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Identification of novel antiviral drug candidates using an optimized SARS-CoV-2 phenotypic screening platform. iScience 2023; 26:105944. [PMID: 36644320 PMCID: PMC9822553 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.105944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Reliable, easy-to-handle phenotypic screening platforms are needed for the identification of anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds. Here, we present caspase 3/7 activity as a readout for monitoring the replication of SARS-CoV-2 isolates from different variants, including a remdesivir-resistant strain, and of other coronaviruses in numerous cell culture models, independently of cytopathogenic effect formation. Compared to other models, the Caco-2 subline Caco-2-F03 displayed superior performance. It possesses a stable SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility phenotype and does not produce false-positive hits due to drug-induced phospholipidosis. A proof-of-concept screen of 1,796 kinase inhibitors identified known and novel antiviral drug candidates including inhibitors of phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), CDC like kinase 1 (CLK-1), and colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R). The activity of the PHGDH inhibitor NCT-503 was further increased in combination with the hexokinase II (HK2) inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose, which is in clinical development for COVID-19. In conclusion, caspase 3/7 activity detection in SARS-CoV-2-infected Caco-2-F03 cells provides a simple phenotypic high-throughput screening platform for SARS-CoV-2 drug candidates that reduces false-positive hits.
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Li J, Yan Y, Dou F, Gao J. Is targeting angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) a prophylactic strategy against COVID-19? Biosci Trends 2022; 16:459-461. [PMID: 36567123 DOI: 10.5582/bst.2022.01524] [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: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Prophylaxis against COVID-19 is greatly needed for vulnerable populations who have a higher risk of developing severe disease. Vaccines and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are currently the main approaches to preventing the virus infection. However, the constant mutation of SARS-CoV-2 poses a huge challenge to the effectiveness of these prophylactic strategies. A recent study suggested that downregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the receptor of SARS-CoV-2 entry into human cells, can decrease susceptibility to viral infection in vitro, in vivo, and in human lungs and livers perfused ex situ. These findings indicate the potential to use agents to reduce ACE2 expression to prevent COVID-19, but the efficacy and safety should be verified in clinical trials. Considering ACE2 performs physiological functions, risks due to its downregulation and benefits from prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 infection should be carefully weighed. In the future, updating vaccines against variants of SARS-CoV-2 might still be an important strategy for prophylaxis against COVID-19. Soluble recombinant human ACE2 that acts as a decoy receptor might be an option to overcome the mutation of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yufen Yan
- Department of Outpatient and Emergency, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Fangzhou Dou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jianjun Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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Nazir M, Tousif MI, Khalid M, Parveen S, Akhter N, Farooq N, Khan MU, Mehmood RF, Mahomoodally MF, Muhammad S, Alarfaji SS. Isolation of Thioinosine and Butenolides from a Terrestrial Actinomycetes sp. GSCW-51 and Their in Silico Studies for Potential against SARS-CoV-2. Chem Biodivers 2022; 19:e202100843. [PMID: 35213767 PMCID: PMC9074031 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202100843] [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: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
In our continuous screening for bioactive microbial natural products, the culture extracts of a terrestrial Actinomycetes sp. GSCW‐51 yielded two new metabolites, i. e., 5‐hydroxymethyl‐3‐(1‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐7‐oxooctyl)dihydrofuran‐2(3H)‐one (1), 5‐hydroxymethyl‐3‐(1,7‐dihydroxy‐6‐methyloctyl)dihydrofuran‐2(3H)‐one (2), and two known compounds; 5′‐methylthioinosine (3), and 5′‐methylthioinosine sulfoxide (4), which are isolated first time from any natural source, along with four known compounds (5–8). The structures of the new compounds were deduced by HR‐ESI‐MS, 1D and 2D NMR data, and in comparison with related compounds from the literature. Additionally, owing to the current COVID‐19 pandemic situation, we also computationally explored the therapeutic potential of our isolated compounds against SARS‐CoV‐2. Compound 4 showed the best binding energies of −6.2 and −6.6 kcal/mol for Mpro and spike proteins, respectively. The intermolecular interactions were also studied using 2‐D and 3‐D imagery, which also supported the binding energies as well as put several insights under the spotlight. Furthermore, Lipinski's rule of 5 was used to predict the drug likeness of compounds 1–4, which indicated all compounds obey Lipinski's rule of 5. The study of bioavailability radars of the compounds 1–4 also confirmed their drug likeness properties where all the five crucial drug likeness parameters are in color area, which is safe to be used as drugs. Our isolation and computational findings highly encourage the scientific community to do further in vitro and in vivo studies of compounds 1–4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamona Nazir
- Department of Chemistry, Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Imran Tousif
- Department of Chemistry, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education Lahore, Lahore, 32200, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Khalid
- Department of Chemistry, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering & Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, 64200, Pakistan
| | - Shehla Parveen
- Department of Chemistry, Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Naseem Akhter
- Department of Chemistry, Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Nosheen Farooq
- Department of Chemistry, Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | | | - Rana Farhat Mehmood
- Department of Chemistry, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education Lahore, Lahore, 32200, Pakistan
| | - Mohamad Fawzi Mahomoodally
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Mauritius, 230, Réduit, Mauritius
| | - Shabbir Muhammad
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh S Alarfaji
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
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