of Agroveterinary Sciences State University of Santa Catarina Lages Santa Catarina Brazil
| | - Anderson Albino Gomes
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Center of Agroveterinary Sciences State University of Santa Catarina Lages Santa Catarina Brazil
| | - Beatriz Gomes Guimarães
- Laboratory of Structural Biology and Protein Engineering Instituto Carlos Chagas ‐ ICC/FIOCRUZ Curitiba‐PR Brazil
| | | | - Partha Ray
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Moores Cancer Center University of California – San Diego Health La Jolla California USA
| | - Gustavo Felippe da Silva
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Center of Agroveterinary Sciences State University of Santa Catarina Lages Santa Catarina Brazil
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Zanganeh S, Goodarzi N, Doroudian M, Movahed E. Potential COVID-19 therapeutic approaches targeting angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; An updated review. Rev Med Virol 2021; 32:e2321. [PMID: 34958163 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 has spread swiftly throughout the world posing a global health emergency. The significant numbers of deaths attributed to this pandemic have researchers battling to understand this new, dangerous virus. Researchers are looking to find possible treatment regimens and develop effective therapies. This study aims to provide an overview of published scientific information on potential treatments, emphasizing angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) inhibitors as one of the most important drug targets. SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD); as a viral attachment or entry inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2, human recombinant soluble ACE2; as a genetically modified soluble form of ACE2 to compete with membrane-bound ACE2, and microRNAs (miRNAs); as a negative regulator of the expression of ACE2/TMPRSS2 to inhibit SARS-CoV2 entry into cells, are the potential therapeutic approaches discussed thoroughly in this article. This review provides the groundwork for the ongoing development of therapeutic agents and effective treatments against SARS-COV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saba Zanganeh
- Department of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Goodarzi
- Department of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Doroudian
- Department of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elaheh Movahed
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New Year, USA
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27
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Mahindra A, Tejeda G, Rossi M, Janha O, Herbert I, Morris C, Morgan DC, Beattie W, Montezano AC, Hudson B, Tobin AB, Bhella D, Touyz RM, Jamieson AG, Baillie GS, Blair CM. Peptides derived from the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding motif bind to ACE2 but do not block ACE2-mediated host cell entry or pro-inflammatory cytokine induction. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260283. [PMID: 34793553 PMCID: PMC8601423 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 viral attachment and entry into host cells is mediated by a direct interaction between viral spike glycoproteins and membrane bound angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The receptor binding motif (RBM), located within the S1 subunit of the spike protein, incorporates the majority of known ACE2 contact residues responsible for high affinity binding and associated virulence. Observation of existing crystal structures of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (SRBD)-ACE2 interface, combined with peptide array screening, allowed us to define a series of linear native RBM-derived peptides that were selected as potential antiviral decoy sequences with the aim of directly binding ACE2 and attenuating viral cell entry. RBM1 (16mer): S443KVGGNYNYLYRLFRK458, RBM2A (25mer): E484GFNCYFPLQSYGFQPTNGVGYQPY508, RBM2B (20mer): F456NCYFPLQSYGFQPTNGVGY505 and RBM2A-Sc (25mer): NYGLQGSPFGYQETPYPFCNFVQYG. Data from fluorescence polarisation experiments suggested direct binding between RBM peptides and ACE2, with binding affinities ranging from the high nM to low μM range (Kd = 0.207-1.206 μM). However, the RBM peptides demonstrated only modest effects in preventing SRBD internalisation and showed no antiviral activity in a spike protein trimer neutralisation assay. The RBM peptides also failed to suppress S1-protein mediated inflammation in an endogenously expressing ACE2 human cell line. We conclude that linear native RBM-derived peptides are unable to outcompete viral spike protein for binding to ACE2 and therefore represent a suboptimal approach to inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 viral cell entry. These findings reinforce the notion that larger biologics (such as soluble ACE2, 'miniproteins', nanobodies and antibodies) are likely better suited as SARS-CoV-2 cell-entry inhibitors than short-sequence linear peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Mahindra
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Gonzalo Tejeda
- Institute of Molecular Cell & Systems Biology, School of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Mario Rossi
- Institute of Molecular Cell & Systems Biology, School of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Omar Janha
- Institute of Molecular Cell & Systems Biology, School of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Imogen Herbert
- MRC Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Morris
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | | | - Wendy Beattie
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Augusto C. Montezano
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Brian Hudson
- Institute of Molecular Cell & Systems Biology, School of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew B. Tobin
- Institute of Molecular Cell & Systems Biology, School of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - David Bhella
- MRC Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Rhian M. Touyz
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | | | - George S. Baillie
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Connor M. Blair
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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28
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ACE2 : S1 RBD Interaction-Targeted Peptides and Small Molecules as Potential COVID-19 Therapeutics. Adv Pharmacol Pharm Sci 2021; 2021:1828792. [PMID: 34746794 PMCID: PMC8564205 DOI: 10.1155/2021/1828792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic that began in late 2019 continues with new challenges arising due to antigenic drift as well as individuals who cannot or choose not to take the vaccine. There is therefore an urgent need for additional therapies that complement vaccines and approved therapies such as antibodies in the fight to end or slow down the pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 initiates invasion of the human target cell through direct contact between the receptor-binding domain of its Spike protein and its cellular receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). The ACE2 and S1 RBD interaction, therefore, represents an attractive therapeutic intervention to prevent viral entry and spread. In this study, we developed a proximity-based AlphaScreen™ assay that can be utilized to quickly and efficiently screen for inhibitors that perturb the ACE2 : S1 RBD interaction. We then designed several peptides candidates from motifs in ACE2 and S1 RBD that play critical roles in the interaction, with and without modifications to the native sequences. We also assessed the possibility of reprofiling of candidate small molecules that previously have been shown to interfere with the viral entry of SARS-CoV. Using our optimized AlphaScreen™ assay, we evaluated the activity and specificity of these peptides and small molecules in inhibiting the binding of ACE2 : S1 RBD. This screen identified cepharanthine as a promising candidate for development as a SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitor.
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