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Gavandi T, Patil S, Basrani S, Yankanchi S, Chougule S, Karuppayil SM, Jadhav A. MIG1, TUP1 and NRG1 mediated yeast to hyphal morphogenesis inhibition in Candida albicans by ganciclovir. Braz J Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s42770-024-01344-8. [PMID: 38789908 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01344-8] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a polymorphic human fungal pathogen and the prime etiological agent responsible for candidiasis. The main two aspects of C. albicans virulence that have been suggested are yeast-to-hyphal (Y-H) morphological transitions and biofilm development. Anti-fungal agents targeting these virulence attributes enhances the antifungal drug development process. Repositioning with other non-fungal drugs offered a one of the new strategies and a potential alternative option to counter the urgent need for antifungal drug development. In the current study, an antiviral drug ganciclovir was screened as an antifungal agent against ATCC 90028, 10231 and clinical isolate (C1). Ganciclovir at 0.5 mg/ml concentration reduced 50% hyphal development on a silicon-based urinary catheter and was visualized using scanning electron microscopy. Ganciclovir reduced ergosterol biosynthesis in both strains and C1 isolate of C. albicans in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, a gene expression profile study showed that ganciclovir treatment resulted in upregulation of hyphal-specific repressors MIG1, TUP1, and NRG1 in C. albicans. Additionally, an in vivo study on the Bombyx mori silkworm model further evidenced the virulence inhibitory ability of ganciclovir (0.5 mg/ml) against C. albicans. This is the first report that explore the novel anti-morphogenic activities of ganciclovir against the pathogenic C. albicans strains, along with clinical isolates. Further, ganciclovir may be considered for therapeutic purpose after combinations with standard antifungal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanjila Gavandi
- Department of Stem cell and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Biotechnology, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, D. Y. Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), 416006, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
| | - Shivani Patil
- Department of Stem cell and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Biotechnology, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, D. Y. Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), 416006, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sargun Basrani
- Department of Stem cell and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Biotechnology, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, D. Y. Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), 416006, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
| | - Shivanand Yankanchi
- Department of Zoology, Shivaji University, Vidya Nagar, 416004, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sayali Chougule
- Department of Stem cell and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Biotechnology, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, D. Y. Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), 416006, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
| | - S Mohan Karuppayil
- Department of Stem cell and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Biotechnology, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, D. Y. Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), 416006, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Ashwini Jadhav
- Department of Stem cell and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Biotechnology, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, D. Y. Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), 416006, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.
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Israr J, Alam S, Kumar A. Drug repurposing for respiratory infections. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2024; 207:207-230. [PMID: 38942538 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2024.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Respiratory infections such as Coronavirus disease 2019 are a substantial worldwide health challenge, frequently resulting in severe sickness and death, especially in susceptible groups. Conventional drug development for respiratory infections faces obstacles such as extended timescales, substantial expenses, and the rise of resistance to current treatments. Drug repurposing is a potential method that has evolved to quickly find and reuse existing medications for treating respiratory infections. Drug repurposing utilizes medications previously approved for different purposes, providing a cost-effective and time-efficient method to tackle pressing medical needs. This chapter summarizes current progress and obstacles in repurposing medications for respiratory infections, focusing on notable examples of repurposed pharmaceuticals and their probable modes of action. The text also explores the significance of computational approaches, high-throughput screening, and preclinical investigations in identifying potential candidates for repurposing. The text delves into the significance of regulatory factors, clinical trial structure, and actual data in confirming the effectiveness and safety of repurposed medications for respiratory infections. Drug repurposing is a valuable technique for quickly increasing the range of treatments for respiratory infections, leading to better patient outcomes and decreasing the worldwide disease burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juveriya Israr
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India; Department of Biotechnology, Era University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shabroz Alam
- Department of Biotechnology, Era University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Rama University, Mandhana, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Afzaal H, Waseem T, Saeed A, Noori FA, Obaidullah, Babar MM. Regulatory considerations and intellectual property rights of repurposed drugs. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2024; 205:357-375. [PMID: 38789186 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2024.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Drug repurposing has emerged as a promising approach in the drug discovery and development process as it offers safe and effective therapeutic options in a time effective manner. Though the issues related to pre-clinical and clinical aspects of drug development process are greatly addressed during drug repurposing yet regulatory perspectives gain even more However, like traditional drug development the repurposed drugs face multiple challenges. Such challenges range from the patenting rights, novelty of repurposing, data and market exclusivity to affordability and equitable access to the patient population. In order to optimize the market access of repurposed drugs, regulatory organizations throughout the world have developed accelerated approval procedures. The regulatory bodies have recognized the importance of repurposing approaches and repurposed drugs. Regulatory bodies can encourage the development of repurposed drugs by providing incentives to pharmaceutical companies and more accessible and affordable repurposed agents for the general population. This chapter summarizes the regulatory and ethical considerations pertaining to the repurposed drugs and highlights a few cases of intellectual property rights for repurposed drugs that have helped improve patient's access to safe, efficacious and cost-effective therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Afzaal
- Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Tanya Waseem
- Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Adil Saeed
- Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan; Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Fahad Ali Noori
- Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Obaidullah
- Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Mustafeez Mujtaba Babar
- Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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Khoo YK, Lim JCW, Tan-Koi WC, Kitikiti NS, Sim-Devadas AL. Promoting Collaboration of Regulators and Patients in Improving Drug Safety and Regulatory Decision Making. Drug Saf 2024; 47:217-225. [PMID: 38082120 DOI: 10.1007/s40264-023-01385-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Pharmacovigilance involves a continuous process of evaluating, monitoring and communicating the safety profile of a medicine throughout its life cycle. This process involves a range of stakeholders, including national regulatory authorities, industry, health organisations, healthcare providers and patients. Although patients are the end users of medicines and experts in their medical conditions, patient involvement is still nascent in the Asia-Pacific region. While there are positive examples and encouraging trends, several key challenges currently hinder systemic patient involvement in drug safety and regulatory decision making. Systemic issues such as a lack of formalised frameworks or platforms, underdeveloped communication and information exchange channels, and paternalistic health systems constrain greater patient involvement and collaborative regulator-patient activities. Addressing these challenges will greatly advance collaboration among regulators, patients, and patient advocates to enhance drug safety and regulatory decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoong Khean Khoo
- Centre of Regulatory Excellence, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore.
- SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore.
| | - John C W Lim
- Centre of Regulatory Excellence, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
- SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
- Consortium for Clinical Research and Innovation, 23 Rochester Park, Singapore, 139234, Singapore
| | - Wei Chuen Tan-Koi
- Centre of Regulatory Excellence, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
| | - Nokuthula Sikhethiwe Kitikiti
- Centre of Regulatory Excellence, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals International, 8 Marina Boulevard, Singapore, 018981, Singapore
| | - Ai Ling Sim-Devadas
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232, Singapore
- SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network, Singapore Health Services, 31 Third Hospital Avenue, Singapore, 168753, Singapore
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5
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Fumagalli V, Iannacone M. The interplay of drug therapeutics and immune responses to SARS-CoV-2. Cell Mol Immunol 2024; 21:197-200. [PMID: 37964122 PMCID: PMC10805708 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-023-01098-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has necessitated rapid therapeutic and preventative responses. While vaccines form the frontline of defense, antiviral treatments such as nirmatrelvir have emerged as vital adjunctive measures, particularly for those unable or unwilling to be vaccinated. This review delves into the potential influence of nirmatrelvir on enduring immunity. In parallel, the potential of drug repurposing is explored, with bisphosphonates being examined for their possible effects against COVID-19 due to their immunomodulatory properties. The importance of rigorous clinical trials and careful interpretation of preliminary data is emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Fumagalli
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Iannacone
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
- Experimental Imaging Centre, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
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Hamid A, Mäser P, Mahmoud AB. Drug Repurposing in the Chemotherapy of Infectious Diseases. Molecules 2024; 29:635. [PMID: 38338378 PMCID: PMC10856722 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29030635] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Repurposing is a universal mechanism for innovation, from the evolution of feathers to the invention of Velcro tape. Repurposing is particularly attractive for drug development, given that it costs more than a billion dollars and takes longer than ten years to make a new drug from scratch. The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a large number of drug repurposing activities. At the same time, it has highlighted potential pitfalls, in particular when concessions are made to the target product profile. Here, we discuss the pros and cons of drug repurposing for infectious diseases and analyze different ways of repurposing. We distinguish between opportunistic and rational approaches, i.e., just saving time and money by screening compounds that are already approved versus repurposing based on a particular target that is common to different pathogens. The latter can be further distinguished into divergent and convergent: points of attack that are divergent share common ancestry (e.g., prokaryotic targets in the apicoplast of malaria parasites), whereas those that are convergent arise from a shared lifestyle (e.g., the susceptibility of bacteria, parasites, and tumor cells to antifolates due to their high rate of DNA synthesis). We illustrate how such different scenarios can be capitalized on by using examples of drugs that have been repurposed to, from, or within the field of anti-infective chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Hamid
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11111, Sudan;
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, 4123 Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Abdelhalim Babiker Mahmoud
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11111, Sudan;
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany
- Department of Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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Tiwari G, Chauhan MS, Sharma D. In silico study of inhibition activity of boceprevir drug against 2019-nCoV main protease. Z NATURFORSCH C 2024; 79:1-12. [PMID: 38156366 DOI: 10.1515/znc-2023-0117] [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: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Boceprevir drug is a ketoamide serine protease inhibitor with a linear peptidomimetic structure that exhibits inhibition activity against 2019-nCoV main protease. This paper reports electronic properties of boceprevir and its molecular docking as well as molecular dynamics simulation analysis with protein receptor. For this, the equilibrium structure of boceprevir has been obtained by DFT at B3LYP and ωB97XD levels with 6-311+G(d,p) basis set in gas and water mediums. HOMO-LUMO and absorption spectrum analysis have been used to evaluate the boceprevir's toxicity and photosensitivity, respectively. Molecular docking simulation has been performed to test the binding affinity of boceprevir with 2019-nCoV MPRO; which rendered a variety of desirable binding locations between the ligand and target protein's residue positions. The optimum binding location has been considered for molecular dynamics simulation. The findings have been addressed to clarify the boceprevir drug efficacy against the 2019-nCoV MPRO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gargi Tiwari
- Department of Physics, Patna University, Patna-800005, India
| | | | - Dipendra Sharma
- Department of Physics, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur-273009, India
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Rohilla A, Rohilla S. Drug Repositioning: A Monetary Stratagem to Discover a New Application of Drugs. Curr Drug Discov Technol 2024; 21:e101023222023. [PMID: 38629171 DOI: 10.2174/0115701638253929230922115127] [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: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Drug repurposing, also referred to as drug repositioning or drug reprofiling, is a scientific approach to the detection of any new application for an already approved or investigational drug. It is a useful policy for the invention and development of new pharmacological or therapeutic applications of different drugs. The strategy has been known to offer numerous advantages over developing a completely novel drug for certain problems. Drug repurposing has numerous methodologies that can be categorized as target-oriented, drug-oriented, and problem-oriented. The choice of the methodology of drug repurposing relies on the accessible information about the drug molecule and like pharmacokinetic, pharmacological, physicochemical, and toxicological profile of the drug. In addition, molecular docking studies and other computer-aided methods have been known to show application in drug repurposing. The variation in dosage for original target diseases and novel diseases presents a challenge for researchers of drug repurposing in present times. The present review critically discusses the drugs repurposed for cancer, covid-19, Alzheimer's, and other diseases, strategies, and challenges of drug repurposing. Moreover, regulatory perspectives related to different countries like the United States (US), Europe, and India have been delineated in the present review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Rohilla
- Department of Pharmacology, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, 140413, Mohali, India
| | - Seema Rohilla
- Department of Pharmacy, Panipat Institute of Engineering and Technology, Panipat, Haryana, India
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Gasmi A, Tippairote T, Mujawdiya PK, Menzel A, Lysiuk R, Shanaida M, Lenchyk L, Peana M, Bjørklund G. Traditional Chinese Medicine as the Preventive and Therapeutic Remedy for COVID-19. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:3118-3131. [PMID: 36999715 DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230331084126] [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: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic still has tremendous impacts on the global socio-economy and quality of living. The traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) approach showed encouraging results during previous outbreaks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). With limited treatment availability, TCM herbs and formulations could be useful to reduce COVID-19 symptoms and potential sources for discovering novel therapeutic targets. We reviewed 12 TCM herbs and formulations recommended for COVID-19 management by the National Health Commission and as National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China. This article explored the Chinese national authorities' guidelines from 2003 to 2020, the scientific data in public databases for the recommended TCM remedies, and their potential mechanistic actions in COVID-19 management. Several TCM herbs and formulations could potentially benefit COVID-19 management. The recommended TCM oral preparations list includes Huoxiang zhengqi, Jinhua Qinggan, Lianhua Qingwen, and Shufeng jiedu; the recommended injection preparations comprise Xiyanping Xuebijing, Re-Du-Ning, Tanreqing, Xingnaojing, Shenfu, Shengmai, and Shenmai. TCM remedies are viable options for symptom alleviation and management of COVID-19. The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic presents an opportunity to find novel therapeutic targets from TCM-active ingredients. Despite the recommendations in Chinese National guidelines, these remedies warrant further assessments in well-designed clinical trials to ascertain their efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Gasmi
- Société Francophone de Nutrithérapie et de Nutrigénétique Appliquée, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Torsak Tippairote
- Nutritional and Environmental Section, Thailand Initiatives for Functional Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
- Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Healing Passion Medical Center, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Alain Menzel
- Laboratoires Réunis, Junglinster, Luxembourg, UK
| | - Roman Lysiuk
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
- CONEM Ukraine Life Science Research Group, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Mariia Shanaida
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Medical Botany, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Larysa Lenchyk
- Department of Quality, Standardization and Certification of Medicines of IATPS, National University of Pharmacy, Kharkiv, Ukraine
- CONEM Ukraine Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry Research Group, National University of Pharmacy, Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Massimiliano Peana
- Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Mo i Rana, Norway
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10
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Hur JY, Lee S, Shin WR, Kim YH, Ahn JY. The emerging role of medical foods and therapeutic potential of medical food-derived exosomes. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2023; 6:32-50. [PMID: 38125597 PMCID: PMC10729880 DOI: 10.1039/d3na00649b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Medical food is consumed for the purpose of improving specific nutritional requirements or disease conditions, such as inflammation, diabetes, and cancer. It involves partial or exclusive feeding for fulfilling unique nutritional requirements of patients and is different from medicine, consisting of basic nutrients, such as polyphenols, vitamins, sugars, proteins, lipids, and other functional ingredients to nourish the patients. Recently, studies on extracellular vesicles (exosomes) with therapeutic and drug carrier potential have been actively conducted. In addition, there have been attempts to utilize exosomes as medical food components. Consequently, the application of exosomes is expanding in different fields with increasing research being conducted on their stability and safety. Herein, we introduced the current trends of medical food and the potential utilization of exosomes in them. Moreover, we proposed Medi-Exo, a exosome-based medical food. Furthermore, we comprehensively elucidate various disease aspects between medical food-derived exosomes (Medi-Exo) and therapeutic natural bionanocomposites. This review highlights the therapeutic challenges regarding Medi-Exo and its potential health benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Young Hur
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu Cheongju 28644 South Korea +82-43-264-9600 +82-43-261-2301 +82-43-261-3575
| | - SeonHyung Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania 210 S 33rd St. Philadelphia PA 19104 USA
| | - Woo-Ri Shin
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu Cheongju 28644 South Korea +82-43-264-9600 +82-43-261-2301 +82-43-261-3575
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania 210 S 33rd St. Philadelphia PA 19104 USA
| | - Yang-Hoon Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu Cheongju 28644 South Korea +82-43-264-9600 +82-43-261-2301 +82-43-261-3575
| | - Ji-Young Ahn
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu Cheongju 28644 South Korea +82-43-264-9600 +82-43-261-2301 +82-43-261-3575
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Szewczyk-Roszczenko OK, Roszczenko P, Shmakova A, Finiuk N, Holota S, Lesyk R, Bielawska A, Vassetzky Y, Bielawski K. The Chemical Inhibitors of Endocytosis: From Mechanisms to Potential Clinical Applications. Cells 2023; 12:2312. [PMID: 37759535 PMCID: PMC10527932 DOI: 10.3390/cells12182312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocytosis is one of the major ways cells communicate with their environment. This process is frequently hijacked by pathogens. Endocytosis also participates in the oncogenic transformation. Here, we review the approaches to inhibit endocytosis, discuss chemical inhibitors of this process, and discuss potential clinical applications of the endocytosis inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Piotr Roszczenko
- Department of Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, Kilinskiego 1, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland; (P.R.); (A.B.)
| | - Anna Shmakova
- CNRS, UMR 9018, Institut Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, 94800 Villejuif, France;
| | - Nataliya Finiuk
- Department of Regulation of Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis, Institute of Cell Biology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Drahomanov 14/16, 79005 Lviv, Ukraine;
| | - Serhii Holota
- Department of Pharmaceutical, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Pekarska 69, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine; (S.H.); (R.L.)
| | - Roman Lesyk
- Department of Pharmaceutical, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Pekarska 69, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine; (S.H.); (R.L.)
| | - Anna Bielawska
- Department of Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, Kilinskiego 1, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland; (P.R.); (A.B.)
| | - Yegor Vassetzky
- CNRS, UMR 9018, Institut Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, 94800 Villejuif, France;
| | - Krzysztof Bielawski
- Department of Synthesis and Technology of Drugs, Medical University of Bialystok, Kilinskiego 1, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland;
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Ciccimarra F, Luxi N, Bellitto C, L' Abbate L, De Nardo P, Savoldi A, Yeomans A, Molokhia M, Tacconelli E, Trifirò G. Exploring the Use of Monoclonal Antibodies and Antiviral Therapies for Early Treatment of COVID-19 Outpatients in a Real-World Setting: A Nationwide Study from England and Italy. BioDrugs 2023; 37:675-684. [PMID: 37148526 PMCID: PMC10163563 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-023-00601-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Real-world data on early treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outpatients with newly approved therapies are sparse. AIM To explore the pattern of use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)/antiviral therapies approved for early COVID-19 treatment in non-hospitalized patients from England and Italy from December 2021 to October 2022. METHODS Public national dashboards on weekly mAb/antiviral use and/or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection diagnoses from the Italian Medicines Agency, the Italian National Institute of Health, National Health Service in England and the UK Government were explored. Prevalence of antiviral use in outpatients during the entire study period and every two weeks was calculated, as a whole and by class and compounds. An interrupted time-series (ITS) analysis was carried out to assess the impact of predominant SARS-CoV-2 variants over time on the prevalence of use of mAbs/antivirals in England and Italy. RESULTS Overall, 77,469 and 195,604 doses of mAbs/antivirals were respectively administered to a total of 10,630,903 (7.3 per 1000) and 18,168,365 (10.8 per 1000) patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection in England and Italy. Prevalence of use every two weeks increased from 0.07% to 3.1% in England and 0.9% to 2.3% in Italy during the study period. Regarding individual compounds, sotrovimab (prevalence of use, 1.6%) and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (1.6%) in England, and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (1.7%) and molnupiravir (0.5%) in Italy, reported the highest prevalence during a 2-week period. In the ITS analysis, the transition from Delta to Omicron variant predominance was associated with a significant increase in the use of sotrovimab, molnupiravir, remdesivir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in both England and Italy, with a reduction of other marketed mAbs. The extent of the increase was higher in England than in Italy for all these drugs except for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. CONCLUSIONS In this dual nationwide study, the prevalence of use of mAbs/antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 for early outpatients' treatment increased slowly up to 2.0-3.0% of all patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection in both England and Italy from December 2021 to October 2022. The trend of individual drug use varied in relation to predominant SARS-CoV-2 variants with some differences across countries. In line with scientific societies' guidelines, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was the most frequently prescribed antiviral in both countries in the most recent period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Ciccimarra
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pharmacology, University of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Luxi
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Bellitto
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pharmacology, University of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Luca L' Abbate
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Pasquale De Nardo
- Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Alessia Savoldi
- Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Mariam Molokhia
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Evelina Tacconelli
- Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gianluca Trifirò
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pharmacology, University of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy.
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13
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Thompson J, Wang Y, Dreischulte T, Barreiro O, Gonzalez RJ, Hanč P, Matysiak C, Neely HR, Rottenkolber M, Haskell T, Endres S, von Andrian UH. Association between bisphosphonate use and COVID-19 related outcomes. eLife 2023; 12:e79548. [PMID: 37534876 PMCID: PMC10691801 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although there are several efficacious vaccines against COVID-19, vaccination rates in many regions around the world remain insufficient to prevent continued high disease burden and emergence of viral variants. Repurposing of existing therapeutics that prevent or mitigate severe COVID-19 could help to address these challenges. The objective of this study was to determine whether prior use of bisphosphonates is associated with reduced incidence and/or severity of COVID-19. Methods A retrospective cohort study utilizing payer-complete health insurance claims data from 8,239,790 patients with continuous medical and prescription insurance January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 was performed. The primary exposure of interest was use of any bisphosphonate from January 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020. Bisphosphonate users were identified as patients having at least one bisphosphonate claim during this period, who were then 1:1 propensity score-matched to bisphosphonate non-users by age, gender, insurance type, primary-care-provider visit in 2019, and comorbidity burden. Main outcomes of interest included: (a) any testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection; (b) COVID-19 diagnosis; and (c) hospitalization with a COVID-19 diagnosis between March 1, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Multiple sensitivity analyses were also performed to assess core study outcomes amongst more restrictive matches between BP users/non-users, as well as assessing the relationship between BP-use and other respiratory infections (pneumonia, acute bronchitis) both during the same study period as well as before the COVID outbreak. Results A total of 7,906,603 patients for whom continuous medical and prescription insurance information was available were selected. A total of 450,366 bisphosphonate users were identified and 1:1 propensity score-matched to bisphosphonate non-users. Bisphosphonate users had lower odds ratios (OR) of testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR = 0.22; 95%CI:0.21-0.23; p<0.001), COVID-19 diagnosis (OR = 0.23; 95%CI:0.22-0.24; p<0.001), and COVID-19-related hospitalization (OR = 0.26; 95%CI:0.24-0.29; p<0.001). Sensitivity analyses yielded results consistent with the primary analysis. Bisphosphonate-use was also associated with decreased odds of acute bronchitis (OR = 0.23; 95%CI:0.22-0.23; p<0.001) or pneumonia (OR = 0.32; 95%CI:0.31-0.34; p<0.001) in 2019, suggesting that bisphosphonates may protect against respiratory infections by a variety of pathogens, including but not limited to SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions Prior bisphosphonate-use was associated with dramatically reduced odds of SARS-CoV-2 testing, COVID-19 diagnosis, and COVID-19-related hospitalizations. Prospective clinical trials will be required to establish a causal role for bisphosphonate-use in COVID-19-related outcomes. Funding This study was supported by NIH grants, AR068383 and AI155865, a grant from MassCPR (to UHvA) and a CRI Irvington postdoctoral fellowship, CRI2453 (to PH).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yidi Wang
- Dept. of Immunology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Tobias Dreischulte
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilians-University MunichMunichGermany
| | - Olga Barreiro
- Dept. of Immunology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | | | - Pavel Hanč
- Dept. of Immunology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | | | - Harold R Neely
- Dept. of Immunology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Marietta Rottenkolber
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilians-University MunichMunichGermany
| | | | - Stefan Endres
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, GermanyMunichGermany
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14
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Ebrahimi N, Far NP, Fakhr SS, Faghihkhorasani F, Miraghel SA, Chaleshtori SR, Rezaei-Tazangi F, Beiranvand S, Baziyar P, Manavi MS, Zarrabi A, Nabavi N, Ren J, Aref AR. The endocannabinoid system, a new gatekeeper in the pharmacology of human hepatocellular carcinoma. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 228:115914. [PMID: 37062475 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite numerous prevention methodologies and treatment options, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still remains as the third leading life-threatening cancer. It is thus pertinent to develop new treatment modality to fight this devastating carcinoma. Ample recent studies have shown the anti-inflammatory and antitumor roles of the endocannabinoid system in various forms of cancers. Preclinical studies have also confirmed that cannabinoid therapy can be an optimal regimen for cancer treatments. The endocannabinoid system is involved in many cancer-related processes, including induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-dependent apoptosis, autophagy, PITRK and ERK signaling pathways, cell invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotypes. Moreover, changes in signaling transduction of the endocannabinoid system can be a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for HCC. Due to its pivotal role in lipid metabolism, the endocannabinoid system affects metabolic reprogramming as well as lipid content of exosomes. In addition, due to the importance of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), several studies have examined the relationship between microRNAs and the endocannabinoid system in HCC. However, HCC is a pathological condition with high heterogeneity, and therefore using the endocannabinoid system for treatment has faced many controversies. While some studies favored a role of the endocannabinoid system in carcinogenesis and tumor induction, others exhibited the anticancer potential of endocannabinoids in HCC. In this review, specific studies delineating the relationship between endocannabinoids and HCC are examined. Based on collected findings, detailed studies of the molecular mechanism of endocannabinoids as well as preclinical studies for investigating therapeutic or carcinogenic impacts in HCC cancer are strongly suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Ebrahimi
- Genetics Division, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Iran
| | - Nazanin Pazhouhesh Far
- Department of Microbiology,Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Siavash Seifollahy Fakhr
- Division of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Campus, Hamar, Norway
| | | | - Seyed Ali Miraghel
- Nocivelli Institute for Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Fatemeh Rezaei-Tazangi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Sheida Beiranvand
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Payam Baziyar
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Uinversity of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
| | | | - Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Istanbul, 34396, Turkey
| | - Noushin Nabavi
- Department of Urological Sciences and Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6H3Z6, Canada
| | - Jun Ren
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Xsphera Biosciences, Translational Medicine Group, 6 Tide Street, Boston, MA, 02210, USA.
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15
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Mandal SK, Tare M, Deepa PR. COVID-19 infection and metabolic comorbidities: Mitigating role of nutritional sufficiency and drug - nutraceutical combinations of vitamin D. HUMAN NUTRITION & METABOLISM 2023; 31:200179. [PMID: 38620788 PMCID: PMC9762046 DOI: 10.1016/j.hnm.2022.200179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The vulnerability of human health is amplified in recent times with global increase in non-communicable diseases (due to lifestyle changes and environmental insults) and infectious diseases (caused by newer pathogens and drug-resistance strains). Clinical management of diseases is further complicated by disease severity caused by other comorbid factors. Drug-based therapy may not be the sole approach, particularly in scenarios like the COVID-19 pandemic, where there is no specific drug against SARS-CoV-2. Nutritional interventions are significant in armouring human populations in disease prevention, and as adjunctive therapy for disease alleviation. Amidst ongoing clinical trials to determine the efficacy of Vit. D against infections and associated complications, this review examines the pleiotropic benefits of nutritional adequacy of vitamin D (Vit. D) in combating viral infections (COVID-19), its severity and complications due to co-morbidities (obesity, diabetes, stroke and Kawasaki disease), based on research findings and clinical studies. Supplements of Vit. D in combination with other nutrients, and drugs, are suggested as promising preventive-health and adjunct-treatment strategies in the clinical management of viral infections with metabolic comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Kumar Mandal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan, India
| | - Meghana Tare
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan, India
| | - P R Deepa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan, India
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16
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Cases of drug repositioning in children's orphan drugs: Licenced drugs versus unlicenced magistral preparations. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2023.104349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
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17
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Greenblatt W, Gupta C, Kao J. Drug Repurposing During The COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons For Expediting Drug Development And Access. Health Aff (Millwood) 2023; 42:424-432. [PMID: 36877896 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic created a large, sudden unmet public health need for rapid access to safe and effective treatments. Against this backdrop, policy makers and researchers have looked to drug repurposing-using a drug previously approved for one indication to target a new indication-as a means to accelerate the identification and development of COVID-19 treatments. Using detailed data on US clinical trials initiated during the pandemic, we examined the trajectory and sources of drug repurposing initiatives for COVID-19. We found a rapid increase in repurposing efforts at the start of the pandemic, followed by a transition to greater de novo drug development. The drugs tested for repurposing treat a wide range of indications but were typically initially approved for other infectious diseases. Finally, we documented substantial variation by trial sponsor (academic, industry, or government) and generic status: Industry sponsorship for repurposing occurred much less frequently for drugs with generic competitors already on the market. Our findings inform drug repurposing policy for both future emerging diseases and drug development in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley Greenblatt
- Wesley Greenblatt, Harvard University, Boston Children's Hospital, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Charu Gupta
- Charu Gupta, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jennifer Kao
- Jennifer Kao , University of California Los Angeles
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18
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Ndlovu K, Kannigadu C, Aucamp J, van Rensburg HDJ, N'Da DD. Exploration of ethylene glycol linked nitrofurantoin derivatives against Leishmania: Synthesis and in vitro activity. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2023; 356:e2200529. [PMID: 36759973 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202200529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that is caused by the Leishmania parasite. It is estimated that there are more than 350 million people at risk of infection annually. Current treatments that are in clinical use are expensive, have toxic side effects, and are facing parasitic resistance. Therefore, new drugs are urgently required. In the quest for new, safe, and cost-effective drugs, a series of novel ethylene glycol derivatives of nitrofurantoin was synthesised and the in vitro antileishmanial efficacy of the compounds tested against Leishmania donovani and Leishmania major strains. Arylated ethylene glycol derivatives were found to be the most potent, with submicromolar activity up to 294-fold greater than the parent compound nitrofurantoin. Analogues 2j and 2k had the best antipromastigote activities with submicromolar IC50 values against L. major IR-173 and antimonial-resistant L. donovani 9515 strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keitumetsi Ndlovu
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Christina Kannigadu
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Janine Aucamp
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | | | - David D N'Da
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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19
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Ilg MM, Lapthorn AR, Ralph DJ, Cellek S. Phenotypic screening of 1,953 FDA-approved drugs reveals 26 hits with potential for repurposing for Peyronie's disease. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277646. [PMID: 36508413 PMCID: PMC9744312 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug repurposing has been shown to bring safe medications to new patient populations, as recently evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated whether we could use phenotypic screening to repurpose drugs for the treatment of Peyronie's disease (PD). PD is a fibrotic disease characterised by continued myofibroblast presence and activity leading to formation of a plaque in the penile tunica albuginea (TA) that can cause pain during erection, erectile dysfunction, and penile deformity. PD affects 3-9% of men with treatment options limited to surgery or injection of collagenase which can only be utilised at late stages after the plaque is formed. Currently there are no approved medications that can be offered to patients presenting with early disease before the formation of the plaque. Drug repurposing may therefore be the ideal strategy to identify medical treatments to address this unmet medical need in early PD. We used primary human fibroblasts from PD patients in a phenotypic screening assay that measures TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast transformation which is the main cellular phenotype that drives the pathology in early PD. A library of FDA-approved 1,953 drugs was screened in duplicate wells at a single concentration (10 μM) in presence of TGF-β1. The myofibroblast marker α-SMA was quantified after 72h incubation. A positive control of SB-505124 (TGF-β1 receptor antagonist) was included on each plate. Hits were defined as showing >80% inhibition, whilst retaining >80% cell viability. 26 hits (1.3%) were identified which were divided into the following main groups: anti-cancer drugs, anti-inflammation, neurology, endocrinology, and imaging agents. Five of the top-ten drugs that increase myofibroblast-transformation appear to act on VEGFR. This is the first phenotypic screening of FDA-approved drugs for PD and our results suggest that it is a viable method to predict drugs with potential for repurposing to treat early PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus M. Ilg
- Medical Technology Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, United Kingdom
| | - Alice R. Lapthorn
- Medical Technology Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Ralph
- Medical Technology Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, United Kingdom
- Department of Urology, University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Selim Cellek
- Medical Technology Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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20
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Eita AS, Makky AM, Anter A, Khalil IA. Atorvastatin-loaded emulsomes foam as a topical antifungal formulation. Int J Pharm X 2022; 4:100140. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpx.2022.100140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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21
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Strömich L, Wu N, Barahona M, Yaliraki SN. Allosteric Hotspots in the Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167748. [PMID: 35843284 PMCID: PMC9288249 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Inhibiting the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 is of great interest in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the virus. Most efforts have been centred on inhibiting the binding site of the enzyme. However, considering allosteric sites, distant from the active or orthosteric site, broadens the search space for drug candidates and confers the advantages of allosteric drug targeting. Here, we report the allosteric communication pathways in the main protease dimer by using two novel fully atomistic graph-theoretical methods: Bond-to-bond propensity, which has been previously successful in identifying allosteric sites in extensive benchmark data sets without a priori knowledge, and Markov transient analysis, which has previously aided in finding novel drug targets in catalytic protein families. Using statistical bootstrapping, we score the highest ranking sites against random sites at similar distances, and we identify four statistically significant putative allosteric sites as good candidates for alternative drug targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léonie Strömich
- Department of Chemistry Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Chemistry Imperial College London, United Kingdom
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22
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Yadav V. Computational evidence based perspective on the plausible repositioning of fluoroquinolones for COVID-19 treatment. Curr Comput Aided Drug Des 2022; 18:CAD-EPUB-126248. [PMID: 36093826 DOI: 10.2174/1573409918666220909094645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a serious global healthcare crisis, so there is an emergence of identifying efficacious therapeutic options. In a setting where there is an unavailability of definitive medication along with the constant eruption of vaccine-related controversies, the drug-repositioning approach seems to be an ideal step for the management of COVID-19 patients. Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are commonly prescribed antibiotics for the treatment of genitourinary tract and upper respiratory tract infections, including severe community-acquired pneumonia. Research over the years has postulated multifaceted implications of FQs in various pathological conditions. Previously, it has been reported that few, but not all FQs, possess strong antiviral activity with an unknown mechanism of action. Herein, an interesting perspective is discussed on repositioning possibilities of FQs for the SARS-CoV-2 infections based on the recent in silico evidential support. Noteworthy, FQs possess immunomodulatory and bactericidal activity which could be valuable for patients dealing with COVID-19 related complications. Conclusively, the current perspective could pave the way to initiate pre-clinical testing of FQs against several strains of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Yadav
- Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA), University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000, Liège, Belgium
- Department of Translational Medicine, Skane University Hospital, Clinical Research Centre, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
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23
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Alegría-Arcos M, Barbosa T, Sepúlveda F, Combariza G, González J, Gil C, Martínez A, Ramírez D. Network pharmacology reveals multitarget mechanism of action of drugs to be repurposed for COVID-19. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:952192. [PMID: 36052135 PMCID: PMC9424758 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.952192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic accelerated drug/vaccine development processes, integrating scientists all over the globe to create therapeutic alternatives against this virus. In this work, we have collected information regarding proteins from SARS-CoV-2 and humans and how these proteins interact. We have also collected information from public databases on protein–drug interactions. We represent this data as networks that allow us to gain insights into protein–protein interactions between both organisms. With the collected data, we have obtained statistical metrics of the networks. This data analysis has allowed us to find relevant information on which proteins and drugs are the most relevant from the network pharmacology perspective. This method not only allows us to focus on viral proteins as the main targets for COVID-19 but also reveals that some human proteins could be also important in drug repurposing campaigns. As a result of the analysis of the SARS-CoV-2–human interactome, we have identified some old drugs, such as disulfiram, auranofin, gefitinib, suloctidil, and bromhexine as potential therapies for the treatment of COVID-19 deciphering their potential complex mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Alegría-Arcos
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Negocios, Universidad de Las Américas, Sede Providencia, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tábata Barbosa
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Sede Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Felipe Sepúlveda
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Biological Sciences Faculty, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - German Combariza
- Universidad Externado de Colombia, Departamento de Matemáticas, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Janneth González
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Sede Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carmen Gil
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Martínez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - David Ramírez
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Research Center for the Development of Novel Therapeutic Alternatives for Alcohol Use Disorders, Santiago, Chile
- *Correspondence: David Ramírez,
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24
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Assmus F, Driouich JS, Abdelnabi R, Vangeel L, Touret F, Adehin A, Chotsiri P, Cochin M, Foo CS, Jochmans D, Kim S, Luciani L, Moureau G, Park S, Pétit PR, Shum D, Wattanakul T, Weynand B, Fraisse L, Ioset JR, Mowbray CE, Owen A, Hoglund RM, Tarning J, de Lamballerie X, Nougairède A, Neyts J, Sjö P, Escudié F, Scandale I, Chatelain E. Need for a Standardized Translational Drug Development Platform: Lessons Learned from the Repurposing of Drugs for COVID-19. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1639. [PMID: 36014057 PMCID: PMC9460261 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081639] [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: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In the absence of drugs to treat or prevent COVID-19, drug repurposing can be a valuable strategy. Despite a substantial number of clinical trials, drug repurposing did not deliver on its promise. While success was observed with some repurposed drugs (e.g., remdesivir, dexamethasone, tocilizumab, baricitinib), others failed to show clinical efficacy. One reason is the lack of clear translational processes based on adequate preclinical profiling before clinical evaluation. Combined with limitations of existing in vitro and in vivo models, there is a need for a systematic approach to urgent antiviral drug development in the context of a global pandemic. We implemented a methodology to test repurposed and experimental drugs to generate robust preclinical evidence for further clinical development. This translational drug development platform comprises in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models of SARS-CoV-2, along with pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation approaches to evaluate exposure levels in plasma and target organs. Here, we provide examples of identified repurposed antiviral drugs tested within our multidisciplinary collaboration to highlight lessons learned in urgent antiviral drug development during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our data confirm the importance of assessing in vitro and in vivo potency in multiple assays to boost the translatability of pre-clinical data. The value of pharmacokinetic modeling and simulations for compound prioritization is also discussed. We advocate the need for a standardized translational drug development platform for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 to generate preclinical evidence in support of clinical trials. We propose clear prerequisites for progression of drug candidates for repurposing into clinical trials. Further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the scope and limitations of the presented translational drug development platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frauke Assmus
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LG, UK
| | - Jean-Sélim Driouich
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille University, 190-Inserm 1207, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Rana Abdelnabi
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Vangeel
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Franck Touret
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille University, 190-Inserm 1207, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Ayorinde Adehin
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LG, UK
| | - Palang Chotsiri
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Maxime Cochin
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille University, 190-Inserm 1207, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Caroline S. Foo
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dirk Jochmans
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Seungtaek Kim
- Institut Pasteur Korea, 16, Daewangpangyo-ro 712 beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13488, Korea
| | - Léa Luciani
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille University, 190-Inserm 1207, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Grégory Moureau
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille University, 190-Inserm 1207, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Soonju Park
- Institut Pasteur Korea, 16, Daewangpangyo-ro 712 beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13488, Korea
| | - Paul-Rémi Pétit
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille University, 190-Inserm 1207, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - David Shum
- Institut Pasteur Korea, 16, Daewangpangyo-ro 712 beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13488, Korea
| | - Thanaporn Wattanakul
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Birgit Weynand
- Departmet of Imaging and Pathology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Translational Cell and Tissue Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurent Fraisse
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Robert Ioset
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Charles E. Mowbray
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Owen
- Centre for Excellence in Long-Acting Therapeutics (CELT), Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK
| | - Richard M. Hoglund
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LG, UK
| | - Joel Tarning
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LG, UK
| | - Xavier de Lamballerie
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille University, 190-Inserm 1207, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Antoine Nougairède
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille University, 190-Inserm 1207, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Johan Neyts
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Global Virus Network (GVN), Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Peter Sjö
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Fanny Escudié
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Scandale
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
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Foletto VS, da Rosa TF, Serafin MB, Hörner R. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants reduce COVID-19 infection: prospects for use. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 78:1601-1611. [PMID: 35943535 PMCID: PMC9360648 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-022-03372-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Purpose The absence of specific treatments for COVID-19 leads to an intense global effort in the search for new therapeutic interventions and better clinical outcomes for patients. This review aimed to present a selection of accepted studies that reported the activity of antidepressant drugs belonging to the selective serotonin receptor inhibitor (SSRI) class for treating the novel coronavirus. Methods A search was performed in PubMed and SciELO databases using the following search strategies: [(coronavirus) OR (COVID) OR (SARS-CoV-2) AND (antidepressant) OR (serotonin) OR (selective serotonin receptor inhibitors)]. In the end, eleven articles were included. We also covered information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov in our research. Results Although several clinical trials are ongoing, only a few drugs have been officially approved to treat the infection. Remdesivir, an antiviral drug, despite favorable preliminary results, has restricted the use due to the risk of toxicity and methodological flaws. Antidepressant drugs were able to reduce the risk of intubation or death related to COVID-19, decrease the need for intensive medical care, and severely inhibit viral titers by up to 99%. Among the SSRIs studied so far, fluoxetine and fluvoxamine have shown to be the most promising against SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion If successful, these drugs can substantially reduce hospitalization and mortality rates, as well as allow for fully outpatient treatment for mild-to-moderate infections. Thus, repositioning SSRIs can provide benefits when faced with a rapidly evolving pandemic such as COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Taciéli Fagundes da Rosa
- Federal University of Santa Maria, Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Marissa Bolson Serafin
- Federal University of Santa Maria, Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Rosmari Hörner
- Federal University of Santa Maria, Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. .,Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Santa Maria, UFSM, Building 26, Room 1201, Santa Maria, RS, 97015-900, Brazil.
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Landoni G, Zangrillo A, Piersanti G, Scquizzato T, Piemonti L. The effect of reparixin on survival in patients at high risk for in-hospital mortality: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. Front Immunol 2022; 13:932251. [PMID: 35958623 PMCID: PMC9358031 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.932251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
IntroductionA great number of anti-inflammatory drugs have been suggested in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Reparixin, a non-competitive allosteric inhibitor of the CXCL8 (IL-8) receptors C-X-C chemokine receptor type 1 (CXCR1) and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CXCR2), has already been tried out as a treatment in different critical settings. Due to the contrasting existing literature, we decided to perform the present meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate the effect of the use of reparixin on survival in patients at high risk for in-hospital mortality.MethodsWe created a search strategy to include any human RCTs performed with reparixin utilization in patients at high risk for in-hospital mortality, excluding oncological patients. Two trained, independent authors searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) for appropriate studies. Furthermore, references of review articles and included RCTs were screened to identify more studies. No language restrictions were enforced. To assess the risk of bias of included trials, the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) was used.ResultsOverall, six studies were included and involved 406 patients (220 received reparixin and 186 received the comparator). The all-cause mortality in the reparixin group was significantly lower than that in the control group [5/220 (2.3%) in the reparixin group vs. 12/186 (6.5%) in the control group, odds ratio = 0.33 (95% confidence interval 0.12 to 0.96), p-value for effect 0.04, p for heterogeneity 0.20, I2 = 36%]. In addition, no difference in the rate of pneumonia, sepsis, or non-serious infections was shown between the two groups.ConclusionOur meta-analysis of randomized trials suggests that short-term inhibition of CXCL8 activity improved survival in patients at high risk for in-hospital mortality without increasing the risk of infection.Meta-analysis registrationPROSPERO, identifier CRD42021254467.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Landoni
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Zangrillo
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Gioia Piersanti
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Tommaso Scquizzato
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Piemonti
- Faculty of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Diabetes Research Institute, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Lorenzo Piemonti,
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Kato Y, Nishiyama K, Nishimura A, Noda T, Okabe K, Kusakabe T, Kanda Y, Nishida M. Drug repurposing for the treatment of COVID-19. J Pharmacol Sci 2022; 149:108-114. [PMID: 35641023 PMCID: PMC9040495 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2022.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains prevalent worldwide since its onset was confirmed in Wuhan, China in 2019. Vaccines against the causative virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), have shown a preventive effect against the onset and severity of COVID-19, and social and economic activities are gradually recovering. However, the presence of vaccine-resistant variants has been reported, and the development of therapeutic agents for patients with severe COVID-19 and related sequelae remains urgent. Drug repurposing, also called drug repositioning or eco-pharma, is the strategy of using previously approved and safe drugs for a therapeutic indication that is different from their original indication. The risk of severe COVID-19 and mortality increases with advancing age, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. We have reported three protein-protein interactions that are related to heart failure, and recently identified that one mechanism increases the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in mammalian cells. This review outlines the global efforts and outcomes of drug repurposing research for the treatment of severe COVID-19. It also discusses our recent finding of a new protein-protein interaction that is common to COVID-19 aggravation and heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Kato
- Department of Physiology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Nishiyama
- Department of Physiology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Akiyuki Nishimura
- Division of Cardiocirculatory Signaling, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan; Department of Creative Research, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan; Department of Physiological Sciences, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takamasa Noda
- Department of Psychiatry, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Brain Bioregulatory Science, The Jikei University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaori Okabe
- Department of Psychiatry, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kusakabe
- Laboratory of Insect Genome Science, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yasunari Kanda
- Division of Pharmacology, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Motohiro Nishida
- Department of Physiology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan; Division of Cardiocirculatory Signaling, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan; Department of Creative Research, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan.
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Huang J, Zhou C, Deng J, Zhou J. JAK Inhibition as a New Treatment Strategy for Patients with COVID-19. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 202:115162. [PMID: 35787993 PMCID: PMC9250821 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic continues to spread globally. The rapid dispersion of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 drives an urgent need for effective treatments, especially for patients who develop severe pneumonia. The excessive and uncontrolled release of pro-inflammatory cytokines has proved to be an essential factor in the rapidity of disease progression, and some cytokines are significantly associated with adverse outcomes. Most of the upregulated cytokines signal through the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway. Therefore, blocking the exaggerated release of cytokines, including IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFNα/β/γ, by inhibiting JAK/STAT signaling will, presumably, offer favorable pharmacodynamics and present an attractive prospect. JAK inhibitors (JAKi) can also inhibit members of the numb-associated kinase (NAK) family, including AP2-associated kinase 1 (AAK1) and cyclin G-associated kinase (GAK), which regulate the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) transmembrane protein and are involved in host viral endocytosis. According to the data released from current clinical trials, JAKi treatment can effectively control the dysregulated cytokine storm and improve clinical outcomes regarding mortality, ICU admission, and discharge. There are still some concerns surrounding thromboembolic events, opportunistic infection such as herpes zoster virus reactivation, and repression of the host's type-I IFN-dependent immune repair for both viral and bacterial infection. However, the current JAKi clinical trials of COVID-19 raised no new safety concerns except a slightly increased risk of herpes virus infection. In the updated WHO guideline, Baricitinb is strongly recommended as an alternative to IL-6 receptor blockers, particularly in combination with corticosteroids, in patients with severe or critical COVID-19. Future studies will explore the application of JAKi to COVID-19 treatment in greater detail, such as the optimal timing and course of JAKi treatment, individualized medication strategies based on pharmacogenomics, and the effect of combined medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Huang
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
| | - Chi Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology 1095# Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430030, People's Rep. of China
| | - Jinniu Deng
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
| | - Jianfeng Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
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Pitsillou E, Liang J, Hung A, Karagiannis TC. The SARS-CoV-2 helicase as a target for antiviral therapy: Identification of potential small molecule inhibitors by in silico modelling. J Mol Graph Model 2022; 114:108193. [PMID: 35462185 PMCID: PMC9014761 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2022.108193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Although vaccines that provide protection against severe illness from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been made available, emerging variant strains of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are of concern. A different research direction involves investigation of antiviral therapeutics. In addition to structural proteins, the SARS-CoV-2 non-structural proteins are of interest and this includes the helicase (nsp13). In this study, an initial screen of 300 ligands was performed to identify potential inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 nsp13 examining the nucleoside triphosphatase site (NTPase activity) as the target region. The antiviral activity of polyphenols has been previously reported in the literature and as a result, the phenolic compounds and fatty acids from the OliveNet™ library were utilised. Synthetic compounds with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties were also selected. The structures of the SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV helicases, as well as the human RECQ-like DNA helicase, DHX9 helicase, PcrA helicase, hepatitis C NS3 helicase, and mouse Dna2 nuclease-helicase were used for comparison. As expected, sequence and structural homology between the various species was evident. A number of broad-spectrum and well-known inhibitors interacted with the NTPase active site highlighting the need to potentially identify more specific inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2. Acetylcysteine, clavulanic acid and homovanillic acid were identified as potential lead compounds for the SARS-CoV-2 helicase. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed with the leads bound to the SARS-CoV-2 helicase for 200 ns in triplicate, with favourable binding free energies to the NTPase site. Given their availability, further exploration of their potential inhibitory activity could be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Pitsillou
- Epigenomic Medicine, Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia; School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Julia Liang
- Epigenomic Medicine, Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia; School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Andrew Hung
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Tom C Karagiannis
- Epigenomic Medicine, Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
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Commercially Available Flavonols Are Better SARS-CoV-2 Inhibitors Than Isoflavone and Flavones. Viruses 2022; 14:v14071458. [PMID: 35891437 PMCID: PMC9324382 DOI: 10.3390/v14071458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the fast development of vaccines, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still circulating and generating variants of concern (VoC) that escape the humoral immune response. In this context, the search for anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds is still essential. A class of natural polyphenols known as flavonoids, frequently available in fruits and vegetables, is widely explored in the treatment of different diseases and used as a scaffold for the design of novel drugs. Therefore, herein we evaluate seven flavonoids divided into three subclasses, isoflavone (genistein), flavone (apigenin and luteolin) and flavonol (fisetin, kaempferol, myricetin, and quercetin), for COVID-19 treatment using cell-based assays and in silico calculations validated with experimental enzymatic data. The flavonols were better SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors than isoflavone and flavones. The increasing number of hydroxyl groups in ring B of the flavonols kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin decreased the 50% effective concentration (EC50) value due to their impact on the orientation of the compounds inside the target. Myricetin and fisetin appear to be preferred candidates; they are both anti-inflammatory (decreasing TNF-α levels) and inhibit SARS-CoV-2 mainly by targeting the processability of the main protease (Mpro) in a non-competitive manner, with a potency comparable to the repurposed drug atazanavir. However, fisetin and myricetin might also be considered hits that are amenable to synthetic modification to improve their anti-SARS-CoV-2 profile by inhibiting not only Mpro, but also the 3′–5′ exonuclease (ExoN).
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Sheerin D, Abhimanyu, Peton N, Vo W, Allison CC, Wang X, Johnson WE, Coussens AK. Immunopathogenic overlap between COVID-19 and tuberculosis identified from transcriptomic meta-analysis and human macrophage infection. iScience 2022; 25:104464. [PMID: 35634577 PMCID: PMC9130411 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Current and previous tuberculosis (TB) increase the risk of COVID-19 mortality and severe disease. To identify mechanisms of immunopathogenic interaction between COVID-19 and TB, we performed a systematic review and patient-level meta-analysis of COVID-19 transcriptomic signatures, spanning disease severity, from whole blood, PBMCs, and BALF. 35 eligible signatures were profiled on 1181 RNA-seq samples from 853 individuals across the spectrum of TB infection. Thirteen COVID-19 gene-signatures had significantly higher "COVID-19 risk scores" in active TB and latent TB progressors compared with non-progressors and uninfected controls (p<0·005), in three independent cohorts. Integrative single-cell-RNAseq analysis identified FCN1- and SPP1-expressing macrophages enriched in severe COVID-19 BALF and active TB blood. Gene ontology and protein-protein interaction networks identified 12-gene disease-exacerbation hot spots between COVID-19 and TB. Finally, we in vitro validated that SARS-CoV-2 infection is increased in human macrophages cultured in the inflammatory milieu of Mtb-infected macrophages, correlating with TMPRSS2, IFNA1, IFNB1, IFNG, TNF, and IL1B induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Sheerin
- Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3279, VIC, Australia
| | - Abhimanyu
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925 Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Nashied Peton
- Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3279, VIC, Australia
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925 Western Cape, South Africa
| | - William Vo
- Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3279, VIC, Australia
| | - Cody Charles Allison
- Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3279, VIC, Australia
| | - Xutao Wang
- Division of Computational Biomedicine and Department of Biostatistics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - W. Evan Johnson
- Division of Computational Biomedicine and Department of Biostatistics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Anna Kathleen Coussens
- Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3279, VIC, Australia
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925 Western Cape, South Africa
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
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Patil A, Chanakya K, Shenoy P, Chandrashekara S, Haridas V, Kumar S, Daware M, Janardana R, Pinto B, Subramanian R, Nagaraj S, Singh YP, Singhai S, Jois R, Jain V, Srinivasa C, Dharmanand BG, Dharmapalaiah C, Sangeetha KN, Rao VK, Shobha V. A prospective longitudinal study evaluating the influence of immunosuppressives and other factors on COVID-19 in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. BMC Rheumatol 2022; 6:32. [PMID: 35698182 PMCID: PMC9192133 DOI: 10.1186/s41927-022-00264-0] [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: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We conducted this study to identify the influence of prolonged use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), glucocorticoids and other immunosuppressants (IS) on occurrence and outcome of COVID-19 in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs).
Methods This was a prospective, multicenter, non-interventional longitudinal study across 15 specialist rheumatology centers. Consecutive AIRD patients on treatment with immunosuppressants were recruited and followed up longitudinally to assess parameters contributing to development of COVID-19 and its outcome. Results COVID-19 occurred in 314 (3.45%) of 9212 AIRD patients during a median follow up of 177 (IQR 129, 219) days. Long term HCQ use had no major impact on the occurrence or the outcome of COVID-19. Glucocorticoids in moderate dose (7.5–20 mg/day) conferred higher risk (RR = 1.72) of infection. Among the IS, Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), Cyclophosphamide (CYC) and Rituximab (RTX) use was higher in patients with COVID 19. However, the conventional risk factors such as male sex (RR = 1.51), coexistent diabetes mellitus (RR = 1.64), pre-existing lung disease (RR = 2.01) and smoking (RR = 3.32) were the major contributing risk factors for COVID-19. Thirteen patients (4.14%) died, the strongest risk factor being pre-existing lung disease (RR = 6.36, p = 0.01). Incidence (17.5 vs 5.3 per 1 lakh (Karnataka) and 25.3 vs 7.9 per 1 lakh (Kerala)) and case fatality (4.1% vs 1.3% (Karnataka) and 4.3% vs 0.4% (Kerala)) rate of COVID-19 was significantly higher (p < 0.001) compared to the general population of the corresponding geographic region. Conclusions Immunosuppressants have a differential impact on the risk of COVID-19 occurrence in AIRD patients. Older age, males, smokers, hypertensive, diabetic and underlying lung disease contributed to higher risk. The incidence rate and the case fatality rate in AIRD patients is much higher than that in the general population.
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41927-022-00264-0.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - K Chanakya
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru, 560034, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ramya Janardana
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru, 560034, India
| | - Benzeeta Pinto
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru, 560034, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vineeta Shobha
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru, 560034, India.
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Samieegohar M, Weaver JL, Howard KE, Chaturbedi A, Mann J, Han X, Zirkle J, Arabidarrehdor G, Rouse R, Florian J, Strauss DG, Li Z. Calibration and Validation of a Mechanistic COVID-19 Model for Translational Quantitative Systems Pharmacology - A Proof-of-Concept Model Development for Remdesivir. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2022; 112:882-891. [PMID: 35694844 PMCID: PMC9349538 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.2686] [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: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
With the ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), there is an urgent need to accelerate the traditional drug development process. Many studies identified potential COVID‐19 therapies based on promising nonclinical data. However, the poor translatability from nonclinical to clinical settings has led to failures of many of these drug candidates in the clinical phase. In this study, we propose a mechanism‐based, quantitative framework to translate nonclinical findings to clinical outcome. Adopting a modularized approach, this framework includes an in silico disease model for COVID‐19 (virus infection and human immune responses) and a pharmacological component for COVID‐19 therapies. The disease model was able to reproduce important longitudinal clinical data for patients with mild and severe COVID‐19, including viral titer, key immunological cytokines, antibody responses, and time courses of lymphopenia. Using remdesivir as a proof‐of‐concept example of model development for the pharmacological component, we developed a pharmacological model that describes the conversion of intravenously administered remdesivir as a prodrug to its active metabolite nucleoside triphosphate through intracellular metabolism and connected it to the COVID‐19 disease model. After being calibrated with the placebo arm data, our model was independently and quantitatively able to predict the primary endpoint (time to recovery) of the remdesivir clinical study, Adaptive Covid‐19 Clinical Trial (ACTT). Our work demonstrates the possibility of quantitatively predicting clinical outcome based on nonclinical data and mechanistic understanding of the disease and provides a modularized framework to aid in candidate drug selection and clinical trial design for COVID‐19 therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Samieegohar
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - James L Weaver
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Kristina E Howard
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Anik Chaturbedi
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - John Mann
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Xiaomei Han
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Joel Zirkle
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Ghazal Arabidarrehdor
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Rodney Rouse
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Jeffry Florian
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - David G Strauss
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Zhihua Li
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
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Galvez-Llompart M, Zanni R, Galvez J, Basak SC, Goyal SM. COVID-19 and the Importance of Being Prepared: A Multidisciplinary Strategy for the Discovery of Antivirals to Combat Pandemics. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061342. [PMID: 35740363 PMCID: PMC9220014 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
During an emergency, such as a pandemic in which time and resources are extremely scarce, it is important to find effective and rapid solutions when searching for possible treatments. One possibility in this regard is the repurposing of available “on the market” drugs. This is a proof of the concept study showing the potential of a collaboration between two research groups, engaged in computer-aided drug design and control of viral infections, for the development of early strategies to combat future pandemics. We describe a QSAR (quantitative structure activity relationship) based repurposing study on molecular topology and molecular docking for identifying inhibitors of the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. The aim of this computational strategy was to create an agile, rapid, and efficient way to enable the selection of molecules capable of inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 protease. Molecules selected through in silico method were tested in vitro using human coronavirus 229E as a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2. Three strategies were used to screen the antiviral activity of these molecules against human coronavirus 229E in cell cultures, e.g., pre-treatment, co-treatment, and post-treatment. We found >99% of virus inhibition during pre-treatment and co-treatment and 90−99% inhibition when the molecules were applied post-treatment (after infection with the virus). From all tested compounds, Molport-046-067-769 and Molport-046-568-802 are here reported for the first time as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Galvez-Llompart
- Molecular Topology & Drug Design Research Unit, Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjasot, Spain; (R.Z.); (J.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-963544891
| | - Riccardo Zanni
- Molecular Topology & Drug Design Research Unit, Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjasot, Spain; (R.Z.); (J.G.)
| | - Jorge Galvez
- Molecular Topology & Drug Design Research Unit, Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjasot, Spain; (R.Z.); (J.G.)
| | - Subhash C. Basak
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN 55812, USA;
| | - Sagar M. Goyal
- Veterinary Population Medicine Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA;
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Analysing supply chain coordination mechanisms dealing with repurposing challenges during Covid-19 pandemic in an emerging economy: a multi-layer decision making approach. OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT RESEARCH 2022. [PMCID: PMC9135609 DOI: 10.1007/s12063-021-00224-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a serious need for the pharmaceutical industry to combat the disease more quickly and effectively. In this regard, numerous companies set out to repurpose current drugs. The noticed decision has major challenges in various dimensions, including the creation and management of an efficient supply chain. The present study attempts to examine the significance and relationships of the repurposing challenges and analyze the effectiveness of supply chain coordination contracts confronting them. In this regard, a combination of Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Analytic Network Process (ANP) named DANP method is applied to investigate the relationships and extracting the weights of the mentioned challenges and the multi-criteria optimization and compromise solution technique called VIKOR is employed to prioritize the supply chain coordination contracts found on their impact facing with repurposing challenges. The mentioned techniques have been conducted under the condition of linguistic Z-numbers. The results demonstrated that financial support and digitalization are the most influential challenges. Moreover, collaboration and data availability have the most weight. In addition, four contracts including effort sharing, cost-sharing, credit option and buyback are the best contracts that companies in the merging economy of Iran should concentrate on them. This research proposes a novel framework of decision-making by integrating DANP and VIKOR with linguistic Z-numbers. Additionally, this study takes a new look at the use of coordination contracts from the viewpoint of repurposing challenges which is highlighted particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Milani D, Caruso L, Zauli E, Al Owaifeer AM, Secchiero P, Zauli G, Gemmati D, Tisato V. p53/NF-kB Balance in SARS-CoV-2 Infection: From OMICs, Genomics and Pharmacogenomics Insights to Tailored Therapeutic Perspectives (COVIDomics). Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:871583. [PMID: 35721196 PMCID: PMC9201997 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.871583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection affects different organs and tissues, including the upper and lower airways, the lung, the gut, the olfactory system and the eye, which may represent one of the gates to the central nervous system. Key transcriptional factors, such as p53 and NF-kB and their reciprocal balance, are altered upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as other key molecules such as the virus host cell entry mediator ACE2, member of the RAS-pathway. These changes are thought to play a central role in the impaired immune response, as well as in the massive cytokine release, the so-called cytokine storm that represents a hallmark of the most severe form of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Host genetics susceptibility is an additional key side to consider in a complex disease as COVID-19 characterized by such a wide range of clinical phenotypes. In this review, we underline some molecular mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 modulates p53 and NF-kB expression and activity in order to maximize viral replication into the host cells. We also face the RAS-pathway unbalance triggered by virus-ACE2 interaction to discuss potential pharmacological and pharmacogenomics approaches aimed at restoring p53/NF-kB and ACE1/ACE2 balance to counteract the most severe forms of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Milani
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Caruso
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Enrico Zauli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Adi Mohammed Al Owaifeer
- Department of Research, King Khaled Eye Specialistic Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Paola Secchiero
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgio Zauli
- Department of Research, King Khaled Eye Specialistic Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Donato Gemmati
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Centre Haemostasis and Thrombosis, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- *Correspondence: Donato Gemmati, ; Veronica Tisato,
| | - Veronica Tisato
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- *Correspondence: Donato Gemmati, ; Veronica Tisato,
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Debnath SK, Debnath M, Srivastava R, Omri A. Drugs repurposing for SARS-CoV-2: new insight of COVID-19 druggability. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2022; 20:1187-1204. [PMID: 35615888 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2022.2082944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The ongoing epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) creates a massive panic worldwide due to the absence of effective medicines. Developing a new drug or vaccine is time-consuming to pass safety and efficacy testing. Therefore, repurposing drugs have been introduced to treat COVID-19 until effective drugs are developed. AREA COVERED A detailed search of repurposing drugs against SARS-CoV-2 was carried out using the PubMed database, focusing on articles published 2020 years onward. A different class of drugs has been described in this article to target hosts and viruses. Based on the previous pandemic experience of SARS-CoV and MERS, several antiviral and antimalarial drugs are discussed here. This review covers the failure of some repurposed drugs that showed promising activity in the earlier CoV-pandemic but were found ineffective against SARS-CoV-2. All these discussions demand a successful drug development strategy for screening and identifying an effective drug for better management of COVID-19. The drug development strategies described here will serve a new scope of research for academicians and researchers. EXPERT OPINION Repurposed drugs have been used since COVID-19 to eradicate disease propagation. Drugs found effective for MERS and SARS may not be effective against SARS-CoV-2. Drug libraries and artificial intelligence are helpful tools to screen and identify different molecules targeting viruses or hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujit Kumar Debnath
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - Monalisha Debnath
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - Rohit Srivastava
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - Abdelwahab Omri
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Novel Drug & Vaccine Delivery Systems Facility, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada
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Nino-Orrego MJ, Baracaldo-Santamaría D, Patricia Ortiz C, Zuluaga HP, Cruz-Becerra SA, Soler F, Pérez-Acosta AM, Delgado DR, Calderon-Ospina CA. Prescription for COVID-19 by non-medical professionals during the pandemic in Colombia: a cross-sectional study. Ther Adv Drug Saf 2022; 13:20420986221101964. [PMID: 35646306 PMCID: PMC9136451 DOI: 10.1177/20420986221101964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the behavior of
self-medication (SM). Given the massive release of misleading information
during the pandemic, some pharmacies recommend drugs such as ivermectin,
azithromycin, and hydroxychloroquine that are not useful for preventing or
treating COVID-19 and could expose patients to unnecessary adverse drug
reactions (ADRs), drug-drug interactions (DDIs), disease masking, and
antibiotic resistance. Rationale: SM with drugs advertised for COVID-19 can have consequences, and people
should be aware of approved uses, potential contraindications, and ADRs.
Thus, the aim of this study was to know the drug therapies including natural
products and homeopathic drugs offered by Colombian pharmaceutical
establishments for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, as well as the
information provided on the safe use of the product. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional mystery shopping study was carried out to
determine the pharmaceutical alternatives for the management of COVID-19
offered by pharmaceutical establishments (drugstores, pharmacies,
homeopathic pharmacies, and nutritional supplements stores) in Colombia, and
information related to the safe use of the product. The study included 482
pharmaceutical establishments from 16 Colombian departments. Data collection
was done through telephone calls to each of the establishments following an
interview protocol pretending to be a patient who presents symptoms related
to COVID-19. Results: About 57.3% (276) of the establishments recommended a product for the
treatment of COVID-19 infection, 66.6% (321) asked whether the caller had
COVID-19 symptoms and what they are, and 44.2% (213) suggested taking a
COVID-19 test. Of 59 drugs suggested by pharmacies, the most recommended
were azithromycin, ivermectin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and ASA (aspirin).
From the establishments that recommended a product, dosage was indicated in
85.5% (236) of the pharmaceutical establishments and 14.5% (40) of the
establishments reported the most common adverse effects of this substance.
About 9.4% (26) of the establishments reported possible interactions of the
recommended drugs and substances with food, beverages, or
supplements.Conclusion: Pharmaceutical establishments in
Colombia seem to have significantly contributed to self-medication for
COVID-19 in Colombia during the pandemic. This behavior is inappropriate,
since the mild forms of the disease do not have a specific treatment. Plain Language Summary Self-medication induced by pharmaceutical establishments in Colombia
during the COVID-19 pandemic Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the
behavior of self-medication (SM). Given the massive release of misleading
information during the pandemic, some pharmacies recommend drugs such as
ivermectin, azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine among others, which are not
useful for preventing or treating COVID-19 and could expose patients to
unnecessary side effects and interactions with other medications. People
should be aware of the approved and non-approved uses, and potential side
effects of these drugs. Rationale: The aim of this study was to
know the drugs, including natural products and homeopathic drugs, offered by
Colombian pharmaceutical establishments for the prevention and treatment of
COVID-19, as well as the information provided on the safe use of the
product. Methods: The study was done using the mystery shopping
method, collecting data through telephone calls to each of the
establishments by a trained individual pretending to be a patient with
COVID-19 symptoms. The study included 482 pharmaceutical establishments from
16 Colombian departments. Results: Of 59 drugs suggested by
pharmacies, the most recommended were azithromycin, ivermectin,
acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin. The recommended dose was indicated in
85.5% (236) of the pharmaceutical establishments, and 14.5% (40) of them
reported the most common adverse effects of the recommended product. About
9.4% (26) of the establishments reported possible interactions of the
recommended drugs and substances with food, beverages, or supplements.
Conclusion: The majority of the pharmaceutical
establishments included in the study promoted inadequate self-medication for
COVID-19 in Colombia during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jose Nino-Orrego
- Center for Research in Genetics and Genomics (CIGGUR), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Daniela Baracaldo-Santamaría
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Claudia Patricia Ortiz
- Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios-UNIMINUTO, Programa de Administración en Salud Ocupacional, Grupo de Investigación en Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo, Neiva, Colombia
| | | | | | - Franklin Soler
- Observatory of Self-Medication Behavior, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Andrés M. Pérez-Acosta
- Observatory of Self-Medication Behavior, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Daniel Ricardo Delgado
- Grupo de Investigación en Dinámicas Sociales, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Campus Neiva, Neiva, Colombia
| | - Carlos-Alberto Calderon-Ospina
- Center for Research in Genetics and Genomics (CIGGUR), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, 111221 Bogotá, Colombia. Pharmacology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Observatory of Self-Medication Behavior, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
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Drug Repurposing for COVID-19: A Review and a Novel Strategy to Identify New Targets and Potential Drug Candidates. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27092723. [PMID: 35566073 PMCID: PMC9099573 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In December 2019, the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified in the province of Wuhan, China. Since then, there have been over 400 million confirmed cases and 5.8 million deaths by COVID-19 reported worldwide. The urgent need for therapies against SARS-CoV-2 led researchers to use drug repurposing approaches. This strategy allows the reduction in risks, time, and costs associated with drug development. In many cases, a repurposed drug can enter directly to preclinical testing and clinical trials, thus accelerating the whole drug discovery process. In this work, we will give a general overview of the main developments in COVID-19 treatment, focusing on the contribution of the drug repurposing paradigm to find effective drugs against this disease. Finally, we will present our findings using a new drug repurposing strategy that identified 11 compounds that may be potentially effective against COVID-19. To our knowledge, seven of these drugs have never been tested against SARS-CoV-2 and are potential candidates for in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate their effectiveness in COVID-19 treatment.
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Sukmarini L. Antiviral Peptides (AVPs) of Marine Origin as Propitious Therapeutic Drug Candidates for the Treatment of Human Viruses. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27092619. [PMID: 35565968 PMCID: PMC9101517 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The marine environment presents a favorable avenue for potential therapeutic agents as a reservoir of new bioactive natural products. Due to their numerous potential pharmacological effects, marine-derived natural products—particularly marine peptides—have gained considerable attention. These peptides have shown a broad spectrum of biological functions, such as antimicrobial, antiviral, cytotoxic, immunomodulatory, and analgesic effects. The emergence of new virus strains and viral resistance leads to continuing efforts to develop more effective antiviral drugs. Interestingly, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that possess antiviral properties and are alternatively regarded as antiviral peptides (AVPs) demonstrate vast potential as alternative peptide-based drug candidates available for viral infection treatments. Hence, AVPs obtained from various marine organisms have been evaluated. This brief review features recent updates of marine-derived AVPs from 2011 to 2021. Moreover, the biosynthesis of this class of compounds and their possible mechanisms of action are also discussed. Selected peptides from various marine organisms possessing antiviral activities against important human viruses—such as human immunodeficiency viruses, herpes simplex viruses, influenza viruses, hepatitis C virus, and coronaviruses—are highlighted herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Sukmarini
- Research Center for Applied Microbiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jl. Raya Bogor Km. 46, Cibinong 16911, West Java, Indonesia
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Farghaly TA, Alsaedi AMR, Alenazi NA, Harras MF. Anti-viral activity of thiazole derivatives: an updated patent review. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2022; 32:791-815. [DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2022.2067477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thoraya A. Farghaly
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Amani M. R. Alsaedi
- Department of Chemistry, Collage of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Noof A. Alenazi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marwa F. Harras
- Department of Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
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Ngai J, Kalter M, Byrd JB, Racz R, He Y. Ontology-Based Classification and Analysis of Adverse Events Associated With the Usage of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:812338. [PMID: 35401219 PMCID: PMC8983871 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.812338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple methodologies have been developed to identify and predict adverse events (AEs); however, many of these methods do not consider how patient population characteristics, such as diseases, age, and gender, affect AEs seen. In this study, we evaluated the utility of collecting and analyzing AE data related to hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) from US Prescribing Information (USPIs, also called drug product labels or package inserts), the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), and peer-reviewed literature from PubMed/EMBASE, followed by AE classification and modeling using the Ontology of Adverse Events (OAE). Our USPI analysis showed that CQ and HCQ AE profiles were similar, although HCQ was reported to be associated with fewer types of cardiovascular, nervous system, and musculoskeletal AEs. According to EMBASE literature mining, CQ and HCQ were associated with QT prolongation (primarily when treating COVID-19), heart arrhythmias, development of Torsade des Pointes, and retinopathy (primarily when treating lupus). The FAERS data was analyzed by proportional ratio reporting, Chi-square test, and minimal case number filtering, followed by OAE classification. HCQ was associated with 63 significant AEs (including 21 cardiovascular AEs) for COVID-19 patients and 120 significant AEs (including 12 cardiovascular AEs) for lupus patients, supporting the hypothesis that the disease being treated affects the type and number of certain CQ/HCQ AEs that are manifested. Using an HCQ AE patient example reported in the literature, we also ontologically modeled how an AE occurs and what factors (e.g., age, biological sex, and medical history) are involved in the AE formation. The methodology developed in this study can be used for other drugs and indications to better identify patient populations that are particularly vulnerable to AEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Ngai
- College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Madison Kalter
- College of Literature, Science, and Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - James Brian Byrd
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Rebecca Racz
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Yongqun He
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Gonzalez BL, de Oliveira NC, Ritter MR, Tonin FS, Melo EB, Sanches ACC, Fernandez-Llimos F, Petruco MV, de Mello JCP, Chierrito D, de Medeiros Araújo DC. The naturally-derived alkaloids as a potential treatment for COVID-19: A scoping review. Phytother Res 2022; 36:2686-2709. [PMID: 35355337 PMCID: PMC9111026 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), which has a high mortality rate and transmissibility. In this context, medicinal plants have attracted attention due to the wide availability and variety of therapeutic compounds, such as alkaloids, a vast class with several proven pharmacological effects, like the antiviral and anti‐inflammatory activities. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to summarize the current knowledge of the potential applicability of alkaloids for treating COVID‐19. A systematic search was performed on PubMed and Scopus, from database inception to August 2021. Among the 63 eligible studies, 65.07% were in silico model, 20.63% in vitro and 14.28% clinical trials and observational studies. According to the in silico assessments, the alkaloids 10‐hydroxyusambarensine, cryptospirolepine, crambescidin 826, deoxynortryptoquivaline, ergotamine, michellamine B, nigellidine, norboldine and quinadoline B showed higher binding energy with more than two target proteins. The remaining studies showed potential use of berberine, cephaeline, emetine, homoharringtonine, lycorine, narciclasine, quinine, papaverine and colchicine. The possible ability of alkaloids to inhibit protein targets and to reduce inflammatory markers show the potential for development of new treatment strategies against COVID‐19. However, more high quality analyses/reviews in this field are necessary to firmly establish the effectiveness/safety of the alkaloids here described.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Fernanda Stumpf Tonin
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Borges Melo
- Centro de Ciências Médicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná-UNIOESTE, Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Danielly Chierrito
- Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá-UEM, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
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44
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Mormile R. Il-6, Il-1β and cytokine-targeted therapy for COVID -19 patients: two more reasons to take into account statins? Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2022; 20:161-163. [PMID: 35323082 PMCID: PMC9115788 DOI: 10.1080/14779072.2022.2058490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Mormile
- Division of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Moscati Hospital, Aversa, Italy
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45
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Drummondin E and Flinderole B are potential inhibitors of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of SARS-CoV-2: an in silico study. BIOTECHNOLOGIA 2022; 103:53-70. [PMID: 36605381 PMCID: PMC9642944 DOI: 10.5114/bta.2022.113915] [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: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected 235.6 million people worldwide. In the present study, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) (PDB Id: 6M71) of SARS-CoV-2, an essential enzyme needed for subgenomic replication and amplification of RNA, was selected. Similar to other RdRps, it is a conserved protein and a popular target for antiviral drug therapy. Based on a computational approach, potential RdRp inhibitors were identified. The absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) of selected molecules were determined using computation tools. The potential inhibitors were docked to the RdRp and later confirmed by Molecular Dynamics (MD) using the "Flare" module of Cresset software. Drummondin E and Flinderole B had higher drug similarity scores among the compounds selected in this study. Both these compounds are noncarcinogenic, nonirritant, nontumorigenic, and nonmutagenic. Molecular docking studies showed that both compounds can bind to RdRp. The best ligand interaction patterns were validated by MD using the "Flare" module. MD was performed for the period of 100 ns with the time step of 1 fs. The simulation results suggest that Thr-680, Arg-624, Lys-676, and Val-557 are key interacting partners in the Drummondin E-RdRp complex, while Asp-618, Asp-760, Asp-623, Arg-624, and Asp-761 are the interacting partners in the Flinderole B-RdRp complex. Based on the in silico drug-likeness score; ADMET properties; and molecular simulation result, we surmise that Flinderole B and Drummondin E could impede SARS-CoV-2 genome replication and transcription by targeting the RdRp protein.
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46
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Floresta G, Zagni C, Gentile D, Patamia V, Rescifina A. Artificial Intelligence Technologies for COVID-19 De Novo Drug Design. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063261. [PMID: 35328682 PMCID: PMC8949797 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent covid crisis has provided important lessons for academia and industry regarding digital reorganization. Among the fascinating lessons from these times is the huge potential of data analytics and artificial intelligence. The crisis exponentially accelerated the adoption of analytics and artificial intelligence, and this momentum is predicted to continue into the 2020s and beyond. Drug development is a costly and time-consuming business, and only a minority of approved drugs generate returns exceeding the research and development costs. As a result, there is a huge drive to make drug discovery cheaper and faster. With modern algorithms and hardware, it is not too surprising that the new technologies of artificial intelligence and other computational simulation tools can help drug developers. In only two years of covid research, many novel molecules have been designed/identified using artificial intelligence methods with astonishing results in terms of time and effectiveness. This paper reviews the most significant research on artificial intelligence in de novo drug design for COVID-19 pharmaceutical research.
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47
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Sixto-López Y, Correa-Basurto J. HDAC inhibition as neuroprotection in COVID-19 infection. Curr Top Med Chem 2022; 22:1369-1378. [PMID: 35240959 DOI: 10.2174/1568026622666220303113445] [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: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is responsible of COVID-19 affecting millions of humans around the world. COVID-19 shows diverse clinical symptoms (fever, cough, fatigue, diarrhea, body aches, headaches, anosmia and hyposmia). Approximately 30% of the patients with COVID-19 showed neurological symptoms, these going from mild to severe manifestations including headache, dizziness, impaired consciousness, encephalopathy, anosmia, hypogeusia, hyposmia, psychology and psychiatry among others. The neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2 virus explains its neuroinvasion provoking neurological damage as acute demyelination, neuroinflammation etc. At molecular level, the COVID-19 patients had higher levels of cytokines and chemokines known as cytokines storms which disrupt the blood brain barrier allowing the entrance of monocytes and lymphocytes causing neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and demyelination. In addition, ischemic, hemorrhagic strokes, seizures and encephalopathy have been observed due to the proinflammatory cytokines. In this sense, to avoid or decrease neurological damage due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, an early neuroprotective management should be adopted. Several approaches can be used; one of them includes the use of HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) due to their neuroprotective effects. Also, the HDACi down regulates the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF- decreasing the neurotoxicity. HDACi can also avoid and prevent the entrance of the virus into the Central nervous System (CNS) as well as decrease the virus replication by downregulating the virus receptors. Here we review the mechanisms that could explain how the SARS-CoV-2 virus could reach the CNS, induce the neurological damage and symptoms, as well as the possibility to use HDACi as neuroprotective therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yudibeth Sixto-López
- Laboratorio de Diseño y Desarrollo de Nuevos Fármacos e Innovación Biotecnológica (Laboratory for the Design and Development of New Drugs and Biotechnological Innovation), Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México. Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón S/N, Casco de Santo Tomas, Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José Correa-Basurto
- Laboratorio de Diseño y Desarrollo de Nuevos Fármacos e Innovación Biotecnológica (Laboratory for the Design and Development of New Drugs and Biotechnological Innovation), Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México. Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón S/N, Casco de Santo Tomas, Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City, Mexico
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48
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Head RJ, Lumbers ER, Jarrott B, Tretter F, Smith G, Pringle KG, Islam S, Martin JH. Systems analysis shows that thermodynamic physiological and pharmacological fundamentals drive COVID-19 and response to treatment. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2022; 10:e00922. [PMID: 35106955 PMCID: PMC8929328 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Why a systems analysis view of this pandemic? The current pandemic has inflicted almost unimaginable grief, sorrow, loss, and terror at a global scale. One of the great ironies with the COVID‐19 pandemic, particularly early on, is counter intuitive. The speed at which specialized basic and clinical sciences described the details of the damage to humans in COVID‐19 disease has been impressive. Equally, the development of vaccines in an amazingly short time interval has been extraordinary. However, what has been less well understood has been the fundamental elements that underpin the progression of COVID‐19 in an individual and in populations. We have used systems analysis approaches with human physiology and pharmacology to explore the fundamental underpinnings of COVID‐19 disease. Pharmacology powerfully captures the thermodynamic characteristics of molecular binding with an exogenous entity such as a virus and its consequences on the living processes well described by human physiology. Thus, we have documented the passage of SARS‐CoV‐2 from infection of a single cell to species jump, to tropism, variant emergence and widespread population infection. During the course of this review, the recurrent observation was the efficiency and simplicity of one critical function of this virus. The lethality of SARS‐CoV‐2 is due primarily to its ability to possess and use a variable surface for binding to a specific human target with high affinity. This binding liberates Gibbs free energy (GFE) such that it satisfies the criteria for thermodynamic spontaneity. Its binding is the prelude to human host cellular entry and replication by the appropriation of host cell constituent molecules that have been produced with a prior energy investment by the host cell. It is also a binding that permits viral tropism to lead to high levels of distribution across populations with newly formed virions. This thermodynamic spontaneity is repeated endlessly as infection of a single host cell spreads to bystander cells, to tissues, to humans in close proximity and then to global populations. The principal antagonism of this process comes from SARS‐CoV‐2 itself, with its relentless changing of its viral surface configuration, associated with the inevitable emergence of variants better configured to resist immune sequestration and importantly with a greater affinity for the host target and higher infectivity. The great value of this physiological and pharmacological perspective is that it reveals the fundamental thermodynamic underpinnings of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Head
- Drug Discovery and Development, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Eugenie R Lumbers
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bevyn Jarrott
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Felix Tretter
- Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gary Smith
- VP System Practice - International Society for System Sciences, Pontypool, UK
| | - Kirsty G Pringle
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Saiful Islam
- Drug Discovery and Development, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer H Martin
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia.,Centre for Drug Repurposing and Medicines Research, Clinical Pharmacology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
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Abusukhun M, Winkler MS, Pöhlmann S, Moerer O, Meissner K, Tampe B, Hofmann-Winkler H, Bauer M, Gräler MH, Claus RA. Activation of Sphingomyelinase-Ceramide-Pathway in COVID-19 Purposes Its Inhibition for Therapeutic Strategies. Front Immunol 2022; 12:784989. [PMID: 34987511 PMCID: PMC8721106 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.784989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective treatment strategies for severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) remain scarce. Hydrolysis of membrane-embedded, inert sphingomyelin by stress responsive sphingomyelinases is a hallmark of adaptive responses and cellular repair. As demonstrated in experimental and observational clinical studies, the transient and stress-triggered release of a sphingomyelinase, SMPD1, into circulation and subsequent ceramide generation provides a promising target for FDA-approved drugs. Here, we report the activation of sphingomyelinase-ceramide pathway in 23 intensive care patients with severe COVID-19. We observed an increase of circulating activity of sphingomyelinase with subsequent derangement of sphingolipids in serum lipoproteins and from red blood cells (RBC). Consistent with increased ceramide levels derived from the inert membrane constituent sphingomyelin, increased activity of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) accurately distinguished the patient cohort undergoing intensive care from healthy controls. Positive correlational analyses with biomarkers of severe clinical phenotype support the concept of an essential pathophysiological role of ASM in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as of a promising role for functional inhibition with anti-inflammatory agents in SARS-CoV-2 infection as also proposed in independent observational studies. We conclude that large-sized multicenter, interventional trials are now needed to evaluate the potential benefit of functional inhibition of this sphingomyelinase in critically ill patients with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murad Abusukhun
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Martin S Winkler
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany.,Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Onnen Moerer
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Konrad Meissner
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Björn Tampe
- Department of Nephrology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Heike Hofmann-Winkler
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center-Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Bauer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Markus H Gräler
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Ralf A Claus
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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50
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Acharya Y, Bhattacharyya S, Dhanda G, Haldar J. Emerging Roles of Glycopeptide Antibiotics: Moving beyond Gram-Positive Bacteria. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1-28. [PMID: 34878254 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Glycopeptides, a class of cell wall biosynthesis inhibitors, have been the antibiotics of choice against drug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections. Their unique mechanism of action involving binding to the substrate of cell wall biosynthesis and substantial longevity in clinics makes this class of antibiotics an attractive choice for drug repurposing and reprofiling. However, resistance to glycopeptides has been observed due to alterations in the substrate, cell wall thickening, or both. The emergence of glycopeptide resistance has resulted in the development of synthetic and semisynthetic glycopeptide analogues to target acquired resistance. Recent findings demonstrate that these derivatives, along with some of the FDA approved glycopeptides have been shown to have antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, Mycobacteria, and viruses thus expanding their spectrum of activity across the microbial kingdom. Additional mechanisms of action and identification of novel targets have proven to be critical in broadening the spectrum of activity of glycopeptides. This review focuses on the applications of glycopeptides beyond their traditional target group of Gram-positive bacteria. This will aid in making the scientific community aware about the nontraditional activity profiles of glycopeptides, identify the existing loopholes, and further explore this antibiotic class as a potential broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yash Acharya
- Antimicrobial Research Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Shaown Bhattacharyya
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, Departments of Chemistry and Biology, College of Arts and Science, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Geetika Dhanda
- Antimicrobial Research Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Jayanta Haldar
- Antimicrobial Research Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
- School of Advanced Materials, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
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