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Al Adem K, Ferreira JC, Villanueva AJ, Fadl S, El-Sadaany F, Masmoudi I, Gidiya Y, Gurudza T, Cardoso THS, Saksena NK, Rabeh WM. 3-chymotrypsin-like protease in SARS-CoV-2. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20231395. [PMID: 39036877 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20231395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses constitute a significant threat to the human population. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, SARS-CoV-2, is a highly pathogenic human coronavirus that has caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It has led to a global viral outbreak with an exceptional spread and a high death toll, highlighting the need for effective antiviral strategies. 3-Chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), the main protease in SARS-CoV-2, plays an indispensable role in the SARS-CoV-2 viral life cycle by cleaving the viral polyprotein to produce 11 individual non-structural proteins necessary for viral replication. 3CLpro is one of two proteases that function to produce new viral particles. It is a highly conserved cysteine protease with identical structural folds in all known human coronaviruses. Inhibitors binding with high affinity to 3CLpro will prevent the cleavage of viral polyproteins, thus impeding viral replication. Multiple strategies have been implemented to screen for inhibitors against 3CLpro, including peptide-like and small molecule inhibitors that covalently and non-covalently bind the active site, respectively. In addition, allosteric sites of 3CLpro have been identified to screen for small molecules that could make non-competitive inhibitors of 3CLpro. In essence, this review serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the structural intricacies and functional dynamics of 3CLpro, emphasizing key findings that elucidate its role as the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. Notably, the review is a critical resource in recognizing the advancements in identifying and developing 3CLpro inhibitors as effective antiviral strategies against COVID-19, some of which are already approved for clinical use in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenana Al Adem
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Juliana C Ferreira
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Adrian J Villanueva
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Samar Fadl
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Farah El-Sadaany
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Imen Masmoudi
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Yugmee Gidiya
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tariro Gurudza
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Thyago H S Cardoso
- OMICS Centre of Excellence, G42 Healthcare, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nitin K Saksena
- Victoria University, Footscray Campus, Melbourne, VIC. Australia
| | - Wael M Rabeh
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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2
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Jacquat AG, Theumer MG, Dambolena JS. Selective and non-selective evolutionary signatures found in the simplest replicative biological entities. J Evol Biol 2024; 37:862-876. [PMID: 38822575 DOI: 10.1093/jeb/voae070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Mitoviruses, which are considered evolutionary relics of extinct alpha-proteobacteria RNA phages, represent one of the simplest self-replicating biological systems. This study aims to quantitatively describe genomes and identify potential genomic signatures that support the protein phylogenetic-based classification criterion. Genomic variables, such as mononucleotide and dinucleotide composition, codon usage bias, and minimal free energy derived from optimized predicted RNA secondary structure, were analyzed. From the values obtained, the main evolutionary pressures were discussed, indicating that natural selection plays a significant role in shaping mitovirus genomes. However, neutral evolution also makes a significant contribution. This study reveals a significant discovery of structural divergence in Kvaramitovirus. The energy minimization approach employed to study 2D folding in this study reveals a distinct spatial organization of their genomes, providing evidence for the hypothesis of a single evolutionary event of circularization in the most recent common ancestor of the lineage. This hypothesis was discussed in light of recent discoveries by other researchers that partially support the existence of mitoviruses with circular genomes. Finally, this study represents a significant advancement in the understanding of mitoviruses, as it quantitatively describes the nucleotide sequence at the family and genus taxonomic levels. Additionally, we provide hypotheses that can be experimentally validated to inspire new research and address the gaps in knowledge of this fascinating, basally divergent RNA virus lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Gustavo Jacquat
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales (FCEFyN), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Martín Gustavo Theumer
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas (FCQ), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), Córdoba, Argentina
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - José Sebastián Dambolena
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales (FCEFyN), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
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3
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Bonetti Franceschi V, Volz E. Phylogenetic signatures reveal multilevel selection and fitness costs in SARS-CoV-2. Wellcome Open Res 2024; 9:85. [PMID: 39132669 PMCID: PMC11316176 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.20704.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Large-scale sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 has enabled the study of viral evolution during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some viral mutations may be advantageous to viral replication within hosts but detrimental to transmission, thus carrying a transient fitness advantage. By affecting the number of descendants, persistence times and growth rates of associated clades, these mutations generate localised imbalance in phylogenies. Quantifying these features in closely-related clades with and without recurring mutations can elucidate the tradeoffs between within-host replication and between-host transmission. Methods We implemented a novel phylogenetic clustering algorithm ( mlscluster, https://github.com/mrc-ide/mlscluster) to systematically explore time-scaled phylogenies for mutations under transient/multilevel selection. We applied this method to a SARS-CoV-2 time-calibrated phylogeny with >1.2 million sequences from England, and characterised these recurrent mutations that may influence transmission fitness across PANGO-lineages and genomic regions using Poisson regressions and summary statistics. Results We found no major differences across two epidemic stages (before and after Omicron), PANGO-lineages, and genomic regions. However, spike, nucleocapsid, and ORF3a were proportionally more enriched for transmission fitness polymorphisms (TFP)-homoplasies than other proteins. We provide a catalog of SARS-CoV-2 sites under multilevel selection, which can guide experimental investigations within and beyond the spike protein. Conclusions This study provides empirical evidence for the existence of important tradeoffs between within-host replication and between-host transmission shaping the fitness landscape of SARS-CoV-2. This method may be used as a fast and scalable means to shortlist large sequence databases for sites under putative multilevel selection which may warrant subsequent confirmatory analyses and experimental confirmation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius Bonetti Franceschi
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, England, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Erik Volz
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, England, W2 1PG, UK
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4
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Wu X, Go M, Nguyen JV, Kuchel NW, Lu BGC, Zeglinski K, Lowes KN, Calleja DJ, Mitchell JP, Lessene G, Komander D, Call ME, Call MJ. Mutational profiling of SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease reveals requirements for function, structure, and drug escape. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6219. [PMID: 39043718 PMCID: PMC11266423 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50566-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Papain-like protease (PLpro) is an attractive drug target for SARS-CoV-2 because it is essential for viral replication, cleaving viral poly-proteins pp1a and pp1ab, and has de-ubiquitylation and de-ISGylation activities, affecting innate immune responses. We employ Deep Mutational Scanning to evaluate the mutational effects on PLpro enzymatic activity and protein stability in mammalian cells. We confirm features of the active site and identify mutations in neighboring residues that alter activity. We characterize residues responsible for substrate binding and demonstrate that although residues in the blocking loop are remarkably tolerant to mutation, blocking loop flexibility is important for function. We additionally find a connected network of mutations affecting activity that extends far from the active site. We leverage our library to identify drug-escape variants to a common PLpro inhibitor scaffold and predict that plasticity in both the S4 pocket and blocking loop sequence should be considered during the drug design process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Wu
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Margareta Go
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Julie V Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Nathan W Kuchel
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Bernadine G C Lu
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Kathleen Zeglinski
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Kym N Lowes
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Dale J Calleja
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Jeffrey P Mitchell
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Guillaume Lessene
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - David Komander
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Matthew E Call
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Melissa J Call
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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5
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Xia YL, Du WW, Li YP, Tao Y, Zhang ZB, Liu SM, Fu YX, Zhang KQ, Liu SQ. Computational Insights into SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Mutations and Nirmatrelvir Efficacy: The Effects of P132H and P132H-A173V. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:5207-5218. [PMID: 38913174 PMCID: PMC11235099 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00334] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Nirmatrelvir, a pivotal component of the oral antiviral Paxlovid for COVID-19, targets the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) as a covalent inhibitor. Here, we employed combined computational methods to explore how the prevalent Omicron variant mutation P132H, alone and in combination with A173V (P132H-A173V), affects nirmatrelvir's efficacy. Our findings suggest that P132H enhances the noncovalent binding affinity of Mpro for nirmatrelvir, whereas P132H-A173V diminishes it. Although both mutants catalyze the rate-limiting step more efficiently than the wild-type (WT) Mpro, P132H slows the overall rate of covalent bond formation, whereas P132H-A173V accelerates it. Comprehensive analysis of noncovalent and covalent contributions to the overall binding free energy of the covalent complex suggests that P132H likely enhances Mpro sensitivity to nirmatrelvir, while P132H-A173V may confer resistance. Per-residue decompositions of the binding and activation free energies pinpoint key residues that significantly affect the binding affinity and reaction rates, revealing how the mutations modulate these effects. The mutation-induced conformational perturbations alter drug-protein local contact intensities and the electrostatic preorganization of the protein, affecting noncovalent binding affinity and the stability of key reaction states, respectively. Our findings inform the mechanisms of nirmatrelvir resistance and sensitivity, facilitating improved drug design and the detection of resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Ling Xia
- State
Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in
Yunnan & School of Life Sciences, Yunnan
University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China
- Editorial
Office of Journal of Yunnan University (Natural Sciences Edition), Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China
| | - Wen-Wen Du
- State
Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in
Yunnan & School of Life Sciences, Yunnan
University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China
| | - Yong-Ping Li
- School
of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China
| | - Yan Tao
- State
Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in
Yunnan & School of Life Sciences, Yunnan
University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China
- Yunnan
University Library, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China
| | - Zhi-Bi Zhang
- Yunnan
Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine & Biomedical
Engineering Research Center, Kunming Medical
University, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Song-Ming Liu
- State
Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in
Yunnan & School of Life Sciences, Yunnan
University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China
| | - Yun-Xin Fu
- State
Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in
Yunnan & School of Life Sciences, Yunnan
University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China
- Human Genetics
Center and Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of
Public Health, The University of Texas Health
Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Ke-Qin Zhang
- State
Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in
Yunnan & School of Life Sciences, Yunnan
University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China
| | - Shu-Qun Liu
- State
Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in
Yunnan & School of Life Sciences, Yunnan
University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China
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6
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Kenward C, Vuckovic M, Paetzel M, Strynadka NCJ. Kinetic comparison of all eleven viral polyprotein cleavage site processing events by SARS-CoV-2 main protease using a linked protein FRET platform. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107367. [PMID: 38750796 PMCID: PMC11209022 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The main protease (Mpro) remains an essential therapeutic target for COVID-19 post infection intervention given its critical role in processing the majority of viral proteins encoded by the genome of severe acute respiratory syndrome related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Upon viral entry, the +ssRNA genome is translated into two long polyproteins (pp1a or the frameshift-dependent pp1ab) containing all the nonstructural proteins (nsps) required by the virus for immune modulation, replication, and ultimately, virion assembly. Included among these nsps is the cysteine protease Mpro (nsp5) which self-excises from the polyprotein, dimerizes, then sequentially cleaves 11 of the 15 cut-site junctions found between each nsp within the polyprotein. Many structures of Mpro (often bound to various small molecule inhibitors or peptides) have been detailed recently, including structures of Mpro bound to each of the polyprotein cleavage sequences, showing that Mpro can accommodate a wide range of targets within its active site. However, to date, kinetic characterization of the interaction of Mpro with each of its native cleavage sequences remains incomplete. Here, we present a robust and cost-effective FRET based system that benefits from a more consistent presentation of the substrate that is also closer in organization to the native polyprotein environment compared to previously reported FRET systems that use chemically modified peptides. Using this system, we were able to show that while each site maintains a similar Michaelis constant, the catalytic efficiency of Mpro varies greatly between cut-site sequences, suggesting a clear preference for the order of nsp processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calem Kenward
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Centre for Blood Research, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Marija Vuckovic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Centre for Blood Research, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mark Paetzel
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Natalie C J Strynadka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Centre for Blood Research, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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7
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Iketani S, Ho DD. SARS-CoV-2 resistance to monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule drugs. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:632-657. [PMID: 38640902 PMCID: PMC11084874 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Over four years have passed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The scientific response has been rapid and effective, with many therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and small molecules developed for clinical use. However, given the ability for viruses to become resistant to antivirals, it is perhaps no surprise that the field has identified resistance to nearly all of these compounds. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the resistance profile for each of these therapeutics. We hope that this resource provides an atlas for mutations to be aware of for each agent, particularly as a springboard for considerations for the next generation of antivirals. Finally, we discuss the outlook and thoughts for moving forward in how we continue to manage this, and the next, pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Iketani
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - David D Ho
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
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8
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Meger AT, Spence MA, Sandhu M, Matthews D, Chen J, Jackson CJ, Raman S. Rugged fitness landscapes minimize promiscuity in the evolution of transcriptional repressors. Cell Syst 2024; 15:374-387.e6. [PMID: 38537640 PMCID: PMC11299162 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2024.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
How a protein's function influences the shape of its fitness landscape, smooth or rugged, is a fundamental question in evolutionary biochemistry. Smooth landscapes arise when incremental mutational steps lead to a progressive change in function, as commonly seen in enzymes and binding proteins. On the other hand, rugged landscapes are poorly understood because of the inherent unpredictability of how sequence changes affect function. Here, we experimentally characterize the entire sequence phylogeny, comprising 1,158 extant and ancestral sequences, of the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of the LacI/GalR transcriptional repressor family. Our analysis revealed an extremely rugged landscape with rapid switching of specificity, even between adjacent nodes. Further, the ruggedness arises due to the necessity of the repressor to simultaneously evolve specificity for asymmetric operators and disfavors potentially adverse regulatory crosstalk. Our study provides fundamental insight into evolutionary, molecular, and biophysical rules of genetic regulation through the lens of fitness landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony T Meger
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Matthew A Spence
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Mahakaran Sandhu
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Dana Matthews
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Jackie Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Colin J Jackson
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science, Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Synthetic Biology, Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Srivatsan Raman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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9
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Soni V, Terbot JW, Jensen JD. Population genetic considerations regarding the interpretation of within-patient SARS-CoV-2 polymorphism data. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3240. [PMID: 38627371 PMCID: PMC11021480 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46261-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Vivak Soni
- Center for Evolution & Medicine, Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - John W Terbot
- Center for Evolution & Medicine, Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Jensen
- Center for Evolution & Medicine, Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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10
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Nelson CW, Poon LLM, Gu H. Reply to: Population genetic considerations regarding the interpretation of within-patient SARS-CoV-2 polymorphism data. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3239. [PMID: 38627383 PMCID: PMC11021549 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46262-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chase W Nelson
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
- Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024, USA
| | - Leo L M Poon
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Centre for Immunology & Infection, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- HKU- Pasteur Research Pole, School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Haogao Gu
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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11
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Flynn JM, Zvornicanin SN, Tsepal T, Shaqra AM, Kurt Yilmaz N, Jia W, Moquin S, Dovala D, Schiffer CA, Bolon DN. Contributions of Hyperactive Mutations in M pro from SARS-CoV-2 to Drug Resistance. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1174-1184. [PMID: 38472113 PMCID: PMC11179160 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The appearance and spread of mutations that cause drug resistance in rapidly evolving diseases, including infections by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, are major concerns for human health. Many drugs target enzymes, and resistance-conferring mutations impact inhibitor binding or enzyme activity. Nirmatrelvir, the most widely used inhibitor currently used to treat SARS-CoV-2 infections, targets the main protease (Mpro) preventing it from processing the viral polyprotein into active subunits. Our previous work systematically analyzed resistance mutations in Mpro that reduce binding to inhibitors; here, we investigate mutations that affect enzyme function. Hyperactive mutations that increase Mpro activity can contribute to drug resistance but have not been thoroughly studied. To explore how hyperactive mutations contribute to resistance, we comprehensively assessed how all possible individual mutations in Mpro affect enzyme function using a mutational scanning approach with a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based yeast readout. We identified hundreds of mutations that significantly increased the Mpro activity. Hyperactive mutations occurred both proximal and distal to the active site, consistent with protein stability and/or dynamics impacting activity. Hyperactive mutations were observed 3 times more than mutations which reduced apparent binding to nirmatrelvir in recent studies of laboratory-grown viruses selected for drug resistance. Hyperactive mutations were also about three times more prevalent than nirmatrelvir binding mutations in sequenced isolates from circulating SARS-CoV-2. Our findings indicate that hyperactive mutations are likely to contribute to the natural evolution of drug resistance in Mpro and provide a comprehensive list for future surveillance efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M. Flynn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 USA
| | - Sarah N. Zvornicanin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 USA
| | - Tenzin Tsepal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 USA
| | - Ala M. Shaqra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 USA
| | - Nese Kurt Yilmaz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 USA
| | - Weiping Jia
- Novartis Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA 94608 USA
| | | | - Dustin Dovala
- Novartis Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA 94608 USA
| | - Celia A. Schiffer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 USA
| | - Daniel N.A. Bolon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605 USA
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12
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Westberg M, Su Y, Zou X, Huang P, Rustagi A, Garhyan J, Patel PB, Fernandez D, Wu Y, Hao C, Lo CW, Karim M, Ning L, Beck A, Saenkham-Huntsinger P, Tat V, Drelich A, Peng BH, Einav S, Tseng CTK, Blish C, Lin MZ. An orally bioavailable SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitor exhibits improved affinity and reduced sensitivity to mutations. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadi0979. [PMID: 38478629 PMCID: PMC11193659 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adi0979] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Inhibitors of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease (Mpro) such as nirmatrelvir (NTV) and ensitrelvir (ETV) have proven effective in reducing the severity of COVID-19, but the presence of resistance-conferring mutations in sequenced viral genomes raises concerns about future drug resistance. Second-generation oral drugs that retain function against these mutants are thus urgently needed. We hypothesized that the covalent hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor boceprevir (BPV) could serve as the basis for orally bioavailable drugs that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Mpro more efficiently than existing drugs. Performing structure-guided modifications of BPV, we developed a picomolar-affinity inhibitor, ML2006a4, with antiviral activity, oral pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic efficacy similar or superior to those of NTV. A crucial feature of ML2006a4 is a derivatization of the ketoamide reactive group that improves cell permeability and oral bioavailability. Last, ML2006a4 was found to be less sensitive to several mutations that cause resistance to NTV or ETV and occur in the natural SARS-CoV-2 population. Thus, anticipatory design can preemptively address potential resistance mechanisms to expand future treatment options against coronavirus variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Westberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University; 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University; 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Yichi Su
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xinzhi Zou
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Pinghan Huang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Arjun Rustagi
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jaishree Garhyan
- Stanford In Vitro Biosafety Level 3 Service Center, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Puja Bhavesh Patel
- Stanford In Vitro Biosafety Level 3 Service Center, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Daniel Fernandez
- Program in Chemistry, Engineering, and Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H), Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Macromolecular Structure Knowledge Center, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Chenzhou Hao
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Chieh-Wen Lo
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Marwah Karim
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lin Ning
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Aimee Beck
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Vivian Tat
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Aleksandra Drelich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Bi-Hung Peng
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, The University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Shirit Einav
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub; San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Chien-Te K. Tseng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, The University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Catherine Blish
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub; San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Michael Z. Lin
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University; Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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13
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Nguyen HH, Tufts J, Minh DDL. On Inactivation of the Coronavirus Main Protease. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:1644-1656. [PMID: 38423522 PMCID: PMC10936523 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01518] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
A deeper understanding of the inactive conformations of the coronavirus main protease (MPro) could inform the design of allosteric drugs. Based on extensive molecular dynamics simulations, we built a Markov State Model to investigate structural changes that can inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 MPro. In a subset of structures, one subunit of the homodimer assumes an inactive conformation that resembles an inactive crystal structure. However, contradicting the widely held half-of-sites activity hypothesis, the most populated enzyme structures have two active subunits. We then used transition path theory (TPT) and the Jensen-Shannon Divergence (JSD) to pinpoint residues involved in the inactivation process. A π stack between Phe140 and His163 is a key feature that can distinguish active and inactive conformations of MPro. Each subunit has unique inactive conformations stabilized by π stacking interactions involving residues Phe140, Tyr118, His163, and His172, a hydrogen bonding network centered around His163 and His172, and a modified network of interactions in the dimer interface. The importance of these residues in maintaining an active structure explains the sensitivity of enzymatic activity to site-directed mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ha Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Jim Tufts
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - David D. L. Minh
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
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14
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Bhat ZA, Khan MM, Rehman A, Iqbal J, Sanjeev BS, Madhumalar A. MD simulations indicate Omicron P132H of SARS-CoV-2 M pro is a potential allosteric mutant involved in modulating the dynamics of catalytic site entry loop. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 262:130077. [PMID: 38346625 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro, essential for viral replication is an important drug target. It plays a critical role in processing viral polyproteins necessary for viral replication assembly. One of the predominant SARS-CoV-2 Mpro mutations of Omicron variant is Pro132His. Structurally, this mutation site is located ∼22 Å away from the catalytic site. The solved crystal structure of this mutant in complex with inhibitors as well as its reported catalytic efficiency did not show any difference with respect to the wild type. Thus, the mutation was concluded to be non-allosteric. Based on microsecond long MD simulation of the Pro132His mutant and wild type, we show that Pro132His mutation affects the conformational equilibrium with more population of conformational substates having open catalytic site, modulated by the dynamics of the catalytic site entry loop, implying the allosteric nature of this mutation. The structural analysis indicates that rearrangement of hydrogen bonds between His132 and adjacent residues enhances the dynamics of the linker, which in turn is augmented by the inherent dynamic flexibility of the catalytic pocket entry site due to the presence of charged residues. The altered dynamics leading to loss of secondary structures corroborate well with the reported compromised thermal stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahoor Ahmad Bhat
- Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Mohd Muzammil Khan
- Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Ayyub Rehman
- Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Jawed Iqbal
- Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - B S Sanjeev
- Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Prayagraj -211012, India
| | - Arumugam Madhumalar
- Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India.
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15
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Hakim MS, Gunadi, Rahayu A, Wibawa H, Eryvinka LS, Supriyati E, Vujira KA, Iskandar K, Afiahayati, Daniwijaya EW, Oktoviani FN, Annisa L, Utami FDT, Amadeus VC, Nurhidayah SS, Leksono TP, Halim FV, Arguni E, Nuryastuti T, Wibawa T. Sequence analysis of the Spike, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and protease genes reveals a distinct evolutionary pattern of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces, Indonesia. Virus Genes 2024:10.1007/s11262-023-02048-1. [PMID: 38244104 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-023-02048-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 was due to the development of novel variants of concern (VOC). Thus, genomic surveillance is essential to monitor continuing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and to track the emergence of novel variants. In this study, we performed phylogenetic, mutation, and selection pressure analyses of the Spike, nsp12, nsp3, and nsp5 genes of SARS-CoV-2 isolates circulating in Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces, Indonesia from May 2021 to February 2022. Various bioinformatics tools were employed to investigate the evolutionary dynamics of distinct SARS-CoV-2 isolates. During the study period, 213 and 139 isolates of Omicron and Delta variants were identified, respectively. Particularly in the Spike gene, mutations were significantly more abundant in Omicron than in Delta variants. Consistently, in all of four genes studied, the substitution rates of Omicron were higher than that of Delta variants, especially in the Spike and nsp12 genes. In addition, selective pressure analysis revealed several sites that were positively selected in particular genes, implying that these sites were functionally essential for virus evolution. In conclusion, our study demonstrated a distinct evolutionary pattern of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces, Indonesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Saifudin Hakim
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
| | - Gunadi
- Pediatric Surgery Division, Department of Surgery and Genetics Working Group/Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Ayu Rahayu
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Hendra Wibawa
- Disease Investigation Center Wates, Directorate General of Livestok Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Laudria Stella Eryvinka
- Pediatric Surgery Division, Department of Surgery and Genetics Working Group/Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Endah Supriyati
- Centre for Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Khanza Adzkia Vujira
- Pediatric Surgery Division, Department of Surgery and Genetics Working Group/Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Kristy Iskandar
- Department of Child Health and Genetics Working Group, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada/UGM Academic Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Afiahayati
- Department of Computer Science and Electronics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Edwin Widyanto Daniwijaya
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Farida Nur Oktoviani
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Luthvia Annisa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Fadila Dyah Trie Utami
- Pediatric Surgery Division, Department of Surgery and Genetics Working Group/Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Verrell Christopher Amadeus
- Pediatric Surgery Division, Department of Surgery and Genetics Working Group/Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Setiani Silvy Nurhidayah
- Pediatric Surgery Division, Department of Surgery and Genetics Working Group/Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Tiara Putri Leksono
- Pediatric Surgery Division, Department of Surgery and Genetics Working Group/Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Fiqih Vidiantoro Halim
- Pediatric Surgery Division, Department of Surgery and Genetics Working Group/Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Eggi Arguni
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada/Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Titik Nuryastuti
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Tri Wibawa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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16
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De Luca V, Angeli A, Nocentini A, Gratteri P, Pratesi S, Tanini D, Carginale V, Capperucci A, Supuran CT, Capasso C. Leveraging SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (M pro) for COVID-19 Mitigation with Selenium-Based Inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:971. [PMID: 38256046 PMCID: PMC10815619 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The implementation of innovative approaches is crucial in an ongoing endeavor to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. The present study examines the strategic application of the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (Mpro) as a prospective instrument in the repertoire to combat the virus. The cloning, expression, and purification of Mpro, which plays a critical role in the viral life cycle, through heterologous expression in Escherichia coli in a completely soluble form produced an active enzyme. The hydrolysis of a specific substrate peptide comprising a six-amino-acid sequence (TSAVLQ) linked to a p-nitroaniline (pNA) fragment together with the use of a fluorogenic substrate allowed us to determine effective inhibitors incorporating selenium moieties, such as benzoselenoates and carbamoselenoates. The new inhibitors revealed their potential to proficiently inhibit Mpro with IC50-s in the low micromolar range. Our study contributes to the development of a new class of protease inhibitors targeting Mpro, ultimately strengthening the antiviral arsenal against COVID-19 and possibly, related coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana De Luca
- Department of Biology, Agriculture and Food Sciences, National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.D.L.); (V.C.)
| | - Andrea Angeli
- Neurofarba Department, Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Section, Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Cheminformatics & QSAR, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy; (A.A.); (A.N.); (P.G.)
| | - Alessio Nocentini
- Neurofarba Department, Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Section, Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Cheminformatics & QSAR, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy; (A.A.); (A.N.); (P.G.)
| | - Paola Gratteri
- Neurofarba Department, Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Section, Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Cheminformatics & QSAR, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy; (A.A.); (A.N.); (P.G.)
| | - Silvia Pratesi
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia 3-13, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy (D.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Damiano Tanini
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia 3-13, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy (D.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Vincenzo Carginale
- Department of Biology, Agriculture and Food Sciences, National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.D.L.); (V.C.)
| | - Antonella Capperucci
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia 3-13, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy (D.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Claudiu T. Supuran
- Neurofarba Department, Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Section, Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Cheminformatics & QSAR, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy; (A.A.); (A.N.); (P.G.)
| | - Clemente Capasso
- Department of Biology, Agriculture and Food Sciences, National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.D.L.); (V.C.)
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17
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Song L, Gao S, Ye B, Yang M, Cheng Y, Kang D, Yi F, Sun JP, Menéndez-Arias L, Neyts J, Liu X, Zhan P. Medicinal chemistry strategies towards the development of non-covalent SARS-CoV-2 M pro inhibitors. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:87-109. [PMID: 38239241 PMCID: PMC10792984 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is an attractive target in anti-COVID-19 therapy for its high conservation and major role in the virus life cycle. The covalent Mpro inhibitor nirmatrelvir (in combination with ritonavir, a pharmacokinetic enhancer) and the non-covalent inhibitor ensitrelvir have shown efficacy in clinical trials and have been approved for therapeutic use. Effective antiviral drugs are needed to fight the pandemic, while non-covalent Mpro inhibitors could be promising alternatives due to their high selectivity and favorable druggability. Numerous non-covalent Mpro inhibitors with desirable properties have been developed based on available crystal structures of Mpro. In this article, we describe medicinal chemistry strategies applied for the discovery and optimization of non-covalent Mpro inhibitors, followed by a general overview and critical analysis of the available information. Prospective viewpoints and insights into current strategies for the development of non-covalent Mpro inhibitors are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letian Song
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Shenghua Gao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Shandong University, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Bing Ye
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Mianling Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yusen Cheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Dongwei Kang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Fan Yi
- The Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Jin-Peng Sun
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Luis Menéndez-Arias
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Autonomous University of Madrid), Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Johan Neyts
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Xinyong Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Peng Zhan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
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18
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Havranek B, Demissie R, Lee H, Lan S, Zhang H, Sarafianos SG, Jean-Luc Ayitou A, Islam SM. Discovery of Nirmatrelvir Resistance Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro: A Computational-Experimental Approach. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:7180-7188. [PMID: 37947496 PMCID: PMC10976418 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01269] [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] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the urgency for effective antiviral therapies against SARS-CoV-2. Targeting the main protease (3CLpro) of the virus has emerged as a promising approach, and nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332), the active component of Pfizer's oral drug Paxlovid, has demonstrated remarkable clinical efficacy. However, the emergence of resistance mutations poses a challenge to its continued success. In this study, we employed alchemical free energy perturbation (FEP) alanine scanning to identify nirmatrelvir-resistance mutations within SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. FEP identified several mutations, which were validated through in vitro IC50 experiments and found to result in 8- and 72-fold increases in nirmatrelvir IC50 values. Additionally, we constructed SARS-CoV-2 omicron replicons containing these mutations, and one of the mutants (S144A/E166A) displayed a 20-fold increase in EC50, confirming the role of FEP in identifying drug-resistance mutations. Our findings suggest that FEP can be a valuable tool in proactively monitoring the emergence of resistant strains and guiding the design of future inhibitors with reduced susceptibility to drug resistance. As nirmatrelvir is currently widely used for treating COVID-19, this research has important implications for surveillance efforts and antiviral development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Havranek
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
- ComputePharma, LLC., Chicago, IL, USA, 60607
| | - Robel Demissie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Biophysics Core at Research Resource Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Hyun Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Biophysics Core at Research Resource Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Shuiyun Lan
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Huanchun Zhang
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Stefan G. Sarafianos
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | | | - Shahidul M. Islam
- ComputePharma, LLC., Chicago, IL, USA, 60607
- Department of Chemistry, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, 19901, USA
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19
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Terbot JW, Cooper BS, Good JM, Jensen JD. A Simulation Framework for Modeling the Within-Patient Evolutionary Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad204. [PMID: 37950882 PMCID: PMC10664409 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The global impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to considerable interest in detecting novel beneficial mutations and other genomic changes that may signal the development of variants of concern (VOCs). The ability to accurately detect these changes within individual patient samples is important in enabling early detection of VOCs. Such genomic scans for rarely acting positive selection are best performed via comparison of empirical data with simulated data wherein commonly acting evolutionary factors, including mutation and recombination, reproductive and infection dynamics, and purifying and background selection, can be carefully accounted for and parameterized. Although there has been work to quantify these factors in SARS-CoV-2, they have yet to be integrated into a baseline model describing intrahost evolutionary dynamics. To construct such a baseline model, we develop a simulation framework that enables one to establish expectations for underlying levels and patterns of patient-level variation. By varying eight key parameters, we evaluated 12,096 different model-parameter combinations and compared them with existing empirical data. Of these, 592 models (∼5%) were plausible based on the resulting mean expected number of segregating variants. These plausible models shared several commonalities shedding light on intrahost SARS-CoV-2 evolutionary dynamics: severe infection bottlenecks, low levels of reproductive skew, and a distribution of fitness effects skewed toward strongly deleterious mutations. We also describe important areas of model uncertainty and highlight additional sequence data that may help to further refine a baseline model. This study lays the groundwork for the improved analysis of existing and future SARS-CoV-2 within-patient data.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Terbot
- School of Life Sciences, Center for Evolution & Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Brandon S Cooper
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Good
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Jensen
- School of Life Sciences, Center for Evolution & Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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20
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Thadani NN, Gurev S, Notin P, Youssef N, Rollins NJ, Ritter D, Sander C, Gal Y, Marks DS. Learning from prepandemic data to forecast viral escape. Nature 2023; 622:818-825. [PMID: 37821700 PMCID: PMC10599991 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06617-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Effective pandemic preparedness relies on anticipating viral mutations that are able to evade host immune responses to facilitate vaccine and therapeutic design. However, current strategies for viral evolution prediction are not available early in a pandemic-experimental approaches require host polyclonal antibodies to test against1-16, and existing computational methods draw heavily from current strain prevalence to make reliable predictions of variants of concern17-19. To address this, we developed EVEscape, a generalizable modular framework that combines fitness predictions from a deep learning model of historical sequences with biophysical and structural information. EVEscape quantifies the viral escape potential of mutations at scale and has the advantage of being applicable before surveillance sequencing, experimental scans or three-dimensional structures of antibody complexes are available. We demonstrate that EVEscape, trained on sequences available before 2020, is as accurate as high-throughput experimental scans at anticipating pandemic variation for SARS-CoV-2 and is generalizable to other viruses including influenza, HIV and understudied viruses with pandemic potential such as Lassa and Nipah. We provide continually revised escape scores for all current strains of SARS-CoV-2 and predict probable further mutations to forecast emerging strains as a tool for continuing vaccine development ( evescape.org ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole N Thadani
- Marks Group, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Gurev
- Marks Group, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Pascal Notin
- OATML Group, Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Noor Youssef
- Marks Group, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nathan J Rollins
- Marks Group, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Seismic Therapeutic, Watertown, MA, USA
| | - Daniel Ritter
- Marks Group, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chris Sander
- Marks Group, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yarin Gal
- OATML Group, Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Debora S Marks
- Marks Group, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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21
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Bloom JD, Neher RA. Fitness effects of mutations to SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Virus Evol 2023; 9:vead055. [PMID: 37727875 PMCID: PMC10506532 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vead055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of the fitness effects of mutations to SARS-CoV-2 can inform assessment of new variants, design of therapeutics resistant to escape, and understanding of the functions of viral proteins. However, experimentally measuring effects of mutations is challenging: we lack tractable lab assays for many SARS-CoV-2 proteins, and comprehensive deep mutational scanning has been applied to only two SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Here, we develop an approach that leverages millions of publicly available SARS-CoV-2 sequences to estimate effects of mutations. We first calculate how many independent occurrences of each mutation are expected to be observed along the SARS-CoV-2 phylogeny in the absence of selection. We then compare these expected observations to the actual observations to estimate the effect of each mutation. These estimates correlate well with deep mutational scanning measurements. For most genes, synonymous mutations are nearly neutral, stop-codon mutations are deleterious, and amino acid mutations have a range of effects. However, some viral accessory proteins are under little to no selection. We provide interactive visualizations of effects of mutations to all SARS-CoV-2 proteins (https://jbloomlab.github.io/SARS2-mut-fitness/). The framework we describe is applicable to any virus for which the number of available sequences is sufficiently large that many independent occurrences of each neutral mutation are observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D Bloom
- Basic Sciences and Computational Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, 3720 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Richard A Neher
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 41, Basel 4056, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne 1015, Switzerl
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22
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Hu Y, Lewandowski EM, Tan H, Zhang X, Morgan RT, Zhang X, Jacobs LMC, Butler SG, Gongora MV, Choy J, Deng X, Chen Y, Wang J. Naturally Occurring Mutations of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Confer Drug Resistance to Nirmatrelvir. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:1658-1669. [PMID: 37637734 PMCID: PMC10451032 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is the drug target of Pfizer's oral drug nirmatrelvir. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations in Mpro raised the alarm of potential drug resistance. To identify potential clinically relevant drug-resistant mutants, we systematically characterized 102 naturally occurring Mpro mutants located at 12 residues at the nirmatrelvir-binding site, among which 22 mutations in 5 residues, including S144M/F/A/G/Y, M165T, E166 V/G/A, H172Q/F, and Q192T/S/L/A/I/P/H/V/W/C/F, showed comparable enzymatic activity to the wild-type (kcat/Km < 10-fold change) while being resistant to nirmatrelvir (Ki > 10-fold increase). X-ray crystal structures were determined for six representative mutants with and/or without GC-376/nirmatrelvir. Using recombinant SARS-CoV-2 viruses generated from reverse genetics, we confirmed the drug resistance in the antiviral assay and showed that Mpro mutants with reduced enzymatic activity had attenuated viral replication. Overall, our study identified several drug-resistant hotspots in Mpro that warrant close monitoring for possible clinical evidence of nirmatrelvir resistance, some of which have already emerged in independent viral passage assays conducted by others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmei Hu
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Eric M. Lewandowski
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Haozhou Tan
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Xiaoming Zhang
- Department
Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, United States
- Oklahoma
Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, United States
| | - Ryan T. Morgan
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Xiujun Zhang
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Lian M. C. Jacobs
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Shane G. Butler
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Maura V. Gongora
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - John Choy
- Department
Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, the
Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, United States
| | - Xufang Deng
- Department
Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, United States
- Oklahoma
Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, United States
| | - Yu Chen
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Jun Wang
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, United States
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23
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Fink EA, Bardine C, Gahbauer S, Singh I, Detomasi TC, White K, Gu S, Wan X, Chen J, Ary B, Glenn I, O'Connell J, O'Donnell H, Fajtová P, Lyu J, Vigneron S, Young NJ, Kondratov IS, Alisoltani A, Simons LM, Lorenzo‐Redondo R, Ozer EA, Hultquist JF, O'Donoghue AJ, Moroz YS, Taunton J, Renslo AR, Irwin JJ, García‐Sastre A, Shoichet BK, Craik CS. Large library docking for novel SARS-CoV-2 main protease non-covalent and covalent inhibitors. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4712. [PMID: 37354015 PMCID: PMC10364469 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Antiviral therapeutics to treat SARS-CoV-2 are needed to diminish the morbidity of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A well-precedented drug target is the main viral protease (MPro ), which is targeted by an approved drug and by several investigational drugs. Emerging viral resistance has made new inhibitor chemotypes more pressing. Adopting a structure-based approach, we docked 1.2 billion non-covalent lead-like molecules and a new library of 6.5 million electrophiles against the enzyme structure. From these, 29 non-covalent and 11 covalent inhibitors were identified in 37 series, the most potent having an IC50 of 29 and 20 μM, respectively. Several series were optimized, resulting in low micromolar inhibitors. Subsequent crystallography confirmed the docking predicted binding modes and may template further optimization. While the new chemotypes may aid further optimization of MPro inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2, the modest success rate also reveals weaknesses in our approach for challenging targets like MPro versus other targets where it has been more successful, and versus other structure-based techniques against MPro itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa A. Fink
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Graduate Program in BiophysicsUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Conner Bardine
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Graduate Program in Chemistry and Chemical BiologyUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Stefan Gahbauer
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Isha Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Tyler C. Detomasi
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kris White
- Department of MicrobiologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Global Health and Emerging Pathogens InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Shuo Gu
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Xiaobo Wan
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Beatrice Ary
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Isabella Glenn
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Joseph O'Connell
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Henry O'Donnell
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of California‐San DiegoSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jiankun Lyu
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Seth Vigneron
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Nicholas J. Young
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ivan S. Kondratov
- Enamine Ltd.KyïvUkraine
- V.P. Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and PetrochemistryNational Academy of Sciences of UkraineKyïvUkraine
| | - Arghavan Alisoltani
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Lacy M. Simons
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Ramon Lorenzo‐Redondo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Egon A. Ozer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Judd F. Hultquist
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Anthony J. O'Donoghue
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of California‐San DiegoSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Yurii S. Moroz
- National Taras Shevchenko University of KyïvKyïvUkraine
- Chemspace LLCKyïvUkraine
| | - Jack Taunton
- Department of Cellular and Molecular PharmacologyUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Adam R. Renslo
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - John J. Irwin
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Adolfo García‐Sastre
- Department of MicrobiologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Global Health and Emerging Pathogens InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious DiseasesIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell‐Based MedicineIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- QBI COVID‐19 Research Group (QCRG)San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Brian K. Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- QBI COVID‐19 Research Group (QCRG)San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Charles S. Craik
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- QBI COVID‐19 Research Group (QCRG)San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
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24
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Terbot JW, Cooper BS, Good JM, Jensen JD. A simulation framework for modeling the within-patient evolutionary dynamics of SARS-CoV-2. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.13.548462. [PMID: 37503016 PMCID: PMC10370031 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.13.548462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The global impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to considerable interest in detecting novel beneficial mutations and other genomic changes that may signal the development of variants of concern (VOCs). The ability to accurately detect these changes within individual patient samples is important in enabling early detection of VOCs. Such genomic scans for positive selection are best performed via comparison of empirical data to simulated data wherein evolutionary factors, including mutation and recombination rates, reproductive and infection dynamics, and purifying and background selection, can be carefully accounted for and parameterized. While there has been work to quantify these factors in SARS-CoV-2, they have yet to be integrated into a baseline model describing intra-host evolutionary dynamics. To construct such a baseline model, we develop a simulation framework that enables one to establish expectations for underlying levels and patterns of patient-level variation. By varying eight key parameters, we evaluated 12,096 different model-parameter combinations and compared them to existing empirical data. Of these, 592 models (~5%) were plausible based on the resulting mean expected number of segregating variants. These plausible models shared several commonalities shedding light on intra-host SARS-CoV-2 evolutionary dynamics: severe infection bottlenecks, low levels of reproductive skew, and a distribution of fitness effects skewed towards strongly deleterious mutations. We also describe important areas of model uncertainty and highlight additional sequence data that may help to further refine a baseline model. This study lays the groundwork for the improved analysis of existing and future SARS-CoV-2 within-patient data.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Terbot
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Center for Evolution & Medicine, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- University of Montana, Division of Biological Sciences, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Brandon S. Cooper
- University of Montana, Division of Biological Sciences, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey M. Good
- University of Montana, Division of Biological Sciences, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey D. Jensen
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Center for Evolution & Medicine, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
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25
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Flynn JM, Huang QYJ, Zvornicanin SN, Schneider-Nachum G, Shaqra AM, Yilmaz NK, Moquin SA, Dovala D, Schiffer CA, Bolon DN. Systematic Analyses of the Resistance Potential of Drugs Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1372-1386. [PMID: 37390404 PMCID: PMC11161032 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Drugs that target the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 are effective therapeutics that have entered clinical use. Wide-scale use of these drugs will apply selection pressure for the evolution of resistance mutations. To understand resistance potential in Mpro, we performed comprehensive surveys of amino acid changes that can cause resistance to nirmatrelvir (Pfizer), and ensitrelvir (Xocova) in a yeast screen. We identified 142 resistance mutations for nirmatrelvir and 177 for ensitrelvir, many of which have not been previously reported. Ninety-nine mutations caused apparent resistance to both inhibitors, suggesting likelihood for the evolution of cross-resistance. The mutation with the strongest drug resistance score against nirmatrelvir in our study (E166V) was the most impactful resistance mutation recently reported in multiple viral passaging studies. Many mutations that exhibited inhibitor-specific resistance were consistent with the distinct interactions of each inhibitor in the substrate binding site. In addition, mutants with strong drug resistance scores tended to have reduced function. Our results indicate that strong pressure from nirmatrelvir or ensitrelvir will select for multiple distinct-resistant lineages that will include both primary resistance mutations that weaken interactions with drug while decreasing enzyme function and compensatory mutations that increase enzyme activity. The comprehensive identification of resistance mutations enables the design of inhibitors with reduced potential of developing resistance and aids in the surveillance of drug resistance in circulating viral populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M. Flynn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Qiu Yu J. Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Sarah N. Zvornicanin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Gila Schneider-Nachum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ala M. Shaqra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Nese Kurt Yilmaz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | | | - Dustin Dovala
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
| | - Celia A. Schiffer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Daniel N.A. Bolon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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26
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von Delft A, Hall MD, Kwong AD, Purcell LA, Saikatendu KS, Schmitz U, Tallarico JA, Lee AA. Accelerating antiviral drug discovery: lessons from COVID-19. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:585-603. [PMID: 37173515 PMCID: PMC10176316 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00692-8] [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] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a wave of rapid and collaborative drug discovery efforts took place in academia and industry, culminating in several therapeutics being discovered, approved and deployed in a 2-year time frame. This article summarizes the collective experience of several pharmaceutical companies and academic collaborations that were active in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antiviral discovery. We outline our opinions and experiences on key stages in the small-molecule drug discovery process: target selection, medicinal chemistry, antiviral assays, animal efficacy and attempts to pre-empt resistance. We propose strategies that could accelerate future efforts and argue that a key bottleneck is the lack of quality chemical probes around understudied viral targets, which would serve as a starting point for drug discovery. Considering the small size of the viral proteome, comprehensively building an arsenal of probes for proteins in viruses of pandemic concern is a worthwhile and tractable challenge for the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette von Delft
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute for Health Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Matthew D Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Alpha A Lee
- PostEra, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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27
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Chan HT, Oliveira ASF, Schofield CJ, Mulholland AJ, Duarte F. Dynamical Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics Simulations Identify Allosteric Sites and Positions Associated with Drug Resistance in the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. JACS AU 2023; 3:1767-1774. [PMID: 37384148 PMCID: PMC10262681 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) plays an essential role in the coronavirus lifecycle by catalyzing hydrolysis of the viral polyproteins at specific sites. Mpro is the target of drugs, such as nirmatrelvir, though resistant mutants have emerged that threaten drug efficacy. Despite its importance, questions remain on the mechanism of how Mpro binds its substrates. Here, we apply dynamical nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (D-NEMD) simulations to evaluate structural and dynamical responses of Mpro to the presence and absence of a substrate. The results highlight communication between the Mpro dimer subunits and identify networks, including some far from the active site, that link the active site with a known allosteric inhibition site, or which are associated with nirmatrelvir resistance. They imply that some mutations enable resistance by altering the allosteric behavior of Mpro. More generally, the results show the utility of the D-NEMD technique for identifying functionally relevant allosteric sites and networks including those relevant to resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. T.
Henry Chan
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - A. Sofia F. Oliveira
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
- School
of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Christopher J. Schofield
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Fernanda Duarte
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
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28
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Bloom JD, Neher RA. Fitness effects of mutations to SARS-CoV-2 proteins. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.30.526314. [PMID: 36778462 PMCID: PMC9915511 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.30.526314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of the fitness effects of mutations to SARS-CoV-2 can inform assessment of new variants, design of therapeutics resistant to escape, and understanding of the functions of viral proteins. However, experimentally measuring effects of mutations is challenging: we lack tractable lab assays for many SARS-CoV-2 proteins, and comprehensive deep mutational scanning has been applied to only two SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Here we develop an approach that leverages millions of publicly available SARS-CoV-2 sequences to estimate effects of mutations. We first calculate how many independent occurrences of each mutation are expected to be observed along the SARS-CoV-2 phylogeny in the absence of selection. We then compare these expected observations to the actual observations to estimate the effect of each mutation. These estimates correlate well with deep mutational scanning measurements. For most genes, synonymous mutations are nearly neutral, stop-codon mutations are deleterious, and amino-acid mutations have a range of effects. However, some viral accessory proteins are under little to no selection. We provide interactive visualizations of effects of mutations to all SARS-CoV-2 proteins (https://jbloomlab.github.io/SARS2-mut-fitness/). The framework we describe is applicable to any virus for which the number of available sequences is sufficiently large that many independent occurrences of each neutral mutation are observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D. Bloom
- Basic Sciences and Computational Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
| | - Richard A. Neher
- Biozentrum, University of Basel
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
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29
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Khadilkar A, Bunch ZL, Wagoner J, Ravindran V, Oda JM, Vidar WS, Clark TN, Manwill PK, Todd DA, Barr SA, Olinger LK, Fink SL, Strangman WK, Linington RG, MacMillan JB, Cech NB, Polyak SJ. Modulation of in Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Stephania tetrandra and Its Alkaloid Constituents. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2023; 86:1061-1073. [PMID: 37043739 PMCID: PMC10108733 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Botanical natural products have been widely consumed for their purported usefulness against COVID-19. Here, six botanical species from multiple sources and 173 isolated natural product compounds were screened for blockade of wild-type (WT) SARS-CoV-2 infection in human 293T epithelial cells overexpressing ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 protease (293TAT). Antiviral activity was demonstrated by an extract from Stephania tetrandra. Extract fractionation, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), antiviral assays, and computational analyses revealed that the alkaloid fraction and purified alkaloids tetrandrine, fangchinoline, and cepharanthine inhibited WT SARS-CoV-2 infection. The alkaloids and alkaloid fraction also inhibited the delta variant of concern but not WT SARS-CoV-2 in VeroAT cells. Membrane permeability assays demonstrate that the alkaloids are biologically available, although fangchinoline showed lower permeability than tetrandrine. At high concentrations, the extract, alkaloid fractions, and pure alkaloids induced phospholipidosis in 293TAT cells and less so in VeroAT cells. Gene expression profiling during virus infection suggested that alkaloid fraction and tetrandrine displayed similar effects on cellular gene expression and pathways, while fangchinoline showed distinct effects on cells. Our study demonstrates a multifaceted approach to systematically investigate the diverse activities conferred by complex botanical mixtures, their cell-context specificity, and their pleiotropic effects on biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aswad Khadilkar
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, Santa
Cruz, California 95964, United States
| | - Zoie L. Bunch
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina 27412, United States
| | - Jessica Wagoner
- Department
of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University
of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195,United States
| | - Vandana Ravindran
- Oslo
Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0313, Norway
| | - Jessica M. Oda
- Department
of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University
of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195,United States
| | - Warren S. Vidar
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina 27412, United States
| | - Trevor N. Clark
- Department
of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Preston K. Manwill
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina 27412, United States
| | - Daniel A. Todd
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina 27412, United States
| | - Sarah A. Barr
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403, United States
| | - Lauren K. Olinger
- Department
of Biology and Marine Biology, University
of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403, United States
| | - Susan L. Fink
- Department
of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University
of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195,United States
| | - Wendy K. Strangman
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403, United States
| | - Roger G. Linington
- Department
of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - John B. MacMillan
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, Santa
Cruz, California 95964, United States
| | - Nadja B. Cech
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina 27412, United States
| | - Stephen J. Polyak
- Department
of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University
of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195,United States
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30
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Terbot JW, Johri P, Liphardt SW, Soni V, Pfeifer SP, Cooper BS, Good JM, Jensen JD. Developing an appropriate evolutionary baseline model for the study of SARS-CoV-2 patient samples. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011265. [PMID: 37018331 PMCID: PMC10075409 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past 3 years, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread through human populations in several waves, resulting in a global health crisis. In response, genomic surveillance efforts have proliferated in the hopes of tracking and anticipating the evolution of this virus, resulting in millions of patient isolates now being available in public databases. Yet, while there is a tremendous focus on identifying newly emerging adaptive viral variants, this quantification is far from trivial. Specifically, multiple co-occurring and interacting evolutionary processes are constantly in operation and must be jointly considered and modeled in order to perform accurate inference. We here outline critical individual components of such an evolutionary baseline model-mutation rates, recombination rates, the distribution of fitness effects, infection dynamics, and compartmentalization-and describe the current state of knowledge pertaining to the related parameters of each in SARS-CoV-2. We close with a series of recommendations for future clinical sampling, model construction, and statistical analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Terbot
- University of Montana, Division of Biological Sciences, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Center for Evolution & Medicine, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Parul Johri
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Center for Evolution & Medicine, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Schuyler W Liphardt
- University of Montana, Division of Biological Sciences, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Vivak Soni
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Center for Evolution & Medicine, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Susanne P Pfeifer
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Center for Evolution & Medicine, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Brandon S Cooper
- University of Montana, Division of Biological Sciences, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey M Good
- University of Montana, Division of Biological Sciences, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey D Jensen
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Center for Evolution & Medicine, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
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31
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Pozzi C, Vanet A, Francesconi V, Tagliazucchi L, Tassone G, Venturelli A, Spyrakis F, Mazzorana M, Costi MP, Tonelli M. Antitarget, Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Leads, Drugs, and the Drug Discovery-Genetics Alliance Perspective. J Med Chem 2023; 66:3664-3702. [PMID: 36857133 PMCID: PMC10005815 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
The most advanced antiviral molecules addressing major SARS-CoV-2 targets (Main protease, Spike protein, and RNA polymerase), compared with proteins of other human pathogenic coronaviruses, may have a short-lasting clinical efficacy. Accumulating knowledge on the mechanisms underlying the target structural basis, its mutational progression, and the related biological significance to virus replication allows envisaging the development of better-targeted therapies in the context of COVID-19 epidemic and future coronavirus outbreaks. The identification of evolutionary patterns based solely on sequence information analysis for those targets can provide meaningful insights into the molecular basis of host-pathogen interactions and adaptation, leading to drug resistance phenomena. Herein, we will explore how the study of observed and predicted mutations may offer valuable suggestions for the application of the so-called "synthetic lethal" strategy to SARS-CoV-2 Main protease and Spike protein. The synergy between genetics evidence and drug discovery may prioritize the development of novel long-lasting antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Pozzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy,
University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena,
Italy
| | - Anne Vanet
- Université Paris Cité,
CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013 Paris,
France
| | - Valeria Francesconi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of
Genoa, viale Benedetto XV n.3, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Tagliazucchi
- Department of Life Science, University of
Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena,
Italy
- Doctorate School in Clinical and Experimental Medicine
(CEM), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287,
41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giusy Tassone
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy,
University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena,
Italy
| | - Alberto Venturelli
- Department of Life Science, University of
Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena,
Italy
| | - Francesca Spyrakis
- Department of Drug Science and Technology,
University of Turin, Via Giuria 9, 10125 Turin,
Italy
| | - Marco Mazzorana
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE,
U.K.
| | - Maria P. Costi
- Department of Life Science, University of
Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena,
Italy
| | - Michele Tonelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of
Genoa, viale Benedetto XV n.3, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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32
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Zvornicanin SN, Shaqra AM, Huang QJ, Ornelas E, Moghe M, Knapp M, Moquin S, Dovala D, Schiffer CA, Kurt Yilmaz N. Crystal Structures of Inhibitor-Bound Main Protease from Delta- and Gamma-Coronaviruses. Viruses 2023; 15:781. [PMID: 36992489 PMCID: PMC10059799 DOI: 10.3390/v15030781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
With the spread of SARS-CoV-2 throughout the globe causing the COVID-19 pandemic, the threat of zoonotic transmissions of coronaviruses (CoV) has become even more evident. As human infections have been caused by alpha- and beta-CoVs, structural characterization and inhibitor design mostly focused on these two genera. However, viruses from the delta and gamma genera also infect mammals and pose a potential zoonotic transmission threat. Here, we determined the inhibitor-bound crystal structures of the main protease (Mpro) from the delta-CoV porcine HKU15 and gamma-CoV SW1 from the beluga whale. A comparison with the apo structure of SW1 Mpro, which is also presented here, enabled the identification of structural arrangements upon inhibitor binding at the active site. The cocrystal structures reveal binding modes and interactions of two covalent inhibitors, PF-00835231 (active form of lufotrelvir) bound to HKU15, and GC376 bound to SW1 Mpro. These structures may be leveraged to target diverse coronaviruses and toward the structure-based design of pan-CoV inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N. Zvornicanin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ala M. Shaqra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Qiuyu J. Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Elizabeth Ornelas
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
| | - Mallika Moghe
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Mark Knapp
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
| | - Stephanie Moquin
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
| | - Dustin Dovala
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
| | - Celia A. Schiffer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Nese Kurt Yilmaz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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33
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Brier L, Hassan H, Hanoulle X, Landry V, Moschidi D, Desmarets L, Rouillé Y, Dumont J, Herledan A, Warenghem S, Piveteau C, Carré P, Ikherbane S, Cantrelle FX, Dupré E, Dubuisson J, Belouzard S, Leroux F, Deprez B, Charton J. Novel dithiocarbamates selectively inhibit 3CL protease of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 250:115186. [PMID: 36796300 PMCID: PMC9901219 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Since end of 2019, the global and unprecedented outbreak caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 led to dramatic numbers of infections and deaths worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 produces two large viral polyproteins which are cleaved by two cysteine proteases encoded by the virus, the 3CL protease (3CLpro) and the papain-like protease, to generate non-structural proteins essential for the virus life cycle. Both proteases are recognized as promising drug targets for the development of anti-coronavirus chemotherapy. Aiming at identifying broad spectrum agents for the treatment of COVID-19 but also to fight emergent coronaviruses, we focused on 3CLpro that is well conserved within this viral family. Here we present a high-throughput screening of more than 89,000 small molecules that led to the identification of a new chemotype, potent inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. The mechanism of inhibition, the interaction with the protease using NMR and X-Ray, the specificity against host cysteine proteases and promising antiviral properties in cells are reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucile Brier
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177 - Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Haitham Hassan
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177 - Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Xavier Hanoulle
- CNRS, EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Valerie Landry
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177 - Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US 41 - UAR 2014 - PLBS, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Danai Moschidi
- CNRS, EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Lowiese Desmarets
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 9017 - CIIL - Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Yves Rouillé
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 9017 - CIIL - Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Julie Dumont
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177 - Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US 41 - UAR 2014 - PLBS, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Adrien Herledan
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177 - Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US 41 - UAR 2014 - PLBS, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Sandrine Warenghem
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177 - Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US 41 - UAR 2014 - PLBS, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Catherine Piveteau
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177 - Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Paul Carré
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177 - Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US 41 - UAR 2014 - PLBS, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Sarah Ikherbane
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177 - Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US 41 - UAR 2014 - PLBS, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - François-Xavier Cantrelle
- CNRS, EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Elian Dupré
- CNRS, EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liées au vieillissement, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Jean Dubuisson
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 9017 - CIIL - Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Sandrine Belouzard
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 9017 - CIIL - Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Florence Leroux
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177 - Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, EGID, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US 41 - UAR 2014 - PLBS, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Benoit Deprez
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177 - Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, EGID, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US 41 - UAR 2014 - PLBS, F-59000, Lille, France.
| | - Julie Charton
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177 - Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, EGID, F-59000, Lille, France
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34
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The Substitutions L50F, E166A, and L167F in SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro Are Selected by a Protease Inhibitor In Vitro and Confer Resistance To Nirmatrelvir. mBio 2023; 14:e0281522. [PMID: 36625640 PMCID: PMC9973015 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02815-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro) has an indispensable role in the viral life cycle and is a therapeutic target for the treatment of COVID-19. The potential of 3CLpro-inhibitors to select for drug-resistant variants needs to be established. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 was passaged in vitro in the presence of increasing concentrations of ALG-097161, a probe compound designed in the context of a 3CLpro drug discovery program. We identified a combination of amino acid substitutions in 3CLpro (L50F E166A L167F) that is associated with a >20× increase in 50% effective concentration (EC50) values for ALG-097161, nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332), PF-00835231, and ensitrelvir. While two of the single substitutions (E166A and L167F) provide low-level resistance to the inhibitors in a biochemical assay, the triple mutant results in the highest levels of resistance (6× to 72×). All substitutions are associated with a significant loss of enzymatic 3CLpro activity, suggesting a reduction in viral fitness. Structural biology analysis indicates that the different substitutions reduce the number of inhibitor/enzyme interactions while the binding of the substrate is maintained. These observations will be important for the interpretation of resistance development to 3CLpro inhibitors in the clinical setting. IMPORTANCE Paxlovid is the first oral antiviral approved for treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antiviral treatments are often associated with the development of drug-resistant viruses. In order to guide the use of novel antivirals, it is essential to understand the risk of resistance development and to characterize the associated changes in the viral genes and proteins. In this work, we describe for the first time a pathway that allows SARS-CoV-2 to develop resistance against Paxlovid in vitro. The characteristics of in vitro antiviral resistance development may be predictive for the clinical situation. Therefore, our work will be important for the management of COVID-19 with Paxlovid and next-generation SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inhibitors.
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35
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Jochmans D, Liu C, Donckers K, Stoycheva A, Boland S, Stevens SK, De Vita C, Vanmechelen B, Maes P, Trüeb B, Ebert N, Thiel V, De Jonghe S, Vangeel L, Bardiot D, Jekle A, Blatt LM, Beigelman L, Symons JA, Raboisson P, Chaltin P, Marchand A, Neyts J, Deval J, Vandyck K. The Substitutions L50F, E166A, and L167F in SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro Are Selected by a Protease Inhibitor In Vitro and Confer Resistance To Nirmatrelvir. mBio 2023. [PMID: 36625640 DOI: 10.1101/2022.06.07.495116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro) has an indispensable role in the viral life cycle and is a therapeutic target for the treatment of COVID-19. The potential of 3CLpro-inhibitors to select for drug-resistant variants needs to be established. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 was passaged in vitro in the presence of increasing concentrations of ALG-097161, a probe compound designed in the context of a 3CLpro drug discovery program. We identified a combination of amino acid substitutions in 3CLpro (L50F E166A L167F) that is associated with a >20× increase in 50% effective concentration (EC50) values for ALG-097161, nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332), PF-00835231, and ensitrelvir. While two of the single substitutions (E166A and L167F) provide low-level resistance to the inhibitors in a biochemical assay, the triple mutant results in the highest levels of resistance (6× to 72×). All substitutions are associated with a significant loss of enzymatic 3CLpro activity, suggesting a reduction in viral fitness. Structural biology analysis indicates that the different substitutions reduce the number of inhibitor/enzyme interactions while the binding of the substrate is maintained. These observations will be important for the interpretation of resistance development to 3CLpro inhibitors in the clinical setting. IMPORTANCE Paxlovid is the first oral antiviral approved for treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antiviral treatments are often associated with the development of drug-resistant viruses. In order to guide the use of novel antivirals, it is essential to understand the risk of resistance development and to characterize the associated changes in the viral genes and proteins. In this work, we describe for the first time a pathway that allows SARS-CoV-2 to develop resistance against Paxlovid in vitro. The characteristics of in vitro antiviral resistance development may be predictive for the clinical situation. Therefore, our work will be important for the management of COVID-19 with Paxlovid and next-generation SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Jochmans
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology & Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cheng Liu
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kim Donckers
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology & Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Sarah K Stevens
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Chloe De Vita
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Bert Vanmechelen
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Clinical & Epidemiological Virology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Piet Maes
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Clinical & Epidemiological Virology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bettina Trüeb
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nadine Ebert
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Steven De Jonghe
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology & Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Vangeel
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology & Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Andreas Jekle
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | - Julian A Symons
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Patrick Chaltin
- CISTIM Leuven vzw, Leuven, Belgium
- Centre for Drug Design and Discovery (CD3), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Johan Neyts
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology & Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
- Global Virus Network (GVN), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jerome Deval
- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
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36
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Lan S, Neilsen G, Slack RL, Cantara WA, Castaner AE, Lorson ZC, Lulkin N, Zhang H, Lee J, Cilento ME, Tedbury PR, Sarafianos SG. Nirmatrelvir Resistance in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron_BA.1 and WA1 Replicons and Escape Strategies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2022.12.31.522389. [PMID: 36656782 PMCID: PMC9844013 DOI: 10.1101/2022.12.31.522389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The antiviral component of Paxlovid, nirmatrelvir (NIR), forms a covalent bond with Cys145 of SARS-CoV-2 nsp5. To explore NIR resistance we designed mutations to impair binding of NIR over substrate. Using 12 Omicron (BA.1) and WA.1 SARS-CoV-2 replicons, cell-based complementation and enzymatic assays, we showed that in both strains, E166V imparted high NIR resistance (∼55-fold), with major decrease in WA1 replicon fitness (∼20-fold), but not BA.1 (∼2-fold). WA1 replicon fitness was restored by L50F. These differences may contribute to a potentially lower barrier to resistance in Omicron than WA1. E166V is rare in untreated patients, albeit more prevalent in paxlovid-treated EPIC-HR clinical trial patients. Importantly, NIR-resistant replicons with E166V or E166V/L50F remained susceptible to a) the flexible GC376, and b) PF-00835231, which forms additional interactions. Molecular dynamics simulations show steric clashes between the rigid and bulky NIR t-butyl and β-branched V166 distancing the NIR warhead from its Cys145 target. In contrast, GC376, through "wiggling and jiggling" accommodates V166 and still covalently binds Cys145. PF-00835231 uses its strategically positioned methoxy-indole to form a β-sheet and overcome E166V. Drug design based on strategic flexibility and main chain-targeting may help develop second-generation nsp5-targeting antivirals efficient against NIR-resistant viruses.
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37
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Zhou Y, Gammeltoft KA, Ryberg LA, Pham LV, Tjørnelund HD, Binderup A, Duarte Hernandez CR, Fernandez-Antunez C, Offersgaard A, Fahnøe U, Peters GHJ, Ramirez S, Bukh J, Gottwein JM. Nirmatrelvir-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants with high fitness in an infectious cell culture system. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd7197. [PMID: 36542720 PMCID: PMC9770952 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add7197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The oral protease inhibitor nirmatrelvir is of key importance for prevention of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To facilitate resistance monitoring, we studied severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) escape from nirmatrelvir in cell culture. Resistant variants harbored combinations of substitutions in the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). Reverse genetics revealed that E166V and L50F + E166V conferred high resistance in infectious culture, replicon, and Mpro systems. While L50F, E166V, and L50F + E166V decreased replication and Mpro activity, L50F and L50F + E166V variants had high fitness in the infectious system. Naturally occurring L50F compensated for fitness cost of E166V and promoted viral escape. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that E166V and L50F + E166V weakened nirmatrelvir-Mpro binding. Polymerase inhibitor remdesivir and monoclonal antibody bebtelovimab retained activity against nirmatrelvir-resistant variants, and combination with nirmatrelvir enhanced treatment efficacy compared to individual compounds. These findings have implications for monitoring and ensuring treatments with efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 and emerging sarbecoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyong Zhou
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital–Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karen Anbro Gammeltoft
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital–Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Line Abildgaard Ryberg
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital–Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Long V. Pham
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital–Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Alekxander Binderup
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital–Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carlos Rene Duarte Hernandez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital–Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carlota Fernandez-Antunez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital–Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Offersgaard
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital–Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Fahnøe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital–Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Santseharay Ramirez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital–Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital–Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Judith Margarete Gottwein
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital–Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Corresponding author.
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Zhou Y, Gammeltoft KA, Ryberg LA, Pham LV, Tjørnelund HD, Binderup A, Duarte Hernandez CR, Fernandez-Antunez C, Offersgaard A, Fahnøe U, Peters GHJ, Ramirez S, Bukh J, Gottwein JM. Nirmatrelvir-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants with high fitness in an infectious cell culture system. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd7197. [PMID: 36542720 DOI: 10.1101/2022.06.06.494921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The oral protease inhibitor nirmatrelvir is of key importance for prevention of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To facilitate resistance monitoring, we studied severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) escape from nirmatrelvir in cell culture. Resistant variants harbored combinations of substitutions in the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). Reverse genetics revealed that E166V and L50F + E166V conferred high resistance in infectious culture, replicon, and Mpro systems. While L50F, E166V, and L50F + E166V decreased replication and Mpro activity, L50F and L50F + E166V variants had high fitness in the infectious system. Naturally occurring L50F compensated for fitness cost of E166V and promoted viral escape. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that E166V and L50F + E166V weakened nirmatrelvir-Mpro binding. Polymerase inhibitor remdesivir and monoclonal antibody bebtelovimab retained activity against nirmatrelvir-resistant variants, and combination with nirmatrelvir enhanced treatment efficacy compared to individual compounds. These findings have implications for monitoring and ensuring treatments with efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 and emerging sarbecoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyong Zhou
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karen Anbro Gammeltoft
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Line Abildgaard Ryberg
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Long V Pham
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Alekxander Binderup
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carlos Rene Duarte Hernandez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carlota Fernandez-Antunez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Offersgaard
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Fahnøe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Santseharay Ramirez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Judith Margarete Gottwein
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Parigger L, Krassnigg A, Schopper T, Singh A, Tappler K, Köchl K, Hetmann M, Gruber K, Steinkellner G, Gruber CC. Recent changes in the mutational dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease substantiate the danger of emerging resistance to antiviral drugs. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1061142. [PMID: 36590977 PMCID: PMC9794616 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1061142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The current coronavirus pandemic is being combated worldwide by nontherapeutic measures and massive vaccination programs. Nevertheless, therapeutic options such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main-protease (Mpro) inhibitors are essential due to the ongoing evolution toward escape from natural or induced immunity. While antiviral strategies are vulnerable to the effects of viral mutation, the relatively conserved Mpro makes an attractive drug target: Nirmatrelvir, an antiviral targeting its active site, has been authorized for conditional or emergency use in several countries since December 2021, and a number of other inhibitors are under clinical evaluation. We analyzed recent SARS-CoV-2 genomic data, since early detection of potential resistances supports a timely counteraction in drug development and deployment, and discovered accelerated mutational dynamics of Mpro since early December 2021. Methods We performed a comparative analysis of 10.5 million SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences available by June 2022 at GISAID to the NCBI reference genome sequence NC_045512.2. Amino-acid exchanges within high-quality regions in 69,878 unique Mpro sequences were identified and time- and in-depth sequence analyses including a structural representation of mutational dynamics were performed using in-house software. Results The analysis showed a significant recent event of mutational dynamics in Mpro. We report a remarkable increase in mutational variability in an eight-residue long consecutive region (R188-G195) near the active site since December 2021. Discussion The increased mutational variability in close proximity to an antiviral-drug binding site as described herein may suggest the onset of the development of antiviral resistance. This emerging diversity urgently needs to be further monitored and considered in ongoing drug development and lead optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Parigger
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | | | - Amit Singh
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Katharina Tappler
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Michael Hetmann
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
| | - Karl Gruber
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Georg Steinkellner
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Christian C. Gruber
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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Saldivar-Espinoza B, Macip G, Garcia-Segura P, Mestres-Truyol J, Puigbò P, Cereto-Massagué A, Pujadas G, Garcia-Vallve S. Prediction of Recurrent Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Using Artificial Neural Networks. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314683. [PMID: 36499005 PMCID: PMC9736107 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Predicting SARS-CoV-2 mutations is difficult, but predicting recurrent mutations driven by the host, such as those caused by host deaminases, is feasible. We used machine learning to predict which positions from the SARS-CoV-2 genome will hold a recurrent mutation and which mutations will be the most recurrent. We used data from April 2021 that we separated into three sets: a training set, a validation set, and an independent test set. For the test set, we obtained a specificity value of 0.69, a sensitivity value of 0.79, and an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.8, showing that the prediction of recurrent SARS-CoV-2 mutations is feasible. Subsequently, we compared our predictions with updated data from January 2022, showing that some of the false positives in our prediction model become true positives later on. The most important variables detected by the model's Shapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) are the nucleotide that mutates and RNA reactivity. This is consistent with the SARS-CoV-2 mutational bias pattern and the preference of some host deaminases for specific sequences and RNA secondary structures. We extend our investigation by analyzing the mutations from the variants of concern Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Omicron. Finally, we analyzed amino acid changes by looking at the predicted recurrent mutations in the M-pro and spike proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Saldivar-Espinoza
- Research Group in Cheminformatics & Nutrition, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Campus de Sescelades, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Guillem Macip
- Research Group in Cheminformatics & Nutrition, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Campus de Sescelades, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Pol Garcia-Segura
- Research Group in Cheminformatics & Nutrition, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Campus de Sescelades, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Júlia Mestres-Truyol
- Research Group in Cheminformatics & Nutrition, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Campus de Sescelades, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Pere Puigbò
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20500 Turku, Finland
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Rovira i Virgili University, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- Nutrition and Health Unit, Eurecat Technology Centre of Catalonia, 43204 Reus, Spain
| | - Adrià Cereto-Massagué
- EURECAT Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, Centre for Omic Sciences (COS), Joint Unit Universitat Rovira i Virgili-EURECAT, Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS), 43204 Reus, Spain
| | - Gerard Pujadas
- Research Group in Cheminformatics & Nutrition, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Campus de Sescelades, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Santiago Garcia-Vallve
- Research Group in Cheminformatics & Nutrition, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Campus de Sescelades, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- Correspondence:
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Wagoner J, Herring S, Hsiang TY, Ianevski A, Biering SB, Xu S, Hoffmann M, Pöhlmann S, Gale M, Aittokallio T, Schiffer JT, White JM, Polyak SJ. Combinations of Host- and Virus-Targeting Antiviral Drugs Confer Synergistic Suppression of SARS-CoV-2. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0333122. [PMID: 36190406 PMCID: PMC9718484 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03331-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Three directly acting antivirals (DAAs) demonstrated substantial reduction in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in clinical trials. However, these agents did not completely prevent severe illness and are associated with cases of rebound illness and viral shedding. Combination regimens can enhance antiviral potency, reduce the emergence of drug-resistant variants, and lower the dose of each component in the combination. Concurrently targeting virus entry and virus replication offers opportunities to discover synergistic drug combinations. While combination antiviral drug treatments are standard for chronic RNA virus infections, no antiviral combination therapy has been approved for SARS-CoV-2. Here, we demonstrate that combining host-targeting antivirals (HTAs) that target TMPRSS2 and hence SARS-CoV-2 entry, with the DAA molnupiravir, which targets SARS-CoV-2 replication, synergistically suppresses SARS-CoV-2 infection in Calu-3 lung epithelial cells. Strong synergy was observed when molnupiravir, an oral drug, was combined with three TMPRSS2 (HTA) oral or inhaled inhibitors: camostat, avoralstat, or nafamostat. The combination of camostat plus molnupiravir was also effective against the beta and delta variants of concern. The pyrimidine biosynthesis inhibitor brequinar combined with molnupiravir also conferred robust synergistic inhibition. These HTA+DAA combinations had similar potency to the synergistic all-DAA combination of molnupiravir plus nirmatrelvir, the protease inhibitor found in paxlovid. Pharmacodynamic modeling allowed estimates of antiviral potency at all possible concentrations of each agent within plausible therapeutic ranges, suggesting possible in vivo efficacy. The triple combination of camostat, brequinar, and molnupiravir further increased antiviral potency. These findings support the development of HTA+DAA combinations for pandemic response and preparedness. IMPORTANCE Imagine a future viral pandemic where if you test positive for the new virus, you can quickly take some medicines at home for a few days so that you do not get too sick. To date, only single drugs have been approved for outpatient use against SARS-CoV-2, and we are learning that these have some limitations and may succumb to drug resistance. Here, we show that combinations of two oral drugs are better than the single ones in blocking SARS-CoV-2, and we use mathematical modeling to show that these drug combinations are likely to work in people. We also show that a combination of three oral drugs works even better at eradicating the virus. Our findings therefore bode well for the development of oral drug cocktails for at home use at the first sign of an infection by a coronavirus or other emerging viral pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Wagoner
- Virology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Shawn Herring
- Virology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Tien-Ying Hsiang
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Aleksandr Ianevski
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Scott B. Biering
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California—Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Shuang Xu
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Gale
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Tero Aittokallio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Joshua T. Schiffer
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Disease, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Judith M. White
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Stephen J. Polyak
- Virology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Iketani S, Hong SJ, Sheng J, Bahari F, Culbertson B, Atanaki FF, Aditham AK, Kratz AF, Luck MI, Tian R, Goff SP, Montazeri H, Sabo Y, Ho DD, Chavez A. Functional map of SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease reveals tolerant and immutable sites. Cell Host Microbe 2022; 30:1354-1362.e6. [PMID: 36029764 PMCID: PMC9365866 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease (3CLpro) is an attractive therapeutic target, as it is essential to the virus and highly conserved among coronaviruses. However, our current understanding of its tolerance to mutations is limited. Here, we develop a yeast-based deep mutational scanning approach to systematically profile the activity of all possible single mutants of the 3CLpro and validate a subset of our results within authentic viruses. We reveal that the 3CLpro is highly malleable and is capable of tolerating mutations throughout the protein. Yet, we also identify specific residues that appear immutable, suggesting that these may be targets for future 3CLpro inhibitors. Finally, we utilize our screening as a basis to identify E166V as a resistance-conferring mutation against the clinically used 3CLpro inhibitor, nirmatrelvir. Collectively, the functional map presented herein may serve as a guide to better understand the biological properties of the 3CLpro and for drug development against coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Iketani
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seo Jung Hong
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jenny Sheng
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Farideh Bahari
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bruce Culbertson
- Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Fereshteh Fallah Atanaki
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arjun K Aditham
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexander F Kratz
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria I Luck
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ruxiao Tian
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen P Goff
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hesam Montazeri
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yosef Sabo
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - David D Ho
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alejandro Chavez
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
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Fang FF. As the virus evolves, so too must we: a drug developer's perspective : We need a new paradigm in searching for next-generation countermeasures. Virol J 2022; 19:159. [PMID: 36217145 PMCID: PMC9549815 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-022-01887-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been raging globally for over 2 years with no end in sight. It has become clear that this virus possesses enormous genetic plasticity, and it will not be eradicated. Under increasing selective pressure from population immunity, the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has driven it towards greater infectivity, and evasion of humoral and cellular immunity. Omicron and its expanding army of subvariants and recombinants have impaired vaccine protection and made most antibody drugs obsolete. Antiviral drugs, though presently effective, may select for more resistant strains over time. It may be inevitable, then, that future SARS-CoV-2 variants will be immune to our current virus-directed countermeasures. Thus, to gain control over the virus, we need to adopt a new paradigm in searching for next-generation countermeasures and develop host-directed therapeutics (HDTx) and host-directed antivirals (HDA). Different from the virus-directed countermeasures, HDTx and HDA may offer variant agnostic treatment to reduce the risk and severity of infections. In addition, they may exert more uniform effects against the genetically diverse SARS-CoV-2 quasispecies, thereby diminishing the risk of selecting resistant variants. Some promising HDTx and HDA approaches are summarized here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Flora Fang
- Abimmune Biopharma, Inc., P.O. Box 8793, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, 92037, USA.
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Ou J, Lewandowski EM, Hu Y, Lipinski AA, Morgan RT, Jacobs LM, Zhang X, Bikowitz MJ, Langlais P, Tan H, Wang J, Chen Y, Choy JS. A yeast-based system to study SARS-CoV-2 Mpro structure and to identify nirmatrelvir resistant mutations. RESEARCH SQUARE 2022:rs.3.rs-1942964. [PMID: 36052369 PMCID: PMC9435405 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1942964/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is a major therapeutic target. The Mpro inhibitor, nirmatrelvir, is the antiviral component of Paxlovid, an orally available treatment for COVID-19. As Mpro inhibitor use increases, drug resistant mutations will likely emerge. We have established a non-pathogenic system, in which yeast growth serves as a proxy for Mpro activity, enabling rapid identification of mutants with altered enzymatic activity and drug sensitivity. The E166 residue is known to be a potential hot spot for drug resistance and yeast assays showed that an E166R substitution conferred strong nirmatrelvir resistance while an E166N mutation compromised activity. On the other hand, N142A and P132H mutations caused little to no change in drug response and activity. Standard enzymatic assays confirmed the yeast results. In turn, we solved the structures of Mpro E166R, and Mpro E166N, providing insights into how arginine may drive drug resistance while asparagine leads to reduced activity. The work presented here will help characterize novel resistant variants of Mpro that may arise as Mpro antivirals become more widely used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Ou
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, United States
| | - Eric M. Lewandowski
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
| | - Yanmei Hu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, United States
| | - Austin A. Lipinski
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Ryan T. Morgan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
| | - Lian M.C. Jacobs
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
- Drug Discovery Department, Moffit Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Xiujun Zhang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
| | - Melissa J. Bikowitz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
| | - Paul Langlais
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Haozhou Tan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, United States
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, United States
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
| | - John S. Choy
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, United States
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Ou J, Lewandowski EM, Hu Y, Lipinski AA, Morgan RT, Jacobs LM, Zhang X, Bikowitz MJ, Langlais P, Tan H, Wang J, Chen Y, Choy JS. A yeast-based system to study SARS-CoV-2 M pro structure and to identify nirmatrelvir resistant mutations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.08.06.503039. [PMID: 35982672 PMCID: PMC9387140 DOI: 10.1101/2022.08.06.503039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M pro ) is a major therapeutic target. The M pro inhibitor, nirmatrelvir, is the antiviral component of Paxlovid, an orally available treatment for COVID-19. As M pro inhibitor use increases, drug resistant mutations will likely emerge. We have established a non-pathogenic system, in which yeast growth serves as a proxy for M pro activity, enabling rapid identification of mutants with altered enzymatic activity and drug sensitivity. The E166 residue is known to be a potential hot spot for drug resistance and yeast assays showed that an E166R substitution conferred strong nirmatrelvir resistance while an E166N mutation compromised activity. On the other hand, N142A and P132H mutations caused little to no change in drug response and activity. Standard enzymatic assays confirmed the yeast results. In turn, we solved the structures of M pro E166R, and M pro E166N, providing insights into how arginine may drive drug resistance while asparagine leads to reduced activity. The work presented here will help characterize novel resistant variants of M pro that may arise as M pro antivirals become more widely used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Ou
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, United States
| | - Eric M. Lewandowski
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
| | - Yanmei Hu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, United States
| | - Austin A. Lipinski
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Ryan T. Morgan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
| | - Lian M.C. Jacobs
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
- Drug Discovery Department, Moffit Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Xiujun Zhang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
| | - Melissa J. Bikowitz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
| | - Paul Langlais
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Haozhou Tan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, United States
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, United States
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
| | - John S. Choy
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, United States
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Weinreich DM. Developing evolution-resistant drugs for COVID-19. eLife 2022; 11:81334. [PMID: 35880850 PMCID: PMC9322998 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Analyzing how mutations affect the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 may help researchers develop drugs that are effective against current and future variants of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Weinreich
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, United States.,Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, United States
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