1
|
Rajendran V, Naveen NC. Identifying Fast and Slow-Acting Antimalarial Compounds of Pandemic Response Box Against Blood-Stage Culture of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. Curr Microbiol 2024; 81:81. [PMID: 38289473 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03601-9] [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] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The evolving clinical resistance in Plasmodium falciparum and the spike in malarial cases after the COVID-19 outbreak has triggered a search for new antimalarials effective against multi-drug-resistant P. falciparum strains. In this study, we assessed the timing of action, either fast or slow-acting of 13 potent compounds of Pandemic Response Box (PRB) against blood-stage Pf3D7 strain by SYBR Green-I assay. The asynchronous culture of Pf3D7 was exposed to varying concentrations of 13 compounds, and IC50 values were determined at 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. We identified four fast-acting compounds (MMV000008, MMV1593541, MMV020752, MMV396785) with rapid-growth inhibitory activity having IC50 values ≤ 0.3 µM at 12 and 24 h. Similarly, we determined nine slow-acting compounds (MMV159340, MMV1634492, MMV1581558, MMV689758, MMV1593540, MMV394033, MMV019724, MMV000725, MMV1557856) having IC50 values ≤ 0.5 µM at 72 and 96 h. Furthermore, the stage-specific action of the two most potent fast-acting compounds (MMV1593541 and MMV020752) against rings, trophozoites, and schizonts at 48 h of exposure revealed that ring-stage parasites showed reduced IC50 values compared to mature stage forms. Therefore, our study demonstrates for the first time the identification of the most potent fast and slow-acting compounds from PRB against blood-stage infection, suggesting its utility in clinics and considering it as a partner drug in combination therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vinoth Rajendran
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605014, India.
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Désiré J, Debbah Z, Gueyrard D, Marrot J, Blériot Y, Kato A. Evaluation of nonnatural L-iminosugar C,C-glycosides, a new class of C-branched iminosugars, as glycosidase inhibitors. Carbohydr Res 2023; 532:108903. [PMID: 37523839 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2023.108903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Capitalizing on a previously developed Staudinger/azaWittig/Grignard (SAWG)-ring contraction sequence that furnished protected six-membered L-iminosugar C,C-glycosides bearing an allyl group and various substituents at the pseudoanomeric position, the synthesis and glycosidase inhibition of a small library of six- and seven-membered L-iminosugar C,C-glycosides is reported. Their hydrogenolysis or cyclization by RCM followed by deprotection afforded eleven L-iminosugars including spirocyclic derivatives. All compounds adopt a 1C4 conformation in solution according to NMR data. Compared to previously reported branched L-iminosugars, the L-iminosugar C,C-glycosides reported herein were less potent glycosidase inhibitors. However, some of these compounds showed micromolar inhibition of human lysosome β-glucocerebrosidase suggesting that such iminosugars could be useful to access potent CGase inhibitors by adjusting the structure/length of the pseudoanomeric substituents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Désiré
- Institut de Chimie des Milieux et Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), Université de Poitiers, CNRS, Equipe "Synthèse Organique", Groupe Glycochimie, F-86073, Poitiers, France.
| | - Zakaria Debbah
- Institut de Chimie des Milieux et Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), Université de Poitiers, CNRS, Equipe "Synthèse Organique", Groupe Glycochimie, F-86073, Poitiers, France
| | - David Gueyrard
- Laboratoire Chimie Organique II-Glycochimie - ICBMS - UMR 5246, Université de Lyon - Université Claude Bernard - Lyon 1 Bâtiment Lederer - 1, rue V. Grignard, 69622, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Jérôme Marrot
- Institut Lavoisier de Versailles, UMR-CNRS 8180, Université de Versailles, 78035, Versailles Cedex, France
| | - Yves Blériot
- Institut de Chimie des Milieux et Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), Université de Poitiers, CNRS, Equipe "Synthèse Organique", Groupe Glycochimie, F-86073, Poitiers, France
| | - Atsushi Kato
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tomezsko PJ, Phillipson CW, Walsh ME. Lessons Learned From Limited Overlap of 15 In Vitro COVID-19 Drug Repurposing Screens. Health Secur 2023; 21:249-257. [PMID: 37196212 PMCID: PMC10357111 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2022.0132] [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: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug repurposing can quickly and cost-effectively identify medical countermeasures against pathogens with pandemic potential and could be used as a down-selection method for selecting US Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs to test in clinical trials. We compared results from 15 high-throughput in vitro screening efforts that tested approved and clinically evaluated drugs for activity against SARS-CoV-2 replication. From the 15 studies, 304 drugs were identified as displaying the highest level of confidence from the individual screens. Of those 304 drugs, 30 were identified in 2 or more screens, while only 3 drugs (apilimod, tetrandrine, and salinomycin) were identified in 4 screens. The lack of concordance in high-confidence hits and variations in protocols makes it challenging to use the collective data as down-selection criteria for identifying repurposing candidates to move into a clinical trial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phillip J. Tomezsko
- Phillip J. Tomezsko, PhD, is Technical Staff, Counter WMD Systems Group, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
| | | | - Matthew E. Walsh
- Matthew E. Walsh was Associate Technical Staff, Biological and Chemical Technologies Group, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
- Matthew E. Walsh is currently a PhD Student, Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dos Reis TF, de Castro PA, Bastos RW, Pinzan CF, Souza PFN, Ackloo S, Hossain MA, Drewry DH, Alkhazraji S, Ibrahim AS, Jo H, Lightfoot JD, Adams EM, Fuller KK, deGrado WF, Goldman GH. A host defense peptide mimetic, brilacidin, potentiates caspofungin antifungal activity against human pathogenic fungi. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2052. [PMID: 37045836 PMCID: PMC10090755 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37573-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections cause more than 1.5 million deaths a year. Due to emerging antifungal drug resistance, novel strategies are urgently needed to combat life-threatening fungal diseases. Here, we identify the host defense peptide mimetic, brilacidin (BRI) as a synergizer with caspofungin (CAS) against CAS-sensitive and CAS-resistant isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, C. auris, and CAS-intrinsically resistant Cryptococcus neoformans. BRI also potentiates azoles against A. fumigatus and several Mucorales fungi. BRI acts in A. fumigatus by affecting cell wall integrity pathway and cell membrane potential. BRI combined with CAS significantly clears A. fumigatus lung infection in an immunosuppressed murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. BRI alone also decreases A. fumigatus fungal burden and ablates disease development in a murine model of fungal keratitis. Our results indicate that combinations of BRI and antifungal drugs in clinical use are likely to improve the treatment outcome of aspergillosis and other fungal infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thaila Fernanda Dos Reis
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Alves de Castro
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Rafael Wesley Bastos
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Camila Figueiredo Pinzan
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Pedro F N Souza
- Visiting professor at Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60451, Brazil
| | - Suzanne Ackloo
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Mohammad Anwar Hossain
- Structural Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - David Harold Drewry
- Structural Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Sondus Alkhazraji
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, 90502, USA
| | - Ashraf S Ibrahim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, 90502, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Hyunil Jo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Jorge D Lightfoot
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Emily M Adams
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Kevin K Fuller
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - William F deGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Gustavo H Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
In Vivo Sustained Release of the Retrograde Transport Inhibitor Retro-2.1 Formulated in a Thermosensitive Hydrogel. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314611. [PMID: 36498939 PMCID: PMC9735573 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A recently developed inhibitor of retrograde transport, namely Retro-2.1, proved to be a potent and broad-spectrum lead in vitro against intracellular pathogens, such as toxins, parasites, intracellular bacteria and viruses. To circumvent its low aqueous solubility, a formulation in poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L)lactide micelle nanoparticles was developed. This formulation enabled the study of the pharmacokinetic parameters of Retro-2.1 in mice following intravenous and intraperitoneal injections, revealing a short blood circulation time, with an elimination half-life of 5 and 6.7 h, respectively. To explain the poor pharmacokinetic parameters, the metabolic stability of Retro-2.1 was studied in vitro and in vivo, revealing fast cytochrome-P-450-mediated metabolism into a less potent hydroxylated analogue. Subcutaneous injection of Retro-2.1 formulated in a biocompatible and bioresorbable polymer-based thermosensitive hydrogel allowed for sustained release of the drug, with an elimination half-life of 19 h, and better control of its metabolism. This study provides a guideline on how to administer this promising lead in vivo in order to study its efficacy.
Collapse
|
6
|
de Oliveira HC, Castelli RF, Reis FCG, Samby K, Nosanchuk JD, Alves LR, Rodrigues ML. Screening of the Pandemic Response Box Reveals an Association between Antifungal Effects of MMV1593537 and the Cell Wall of Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus deuterogattii, and Candida auris. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0060122. [PMID: 35471056 PMCID: PMC9241760 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00601-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent unmet need for novel antifungals. In this study, we searched for novel antifungal activities in the Pandemic Response Box, a collection of 400 structurally diverse compounds in various phases of drug discovery. We identified five molecules which could control the growth of Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus deuterogattii, and the emerging global threat Candida auris. After eliminating compounds which demonstrated paradoxical antifungal effects or toxicity to mammalian macrophages, we selected compound MMV1593537 as a nontoxic, fungicidal molecule for further characterization of antifungal activity. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that MMV1593537 affected cellular division in all three pathogens. In Cryptococcus, MMV1593537 caused a reduction in capsular dimensions. Treatment with MMV1593537 resulted in increased detection of cell wall chitooligomers in these three species. Since chitooligomers are products of the enzymatic hydrolysis of chitin, we investigated whether surface chitinase activity was altered in response to MMV1593537 exposure. We observed peaks of enzyme activity in C. neoformans and C. deuterogattii in response to MMV1593537. We did not detect any surface chitinase activity in C. auris. Our results suggest that MMV1593537 is a promising, nontoxic fungicide whose mechanism of action, at least in Cryptococcus spp, requires chitinase-mediated hydrolysis of chitin. IMPORTANCE The development of novel antifungals is a matter of urgency. In this study, we evaluated antifungal activities in a collection of 400 molecules, using highly lethal fungal pathogens as targets. One of these molecules, namely, MMV1593537, was not toxic to host cells and controlled the growth of isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans, C. deuterogattii, C. gattii, Candida auris, C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. krusei. We tested the mechanisms of antifungal action of MMV1593537 in the Cryptococcus and C. auris models and concluded that the compound affects the cell wall, a structure which is essential for fungal life. At least in Cryptococcus, this effect involved chitinase, an enzyme which is required for remodeling the cell wall. Our results suggest that MMV1593537 is a candidate for future antifungal development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafael F. Castelli
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Flavia C. G. Reis
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Joshua D. Nosanchuk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Division of Infectious Diseases, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lysangela R. Alves
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ricciardi S, Guarino AM, Giaquinto L, Polishchuk EV, Santoro M, Di Tullio G, Wilson C, Panariello F, Soares VC, Dias SSG, Santos JC, Souza TML, Fusco G, Viscardi M, Brandi S, Bozza PT, Polishchuk RS, Venditti R, De Matteis MA. The role of NSP6 in the biogenesis of the SARS-CoV-2 replication organelle. Nature 2022; 606:761-768. [PMID: 35551511 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04835-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, like other coronaviruses, builds a membrane-bound replication organelle (RO) to enable RNA replication1. The SARS-CoV-2 RO is composed of double membrane vesicles (DMVs) tethered to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by thin membrane connectors2, but the viral proteins and the host factors involved are currently unknown. Here we identify the viral non-structural proteins (NSPs) that generate the SARS-CoV-2 RO. NSP3 and NSP4 generate the DMVs while NSP6, through oligomerization and an amphipathic helix, zippers ER membranes and establishes the connectors. The NSP6ΔSGF mutant, which arose independently in the α, β, γ, η, ι, and λ variants of SARS-CoV-2, behaves as a gain-of-function mutant with a higher ER-zippering activity. We identified three main roles for NSP6: to act as a filter in RO-ER communication allowing lipid flow but restricting access of ER luminal proteins to the DMVs, to position and organize DMV clusters, and to mediate contact with lipid droplets (LDs) via the LD-tethering complex DFCP1-Rab18. NSP6 thus acts as an organizer of DMV clusters and can provide a selective track to refurbish them with LD-derived lipids. Importantly, both properly formed NSP6 connectors and LDs are required for SARS-CoV-2 replication. Our findings, uncovering the biological activity of NSP6 of SARS-CoV-2 and of other coronaviruses, have the potential to fuel the search for broad antiviral agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Ricciardi
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, TIGEM, Pozzuoli, (Naples), Italy.,Dept. Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Laura Giaquinto
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, TIGEM, Pozzuoli, (Naples), Italy
| | - Elena V Polishchuk
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, TIGEM, Pozzuoli, (Naples), Italy
| | - Michele Santoro
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, TIGEM, Pozzuoli, (Naples), Italy
| | - Giuseppe Di Tullio
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, TIGEM, Pozzuoli, (Naples), Italy
| | - Cathal Wilson
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, TIGEM, Pozzuoli, (Naples), Italy
| | | | - Vinicius C Soares
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Programa de Imunologia e Inflamação, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Suelen S G Dias
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Julia C Santos
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Thiago M L Souza
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS) and National Institute for Science and Technology on Innovation on Diseases of Neglected Populations (INCT/IDNP), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Giovanna Fusco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, (Naples), Italy
| | - Maurizio Viscardi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, (Naples), Italy
| | - Sergio Brandi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, (Naples), Italy
| | - Patrícia T Bozza
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Roman S Polishchuk
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, TIGEM, Pozzuoli, (Naples), Italy.
| | - Rossella Venditti
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, TIGEM, Pozzuoli, (Naples), Italy. .,Dept. Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Maria Antonietta De Matteis
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, TIGEM, Pozzuoli, (Naples), Italy. .,Dept. Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Madera S, Izzo F, Chervo MF, Dupont A, Chiauzzi VA, Bruni S, Petrillo E, Merin SS, De Martino M, Montero D, Levit C, Lebersztein G, Anfuso F, Roldán Deamicis A, Mercogliano MF, Proietti CJ, Schillaci R, Elizalde PV, Cordo Russo RI. Halting ErbB-2 isoforms retrograde transport to the nucleus as a new theragnostic approach for triple-negative breast cancer. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:447. [PMID: 35534460 PMCID: PMC9084267 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04855-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is clinically defined by the absence of estrogen and progesterone receptors and the lack of membrane overexpression or gene amplification of receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB-2/HER2. Due to TNBC heterogeneity, clinical biomarkers and targeted therapies for this disease remain elusive. We demonstrated that ErbB-2 is localized in the nucleus (NErbB-2) of TNBC cells and primary tumors, from where it drives growth. We also discovered that TNBC expresses both wild-type ErbB-2 (WTErbB-2) and alternative ErbB-2 isoform c (ErbB-2c). Here, we revealed that the inhibitors of the retrograde transport Retro-2 and its cyclic derivative Retro-2.1 evict both WTErbB-2 and ErbB-2c from the nucleus of BC cells and tumors. Using BC cells from several molecular subtypes, as well as normal breast cells, we demonstrated that Retro-2 specifically blocks proliferation of BC cells expressing NErbB-2. Importantly, Retro-2 eviction of both ErbB-2 isoforms from the nucleus resulted in a striking growth abrogation in multiple TNBC preclinical models, including tumor explants and xenografts. Our mechanistic studies in TNBC cells revealed that Retro-2 induces a differential accumulation of WTErbB-2 at the early endosomes and the plasma membrane, and of ErbB-2c at the Golgi, shedding new light both on Retro-2 action on endogenous protein cargoes undergoing retrograde transport, and on the biology of ErbB-2 splicing variants. In addition, we revealed that the presence of a functional signal peptide and a nuclear export signal (NES), both located at the N-terminus of WTErbB-2, and absent in ErbB-2c, accounts for the differential subcellular distribution of ErbB-2 isoforms upon Retro-2 treatment. Our present discoveries provide evidence for the rational repurposing of Retro-2 as a novel therapeutic agent for TNBC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Madera
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Molecular Endocrinology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Franco Izzo
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - María F Chervo
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Molecular Endocrinology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Dupont
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Molecular Endocrinology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Violeta A Chiauzzi
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Molecular Endocrinology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sofia Bruni
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Molecular Endocrinology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ezequiel Petrillo
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular and CONICET-UBA, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sharon S Merin
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Molecular Endocrinology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mara De Martino
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Diego Montero
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Molecular Endocrinology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudio Levit
- Servicio de Ginecología, Sanatorio Sagrado Corazón, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Fabiana Anfuso
- Servicio de Ginecología, Sanatorio Sagrado Corazón, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Roldán Deamicis
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Molecular Endocrinology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María F Mercogliano
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Molecular Endocrinology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia J Proietti
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Molecular Endocrinology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Roxana Schillaci
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Molecular Endocrinology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Patricia V Elizalde
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Molecular Endocrinology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Rosalía I Cordo Russo
- Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Molecular Endocrinology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Samby K, Besson D, Dutta A, Patra B, Doy A, Glossop P, Mills J, Whitlock G, Hooft van Huijsduijnen R, Monaco A, Bilbe G, Mowbray C, Perry B, Adam A, Wells TNC, Willis PA. The Pandemic Response Box─Accelerating Drug Discovery Efforts after Disease Outbreaks. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:713-720. [PMID: 35286809 PMCID: PMC9003238 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The current Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the need for a more coordinated and forward-looking investment in the search for new medicines targeting emerging health care threats. Repositioning currently approved drugs is a popular approach to any new emerging disease, but it represents a first wave of response. Behind this would be a second wave of more specifically designed therapies based on activities against specific molecular targets or in phenotypic assays. Following the successful deployment and uptake of previous open access compound collections, we assembled the Pandemic Response Box, a collection of 400 compounds to facilitate drug discovery in emerging infectious disease. These are based on public domain information on chemotypes currently in discovery and early development which have been shown to have useful activities and were prioritized by medicinal chemistry experts. They are freely available to the community as a pharmacological test set with the understanding that data will be shared rapidly in the public domain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirandeep Samby
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, P.O. Box 1826, 20 Route de Pré-Bois, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Besson
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, P.O. Box 1826, 20 Route de Pré-Bois, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Anirban Dutta
- TCG Life Sciences, Block BN, Plot 7 Salt Lake Electronics Complex Sector V, Kolkata, West Bengal 700091, India
| | - Buddhadev Patra
- TCG Life Sciences, Block BN, Plot 7 Salt Lake Electronics Complex Sector V, Kolkata, West Bengal 700091, India
| | - Angelique Doy
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, P.O. Box 1826, 20 Route de Pré-Bois, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Paul Glossop
- Sandexis, Innovation House, Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9FF, United Kingdom
| | - James Mills
- Sandexis, Innovation House, Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9FF, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin Whitlock
- Sandexis, Innovation House, Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9FF, United Kingdom
| | | | - Alessandra Monaco
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, 15 Chemin Camille-Vidar, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Graeme Bilbe
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, 15 Chemin Camille-Vidar, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Charles Mowbray
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, 15 Chemin Camille-Vidar, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Perry
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, 15 Chemin Camille-Vidar, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anna Adam
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, P.O. Box 1826, 20 Route de Pré-Bois, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Timothy N. C. Wells
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, P.O. Box 1826, 20 Route de Pré-Bois, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Paul A. Willis
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, P.O. Box 1826, 20 Route de Pré-Bois, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Delandre O, Gendrot M, Jardot P, Le Bideau M, Boxberger M, Boschi C, Fonta I, Mosnier J, Hutter S, Levasseur A, La Scola B, Pradines B. Antiviral Activity of Repurposing Ivermectin against a Panel of 30 Clinical SARS-CoV-2 Strains Belonging to 14 Variants. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:445. [PMID: 35455442 PMCID: PMC9024598 DOI: 10.3390/ph15040445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past two years, several variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged and spread all over the world. However, infectivity, clinical severity, re-infection, virulence, transmissibility, vaccine responses and escape, and epidemiological aspects have differed between SARS-CoV-2 variants. Currently, very few treatments are recommended against SARS-CoV-2. Identification of effective drugs among repurposing FDA-approved drugs is a rapid, efficient and low-cost strategy against SARS-CoV-2. One of those drugs is ivermectin. Ivermectin is an antihelminthic agent that previously showed in vitro effects against a SARS-CoV-2 isolate (Australia/VI01/2020 isolate) with an IC50 of around 2 µM. We evaluated the in vitro activity of ivermectin on Vero E6 cells infected with 30 clinically isolated SARS-CoV-2 strains belonging to 14 different variants, and particularly 17 strains belonging to six variants of concern (VOC) (variants related to Wuhan, alpha, beta, gamma, delta and omicron). The in vitro activity of ivermectin was compared to those of chloroquine and remdesivir. Unlike chloroquine (EC50 from 4.3 ± 2.5 to 29.3 ± 5.2 µM) or remdesivir (EC50 from 0.4 ± 0.3 to 25.2 ± 9.4 µM), ivermectin showed a relatively homogeneous in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2 regardless of the strains or variants (EC50 from 5.1 ± 0.5 to 6.7 ± 0.4 µM), except for one omicron strain (EC50 = 1.3 ± 0.5 µM). Ivermectin (No. EC50 = 219, mean EC50 = 5.7 ± 1.0 µM) was, overall, more potent in vitro than chloroquine (No. EC50 = 214, mean EC50 = 16.1 ± 9.0 µM) (p = 1.3 × 10-34) and remdesivir (No. EC50 = 201, mean EC50 = 11.9 ± 10.0 µM) (p = 1.6 × 10-13). These results should be interpreted with caution regarding the potential use of ivermectin in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients: it is difficult to translate in vitro study results into actual clinical treatment in patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Océane Delandre
- Unité Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, 13005 Marseille, France; (O.D.); (M.G.); (I.F.); (J.M.)
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France;
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (P.J.); (M.L.B.); (M.B.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (B.L.S.)
| | - Mathieu Gendrot
- Unité Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, 13005 Marseille, France; (O.D.); (M.G.); (I.F.); (J.M.)
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France;
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (P.J.); (M.L.B.); (M.B.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (B.L.S.)
| | - Priscilla Jardot
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (P.J.); (M.L.B.); (M.B.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (B.L.S.)
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Marion Le Bideau
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (P.J.); (M.L.B.); (M.B.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (B.L.S.)
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Manon Boxberger
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (P.J.); (M.L.B.); (M.B.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (B.L.S.)
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Céline Boschi
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (P.J.); (M.L.B.); (M.B.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (B.L.S.)
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Isabelle Fonta
- Unité Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, 13005 Marseille, France; (O.D.); (M.G.); (I.F.); (J.M.)
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France;
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (P.J.); (M.L.B.); (M.B.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (B.L.S.)
- Centre National de Référence du Paludisme, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Joel Mosnier
- Unité Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, 13005 Marseille, France; (O.D.); (M.G.); (I.F.); (J.M.)
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France;
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (P.J.); (M.L.B.); (M.B.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (B.L.S.)
- Centre National de Référence du Paludisme, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Sébastien Hutter
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France;
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (P.J.); (M.L.B.); (M.B.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (B.L.S.)
| | - Anthony Levasseur
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (P.J.); (M.L.B.); (M.B.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (B.L.S.)
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Bernard La Scola
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (P.J.); (M.L.B.); (M.B.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (B.L.S.)
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Bruno Pradines
- Unité Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, 13005 Marseille, France; (O.D.); (M.G.); (I.F.); (J.M.)
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France;
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (P.J.); (M.L.B.); (M.B.); (C.B.); (A.L.); (B.L.S.)
- Centre National de Référence du Paludisme, 13005 Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Varese A, Paletta A, Ceballos A, Palacios CA, Figueroa JM, Dugour AV. Iota-Carrageenan Prevents the Replication of SARS-CoV-2 in a Human Respiratory Epithelium Cell Line in vitro. FRONTIERS IN VIROLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fviro.2021.746824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Iota-carrageenan is a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from red seaweeds, which, formulated into a nasal spray, has already been proven safe and effective in viral upper respiratory infections. In Calu-3, a human respiratory epithelium cell line, we explored the activity of a formula of iota-carrageenan and sodium chloride against SARS-CoV-2. In this study, the assayed formula, already approved as a nasal spray for human use, effectively inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection, providing a more substantial reference for clinical studies or developments.
Collapse
|
12
|
Mathez G, Cagno V. Clinical severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 isolation and antiviral testing. Antivir Chem Chemother 2021; 29:20402066211061063. [PMID: 34806440 PMCID: PMC8606911 DOI: 10.1177/20402066211061063] [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] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is an RNA virus currently causing a pandemic. Due to errors during replication, mutations can occur and result in cell adaptation by the virus or in the rise of new variants. This can change the attachment receptors' usage, result in different morphology of plaques, and can affect as well antiviral development. Indeed, a molecule can be active on laboratory strains but not necessarily on circulating strains or be effective only against some viral variants. Experiments with clinical samples with limited cell adaptation should be performed to confirm the efficiency of drugs of interest. In this protocol, we present a method to culture severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 from nasopharyngeal swabs, obtain a high viral titer while limiting cell adaptation, and assess antiviral efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Mathez
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, 419236University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Valeria Cagno
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, 419236University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Panagiotopoulos A, Tseliou M, Karakasiliotis I, Kotzampasi D, Daskalakis V, Kesesidis N, Notas G, Lionis C, Kampa M, Pirintsos S, Sourvinos G, Castanas E. p-cymene impairs SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A (H1N1) viral replication: In silico predicted interaction with SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and H1N1 nucleoprotein. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 9:e00798. [PMID: 34128351 PMCID: PMC8204097 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic regimens for the COVID-19 pandemics remain unmet. In this line, repurposing of existing drugs against known or predicted SARS-CoV-2 protein actions have been advanced, while natural products have also been tested. Here, we propose that p-cymene, a natural monoterpene, can act as a potential novel agent for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2-induced COVID-19 and other RNA-virus-induced diseases (influenza, rabies, Ebola). We show by extensive molecular simulations that SARS-CoV-2 C-terminal structured domain contains a nuclear localization signal (NLS), like SARS-CoV, on which p-cymene binds with low micromolar affinity, impairing nuclear translocation of this protein and inhibiting viral replication, as verified by preliminary in vitro experiments. A similar mechanism may occur in other RNA-viruses (influenza, rabies and Ebola), also verified in vitro for influenza, by interaction of p-cymene with viral nucleoproteins, and structural modification of their NLS site, weakening its interaction with importin A. This common mechanism of action renders therefore p-cymene as a possible antiviral, alone, or in combination with other agents, in a broad spectrum of RNA viruses, from SARS-CoV-2 to influenza A infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Melpomeni Tseliou
- Laboratory of Clinical VirologySchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
| | - Ioannis Karakasiliotis
- Laboratory of BiologySchool of MedicineDemocritus University of ThraceAlexandroupolisGreece
| | - Danai‐Maria Kotzampasi
- Laboratory of Experimental EndocrinologySchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
| | - Vangelis Daskalakis
- Department of Chemical EngineeringCyprus University of TechnologyLimassolCyprus
| | - Nikolaos Kesesidis
- Laboratory of BiologySchool of MedicineDemocritus University of ThraceAlexandroupolisGreece
| | - George Notas
- Laboratory of Experimental EndocrinologySchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
| | - Christos Lionis
- Clinic of Social and Family MedicineSchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
- Nature Crete PharmaceuticalsHeraklionGreece
| | - Marilena Kampa
- Laboratory of Experimental EndocrinologySchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
- Nature Crete PharmaceuticalsHeraklionGreece
| | - Stergios Pirintsos
- Nature Crete PharmaceuticalsHeraklionGreece
- Department of BiologyUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
- Botanical GardenUniversity of CreteRethymnonGreece
| | - George Sourvinos
- Laboratory of Clinical VirologySchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
- Nature Crete PharmaceuticalsHeraklionGreece
| | - Elias Castanas
- Laboratory of Experimental EndocrinologySchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
- Nature Crete PharmaceuticalsHeraklionGreece
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
In Vitro Evaluation of the Antiviral Activity of Methylene Blue Alone or in Combination against SARS-CoV-2. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10143007. [PMID: 34300178 PMCID: PMC8307868 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10143007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19), which emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has spread worldwide. Currently, very few treatments are officially recommended against SARS-CoV-2. Identifying effective, low-cost antiviral drugs with limited side effects that are affordable immediately is urgently needed. Methylene blue, a synthesized thiazine dye, may be a potential antiviral drug. Antiviral activity of methylene blue used alone or in combination with several antimalarial drugs or remdesivir was assessed against infected Vero E6 cells infected with two clinically isolated SARS-CoV-2 strains (IHUMI-3 and IHUMI-6). Effects both on viral entry in the cell and on post-entry were also investigated. After 48 h post-infection, the viral replication was estimated by RT-PCR. The median effective concentration (EC50) and 90% effective concentration (EC90) of methylene blue against IHUMI-3 were 0.41 ± 0.34 µM and 1.85 ± 1.41 µM, respectively; 1.06 ± 0.46 µM and 5.68 ± 1.83 µM against IHUMI-6. Methylene blue interacted at both entry and post-entry stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Vero E6 cells as retrieved for hydroxychloroquine. The effects of methylene blue were additive with those of quinine, mefloquine and pyronaridine. The combinations of methylene blue with chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, desethylamodiaquine, piperaquine, lumefantrine, ferroquine, dihydroartemisinin and remdesivir were antagonist. These results support the potential interest of methylene blue to treat COVID-19.
Collapse
|
15
|
Kuroda K, Li C, Dhangar K, Kumar M. Predicted occurrence, ecotoxicological risk and environmentally acquired resistance of antiviral drugs associated with COVID-19 in environmental waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 776:145740. [PMID: 33647647 PMCID: PMC7883697 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Antiviral drugs have been used to treat the ever-growing number of coronavirus disease, 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Consequently, unprecedented amounts of such drug residues discharging into ambient waters raise concerns on the potential ecotoxicological effects to aquatic lives, as well as development of antiviral drug-resistance in wildlife. Here, we estimated the occurrence, fate and ecotoxicological risk of 11 therapeutic agents suggested as drugs for COVID-19 treatment and their 13 metabolites in wastewater and environmental waters, based on drug consumption, physical-chemical property, and ecotoxicological and pharmacological data for the drugs, with the aid of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modelling. Our results suggest that the removal efficiencies at conventional wastewater treatment plants will remain low (<20%) for half of the substances, and consequently, high drug residues (e.g. 7402 ng/L ribavirin, 4231 ng/L favipiravir, 730 ng/L lopinavir, 319 ng/L remdesivir; each combined for both unchanged forms and metabolites; and when each drug is administered to 100 patients out of 100,000 populations on a day) can be present in secondary effluents and persist in the environmental waters. Ecotoxicological risk in receiving river waters can be high (risk quotient >1) by a use of favipiravir, lopinavir, umifenovir and ritonavir, and medium (risk quotient >0.1) by a use of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, and ribavirin, while the risk will remain low (risk quotient <0.1) for dexamethasone and oseltamivir. The potential of wild animals acquiring antiviral drug resistance was estimated to be low. Our prediction suggests a pressing need for proper usage and waste management of antiviral drugs as well as for improving removal efficiencies of drug residues in wastewater.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Kuroda
- Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, Toyama 939 0398, Japan.
| | - Cong Li
- Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, Toyama 939 0398, Japan
| | - Kiran Dhangar
- Discipline of Earth Science, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382 355, India
| | - Manish Kumar
- Discipline of Earth Science, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382 355, India
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Steinlin-Schopfer J, Barbani MT, Kamgang R, Zwahlen M, Suter-Riniker F, Dijkman R. Evaluation of the Roche antigen rapid test and a cell culture-based assay compared to rRT- PCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2: A contribution to the discussion about SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests and contagiousness. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY PLUS 2021; 1:100020. [PMID: 35262007 PMCID: PMC8106823 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcvp.2021.100020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The most sensitive method to detect SARS-CoV-2 relies on rRT-PCR; however, viral RNA can be detected weeks/months after clinical resolution. Since rRT-PCR cannot discern between non- and infectious virus, it is unclear whether the presence of viral RNA after recovery reflects infectious SARS-CoV-2. However, recent studies suggest a positive correlation between antigen rapid tests (Ag-RDT) and virus isolation that is more suited to assess contagiousness. Objectives To assess the utility of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests in different settings we evaluated the performance of Ag-RDT-based and a cell culture-based SARS-CoV-2 assay in comparison to rRT-PCR. Study design A total of 61 Nasopharyngeal-Swabs tested positive by cobasⓇ SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR were in parallel evaluated with the Roche Ag-RDT and a cell culture-based assay to detect SARS-CoV-2. Results SARS-CoV-2 was successfully isolated in 51/61 samples corresponding to 83.6%, which was 97.3% or 96.2% when considering samples with E-gene Ct-value <25 and <28, respectively. In comparison, the Ag-RDT showed an overall sensitivity of 85.2%, that increased to 100% and 96.2% using an E-gene Ct-value cut-off of <25 and <28, respectively. There was an overall good agreement between the commercial Ag-RDT and our in-house cell culture-based SARS-CoV-2 detection assay. However, SARS-CoV-2 could be isolated from two samples that tested negative by Ag-RDT. Conclusions Our results support the use of the Roche Ag-RDT to detect SARS-CoV-2 exposure in large scale populations. However, it is recommended to use rRT-PCR, potentially in conjunction with cell culture-based SARS-CoV-2 assay, to support clinicians in making decisions regarding fragile patient groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Teresa Barbani
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 51, 3001 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Richard Kamgang
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 51, 3001 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martina Zwahlen
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 51, 3001 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Franziska Suter-Riniker
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 51, 3001 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ronald Dijkman
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 51, 3001 Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern & Mittelhäusern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Kiener M, Roldan N, Machahua C, Sengupta A, Geiser T, Guenat OT, Funke-Chambour M, Hobi N, Kruithof-de Julio M. Human-Based Advanced in vitro Approaches to Investigate Lung Fibrosis and Pulmonary Effects of COVID-19. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:644678. [PMID: 34026781 PMCID: PMC8139419 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.644678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused considerable socio-economic burden, which fueled the development of treatment strategies and vaccines at an unprecedented speed. However, our knowledge on disease recovery is sparse and concerns about long-term pulmonary impairments are increasing. Causing a broad spectrum of symptoms, COVID-19 can manifest as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in the most severely affected patients. Notably, pulmonary infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causing agent of COVID-19, induces diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) followed by fibrotic remodeling and persistent reduced oxygenation in some patients. It is currently not known whether tissue scaring fully resolves or progresses to interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. The most aggressive form of pulmonary fibrosis is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a fatal disease that progressively destroys alveolar architecture by uncontrolled fibroblast proliferation and the deposition of collagen and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. It is assumed that micro-injuries to the alveolar epithelium may be induced by inhalation of micro-particles, pathophysiological mechanical stress or viral infections, which can result in abnormal wound healing response. However, the exact underlying causes and molecular mechanisms of lung fibrosis are poorly understood due to the limited availability of clinically relevant models. Recently, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 with the urgent need to investigate its pathogenesis and address drug options, has led to the broad application of in vivo and in vitro models to study lung diseases. In particular, advanced in vitro models including precision-cut lung slices (PCLS), lung organoids, 3D in vitro tissues and lung-on-chip (LOC) models have been successfully employed for drug screens. In order to gain a deeper understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection and ultimately alveolar tissue regeneration, it will be crucial to optimize the available models for SARS-CoV-2 infection in multicellular systems that recapitulate tissue regeneration and fibrotic remodeling. Current evidence for SARS-CoV-2 mediated pulmonary fibrosis and a selection of classical and novel lung models will be discussed in this review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Kiener
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research DBMR, Urology Research Laboratory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Alveolix AG, Swiss Organs-on-Chip Innovation, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nuria Roldan
- Alveolix AG, Swiss Organs-on-Chip Innovation, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Carlos Machahua
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research DBMR, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Arunima Sengupta
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Geiser
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research DBMR, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Thierry Guenat
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Funke-Chambour
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research DBMR, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nina Hobi
- Alveolix AG, Swiss Organs-on-Chip Innovation, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marianna Kruithof-de Julio
- Department for BioMedical Research DBMR, Urology Research Laboratory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Alveolix AG, Swiss Organs-on-Chip Innovation, Bern, Switzerland
- Organoid Core, Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Shiryaev VA, Klimochkin YN. Main Chemotypes of SARS-CoV-2 Reproduction Inhibitors. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2021. [PMCID: PMC8188765 DOI: 10.1134/s107042802105002x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced scientists all over the world to focus their effort on searching for targeted drugs for coronavirus chemotherapy. The present review is an attempt to systematize low-molecular-weight compounds, including well-known pharmaceuticals and natural substances that have exhibited high anti-coronavirus activity, not in terms of action on their targets, but in terms of their structural type.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V. A. Shiryaev
- Samara State Technical University, 443100 Samara, Russia
| | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Fernandes RS, de Godoy AS, Santos IA, Noske GD, de Oliveira KIZ, Gawriljuk VO, Gomes Jardim AC, Oliva G. Discovery of an imidazonaphthyridine and a riminophenazine as potent anti-Zika virus agents through a replicon-based high-throughput screening. Virus Res 2021; 299:198388. [PMID: 33887282 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The 2015/16 Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic led to almost 1 million confirmed cases in 84 countries and was associated to the development of congenital microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. More recently, a ZIKV African lineage was identified in Brazil raising concerns about a future outbreak. The long-term consequences of viral infection emphasizes the need for the development of effective anti-ZIKV drugs. In this study, we developed and characterized a ZIKV replicon cell line for the screening of viral replication inhibitors. The replicon system was developed by engineering the IRES-Neo cassette into the 3' UTR terminus of the ZIKV Rluc DNA construct. After in vitro transcription, replicon RNA was used to transfect BHK-21 cells, that were selected with G418, thus generating the BHK-21-RepZIKV_IRES-Neo cell line. Through this replicon-based cell system, we identified two molecules with potent anti-ZIKV activities, an imidazonaphthyridine and a riminophenazine, both from the MMV/DNDi Pandemic Response Box library of 400 drug-like compounds. The imidazonaphthyridine, known as RO8191, showed remarkable selectivity against ZIKV, while the riminophenazine, the antibiotic Clofazimine, could act as a non-nucleoside analog inhibitor of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), as evidenced both in vitro and in silico. The data showed herein supports the use of replicon-based assays in high-throughput screening format as a biosafe and reliable tool for antiviral drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Sachetto Fernandes
- Physics Institute of Sao Carlos, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, 13563-120, Brazil.
| | - Andre Schutzer de Godoy
- Physics Institute of Sao Carlos, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Igor Andrade Santos
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Av. Amazonas, 1700, bloco 4C sala 216, Umuarama, Uberlândia, 38405-317, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Dias Noske
- Physics Institute of Sao Carlos, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Ketllyn Irene Zagato de Oliveira
- Physics Institute of Sao Carlos, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Victor Oliveira Gawriljuk
- Physics Institute of Sao Carlos, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Gomes Jardim
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Av. Amazonas, 1700, bloco 4C sala 216, Umuarama, Uberlândia, 38405-317, Brazil
| | - Glaucius Oliva
- Physics Institute of Sao Carlos, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, 13563-120, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Day CJ, Bailly B, Guillon P, Dirr L, Jen FEC, Spillings BL, Mak J, von Itzstein M, Haselhorst T, Jennings MP. Multidisciplinary Approaches Identify Compounds that Bind to Human ACE2 or SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein as Candidates to Block SARS-CoV-2-ACE2 Receptor Interactions. mBio 2021; 12:e03681-20. [PMID: 33785634 PMCID: PMC8092326 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03681-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a recently emerged virus that causes coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, like SARS-CoV-1, uses the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a cellular receptor to initiate infection. Compounds that interfere with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain protein (RBD)-ACE2 receptor interaction may function as entry inhibitors. Here, we used a dual strategy of molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) screening of compound libraries to identify those that bind to human ACE2 or the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD). Molecular modeling screening interrogated 57,641 compounds and focused on the region of ACE2 that is engaged by RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and vice versa. SPR screening used immobilized human ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein to evaluate the binding of these proteins to a library of 3,141 compounds. These combined screens identified compounds from these libraries that bind at KD (equilibrium dissociation constant) <3 μM affinity to their respective targets, 17 for ACE2 and 6 for SARS-CoV-2 RBD. Twelve ACE2 binders and six of the RBD binders compete with the RBD-ACE2 interaction in an SPR-based competition assay. These compounds included registered drugs and dyes used in biomedical applications. A Vero-E6 cell-based SARS-CoV-2 infection assay was used to evaluate infection blockade by candidate entry inhibitors. Three compounds demonstrated dose-dependent antiviral in vitro potency-Evans blue, sodium lifitegrast, and lumacaftor. This study has identified potential drugs for repurposing as SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors or as chemical scaffolds for drug development.IMPORTANCE SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, has caused more than 60 million cases worldwide with almost 1.5 million deaths as of November 2020. Repurposing existing drugs is the most rapid path to clinical intervention for emerging diseases. Using an in silico screen of 57,641 compounds and a biophysical screen of 3,141 compounds, we identified 22 compounds that bound to either the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and/or the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain (SARS-CoV-2 spike protein RBD). Nine of these drugs were identified by both screening methods. Three of the identified compounds, Evans blue, sodium lifitegrast, and lumacaftor, were found to inhibit viral replication in a Vero-E6 cell-based SARS-CoV-2 infection assay and may have utility as repurposed therapeutics. All 22 identified compounds provide scaffolds for the development of new chemical entities for the treatment of COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Day
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Benjamin Bailly
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Patrice Guillon
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Larissa Dirr
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Freda E-C Jen
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Belinda L Spillings
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Johnson Mak
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Mark von Itzstein
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Thomas Haselhorst
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael P Jennings
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Casas-Sanchez A, Romero-Ramirez A, Hargreaves E, Ellis CC, Grajeda BI, Estevao IL, Patterson EI, Hughes GL, Almeida IC, Zech T, Acosta-Serrano Á. Inhibition of Protein N-Glycosylation Blocks SARS-CoV-2 Infection. mBio 2021; 13:e0371821. [PMID: 35164559 PMCID: PMC8844921 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03718-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) extensively N-glycosylates its spike proteins, which are necessary for host cell invasion and the target of both vaccines and immunotherapies. These N-glycans are predicted to modulate spike binding to the host receptor by stabilizing its open conformation and host immunity evasion. Here, we investigated the essentiality of both the host N-glycosylation pathway and SARS-CoV-2 N-glycans for infection. Ablation of host N-glycosylation using RNA interference or inhibitors, including FDA-approved drugs, reduced the spread of the infection, including that of variants B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma) and B.1.617.2 (Delta). Under these conditions, cells produced fewer virions and some completely lost their infectivity. Furthermore, partial enzymatic deglycosylation of intact virions showed that surface-exposed N-glycans are critical for cell invasion. Altogether, we propose protein N-glycosylation as a targetable pathway with clinical potential for treatment of COVID-19. IMPORTANCE The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 uses its spike surface proteins to infect human cells. Spike proteins are heavily modified with several N-glycans, which are predicted to modulate their function. In this work, we show that interfering with either the synthesis or attachment of spike N-glycans significantly reduces the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro, including that of several variants. As new SARS-CoV-2 variants, with various degrees of resistance against current vaccines, are likely to continue appearing, halting virus glycosylation using repurposed human drugs could result in a complementary strategy to reducing the spread of COVID-19 worldwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aitor Casas-Sanchez
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandra Romero-Ramirez
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Hargreaves
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Cameron C. Ellis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Brian I. Grajeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Igor L. Estevao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Edward I. Patterson
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada
| | - Grant L. Hughes
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Tobias Zech
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Álvaro Acosta-Serrano
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|