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Murdocca M, Romeo I, Citro G, Latini A, Centofanti F, Bugatti A, Caccuri F, Caruso A, Ortuso F, Alcaro S, Sangiuolo F, Novelli G. A Dynamic and Effective Peptide-Based Strategy for Promptly Addressing Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:891. [PMID: 39065742 PMCID: PMC11279616 DOI: 10.3390/ph17070891] [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: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Genomic surveillance based on sequencing the entire genetic code of SARS-CoV-2 involves monitoring and studying genetic changes and variations in disease-causing organisms such as viruses and bacteria. By tracing the virus, it is possible to prevent epidemic spread in the community, ensuring a 'precision public health' strategy. A peptide-based design was applied to provide an efficacious strategy that is able to counteract any emerging viral variant of concern dynamically and promptly to affect the outcomes of a pandemic at an early stage while waiting for the production of the anti-variant-specific vaccine, which require longer times. The inhibition of the interaction between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and one of the cellular receptors (DPP4) that its receptors routinely bind to infect human cells is an intriguing therapeutic approach to prevent the virus from entering human cells. Among the other modalities developed for this purpose, peptides surely offer unique advantages, including ease of synthesis, serum stability, low immunogenicity and toxicity, and small production and distribution chain costs. Here, we obtained a potent new inhibitor based on the rearrangement of a previously identified peptide that has been rationally designed on a cell dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) sequence, a ubiquitous membrane protein known to bind the RBD-SPIKE domain of the virus. This novel peptide (named DPP4-derived), conceived as an endogenous "drug", is capable of targeting the latest tested variants with a high affinity, reducing the VSV* DG-Fluc pseudovirus Omicron's infection capacity by up to 14%, as revealed by in vitro testing in human Calu-3 cells. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) confirmed the binding affinity of the new DPP4-derived peptide with Omicron variant RBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Murdocca
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (G.C.); (A.L.); (F.C.); (G.N.)
| | - Isabella Romeo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (I.R.); (F.O.); (S.A.)
- Net4Science Srl Academic Spin-Off, Università “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Gennaro Citro
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (G.C.); (A.L.); (F.C.); (G.N.)
| | - Andrea Latini
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (G.C.); (A.L.); (F.C.); (G.N.)
| | - Federica Centofanti
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (G.C.); (A.L.); (F.C.); (G.N.)
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Francesco Ortuso
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (I.R.); (F.O.); (S.A.)
- Net4Science Srl Academic Spin-Off, Università “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Stefano Alcaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (I.R.); (F.O.); (S.A.)
- Net4Science Srl Academic Spin-Off, Università “Magna Græcia” di Catanzaro, Campus “S. Venuta”, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Federica Sangiuolo
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (G.C.); (A.L.); (F.C.); (G.N.)
| | - Giuseppe Novelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (G.C.); (A.L.); (F.C.); (G.N.)
- IRCCS Neuromed Mediterranean Neurological Institute, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
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Kim Y, Maltseva N, Tesar C, Jedrzejczak R, Endres M, Ma H, Dugan HL, Stamper CT, Chang C, Li L, Changrob S, Zheng NY, Huang M, Ramanathan A, Wilson P, Michalska K, Joachimiak A. Epitopes recognition of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid RNA binding domain by human monoclonal antibodies. iScience 2024; 27:108976. [PMID: 38327783 PMCID: PMC10847736 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108976] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus nucleocapsid protein (NP) of SARS-CoV-2 plays a central role in many functions important for virus proliferation including packaging and protecting genomic RNA. The protein shares sequence, structure, and architecture with nucleocapsid proteins from betacoronaviruses. The N-terminal domain (NPRBD) binds RNA and the C-terminal domain is responsible for dimerization. After infection, NP is highly expressed and triggers robust host immune response. The anti-NP antibodies are not protective and not neutralizing but can effectively detect viral proliferation soon after infection. Two structures of SARS-CoV-2 NPRBD were determined providing a continuous model from residue 48 to 173, including RNA binding region and key epitopes. Five structures of NPRBD complexes with human mAbs were isolated using an antigen-bait sorting. Complexes revealed a distinct complement-determining regions and unique sets of epitope recognition. This may assist in the early detection of pathogens and designing peptide-based vaccines. Mutations that significantly increase viral load were mapped on developed, full length NP model, likely impacting interactions with host proteins and viral RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngchang Kim
- Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Natalia Maltseva
- Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Christine Tesar
- Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Robert Jedrzejczak
- Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Michael Endres
- Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Heng Ma
- Data Science and Learning Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Haley L. Dugan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
| | - Christopher T. Stamper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
| | - Changsoo Chang
- Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
| | - Siriruk Changrob
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
| | - Nai-Ying Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
| | - Min Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
| | - Arvind Ramanathan
- Data Science and Learning Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Patrick Wilson
- Gale and Ira Drukier Institute for Children’s Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Karolina Michalska
- Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Andrzej Joachimiak
- Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60367, USA
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Gruber CEM, Tucci FG, Rueca M, Mazzotta V, Gramigna G, Vergori A, Fabeni L, Berno G, Giombini E, Butera O, Focosi D, Prandi IG, Chillemi G, Nicastri E, Vaia F, Girardi E, Antinori A, Maggi F. Treatment-Emergent Cilgavimab Resistance Was Uncommon in Vaccinated Omicron BA.4/5 Outpatients. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1538. [PMID: 37892220 PMCID: PMC10605390 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101538] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein can affect monoclonal antibody efficacy. Recent findings report the occurrence of resistant mutations in immunocompromised patients after tixagevimab/cilgavimab treatment. More recently, the Food and Drug Agency revoked the authorization for tixagevimab/cilgavimab, while this monoclonal antibody cocktail is currently recommended by the European Medical Agency. We retrospectively reviewed 22 immunocompetent patients at high risk for disease progression who received intramuscular tixagevimab/cilgavimab as early COVID-19 treatment and presented a prolonged high viral load. Complete SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences were obtained for a deep investigation of mutation frequencies in Spike protein before and during treatment. At seven days, only one patient showed evidence of treatment-emergent cilgavimab resistance. Quasispecies analysis revealed two different deletions on the Spike protein (S:del138-144 or S:del141-145) in combination with the resistance S:K444N mutation. The structural and dynamic impact of the two quasispecies was characterized by using molecular dynamics simulations, showing the conservation of the principal functional movements in the mutated systems and their capabilities to alter the structure and dynamics of the RBD, responsible for the interaction with the ACE2 human receptor. Our study underlines the importance of prompting an early virological investigation to prevent drug resistance or clinical failures in immunocompetent patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesare Ernesto Maria Gruber
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (C.E.M.G.); (F.G.T.); (M.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (E.G.); (F.M.)
| | - Fabio Giovanni Tucci
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (C.E.M.G.); (F.G.T.); (M.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (E.G.); (F.M.)
| | - Martina Rueca
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (C.E.M.G.); (F.G.T.); (M.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (E.G.); (F.M.)
| | - Valentina Mazzotta
- Clinical and Research Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (V.M.); (A.V.); (E.N.); (A.A.)
| | - Giulia Gramigna
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (C.E.M.G.); (F.G.T.); (M.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (E.G.); (F.M.)
| | - Alessandra Vergori
- Clinical and Research Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (V.M.); (A.V.); (E.N.); (A.A.)
| | - Lavinia Fabeni
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (C.E.M.G.); (F.G.T.); (M.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (E.G.); (F.M.)
| | - Giulia Berno
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (C.E.M.G.); (F.G.T.); (M.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (E.G.); (F.M.)
| | - Emanuela Giombini
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (C.E.M.G.); (F.G.T.); (M.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (E.G.); (F.M.)
| | - Ornella Butera
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Daniele Focosi
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Ingrid Guarnetti Prandi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis s.n.c, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (I.G.P.); (G.C.)
| | - Giovanni Chillemi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis s.n.c, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (I.G.P.); (G.C.)
| | - Emanuele Nicastri
- Clinical and Research Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (V.M.); (A.V.); (E.N.); (A.A.)
| | - Francesco Vaia
- General Direction, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Enrico Girardi
- Scientific Direction, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Andrea Antinori
- Clinical and Research Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (V.M.); (A.V.); (E.N.); (A.A.)
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” (IRCCS), 00149 Rome, Italy; (C.E.M.G.); (F.G.T.); (M.R.); (G.G.); (G.B.); (E.G.); (F.M.)
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Lomoio U, Puccio B, Tradigo G, Guzzi PH, Veltri P. SARS-CoV-2 protein structure and sequence mutations: Evolutionary analysis and effects on virus variants. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283400. [PMID: 37471335 PMCID: PMC10358949 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The structure and sequence of proteins strongly influence their biological functions. New models and algorithms can help researchers in understanding how the evolution of sequences and structures is related to changes in functions. Recently, studies of SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein structures have been performed to predict binding receptors and infection activity in COVID-19, hence the scientific interest in the effects of virus mutations due to sequence, structure and vaccination arises. However, there is the need for models and tools to study the links between the evolution of S protein sequence, structure and functions, and virus transmissibility and the effects of vaccination. As studies on S protein have been generated a large amount of relevant information, we propose in this work to use Protein Contact Networks (PCNs) to relate protein structures with biological properties by means of network topology properties. Topological properties are used to compare the structural changes with sequence changes. We find that both node centrality and community extraction analysis can be used to relate protein stability and functionality with sequence mutations. Starting from this we compare structural evolution to sequence changes and study mutations from a temporal perspective focusing on virus variants. Finally by applying our model to the Omicron variant we report a timeline correlation between Omicron and the vaccination campaign.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Lomoio
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Barbara Puccio
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Pietro Hiram Guzzi
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
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Supuran CT. Progress of Section "Biochemistry" in 2022. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065873. [PMID: 36982946 PMCID: PMC10056791 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Of more than 16,400 papers published in 2022 in International Journal of Molecular Sciences [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudiu T Supuran
- Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Section, Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Via U. Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
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