1
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Diakou KI, Mitsis T, Pierouli K, Papakonstantinou E, Bongcam-Rudloff E, Wayengera M, Vlachakis D. Ebola Virus Disease and Current Therapeutic Strategies: A Review. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1339:131-137. [PMID: 35023100 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-78787-5_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The Ebola virus disease is a severe hemorrhagic fever that affects humans and other primates. Ebola virus, the causative agent of the disease, is transmitted to humans from wild animals and is highly contagious and aggressive with an estimated fatality rate to be around 50%. Since 1976, 11 outbreaks of Ebola virus disease have been reported in total, affecting mostly sub-Saharan Africa, while the most recent ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has more than 3000 reported cases and 72 deaths. Although an effective vaccine against Ebola virus disease has become available, no targeted treatment with proven efficacy upon infection is developed. Herein, we review the epidemiology of Ebola virus and the current situation in terms of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalliopi Io Diakou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Thanasis Mitsis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Pierouli
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Papakonstantinou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Erik Bongcam-Rudloff
- SLU-Global Bioinformatics Centre, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics Science, University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Misaki Wayengera
- Department of Pathology, Unit of Genetics & Genomics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- DarkDNA Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Lab of Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Department of Informatics, Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, King's College London, Strand, London, UK.
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2
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Muller YD, Ferreira LMR, Ronin E, Ho P, Nguyen V, Faleo G, Zhou Y, Lee K, Leung KK, Skartsis N, Kaul AM, Mulder A, Claas FHJ, Wells JA, Bluestone JA, Tang Q. Precision Engineering of an Anti-HLA-A2 Chimeric Antigen Receptor in Regulatory T Cells for Transplant Immune Tolerance. Front Immunol 2021; 12:686439. [PMID: 34616392 PMCID: PMC8488356 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.686439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Infusion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) engineered with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting donor-derived human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is a promising strategy to promote transplant tolerance. Here, we describe an anti-HLA-A2 CAR (A2-CAR) generated by grafting the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of a human monoclonal anti-HLA-A2 antibody into the framework regions of the Herceptin 4D5 single-chain variable fragment and fusing it with a CD28-ζ signaling domain. The CDR-grafted A2-CAR maintained the specificity of the original antibody. We then generated HLA-A2 mono-specific human CAR Tregs either by deleting the endogenous T-cell receptor (TCR) via CRISPR/Cas9 and introducing the A2-CAR using lentiviral transduction or by directly integrating the CAR construct into the TCR alpha constant locus using homology-directed repair. These A2-CAR+TCRdeficient human Tregs maintained both Treg phenotype and function in vitro. Moreover, they selectively accumulated in HLA-A2-expressing islets transplanted from either HLA-A2 transgenic mice or deceased human donors. A2-CAR+TCRdeficient Tregs did not impair the function of these HLA-A2+ islets, whereas similarly engineered A2-CAR+TCRdeficientCD4+ conventional T cells rejected the islets in less than 2 weeks. A2-CAR+TCRdeficient Tregs delayed graft-versus-host disease only in the presence of HLA-A2, expressed either by co-transferred peripheral blood mononuclear cells or by the recipient mice. Altogether, we demonstrate that genome-engineered mono-antigen-specific A2-CAR Tregs localize to HLA-A2-expressing grafts and exhibit antigen-dependent in vivo suppression, independent of TCR expression. These approaches may be applied towards developing precision Treg cell therapies for transplant tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick D Muller
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Leonardo M R Ferreira
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Emilie Ronin
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Patrick Ho
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Vinh Nguyen
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Gaetano Faleo
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Karim Lee
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Kevin K Leung
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Nikolaos Skartsis
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Anupurna M Kaul
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Arend Mulder
- Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Frans H J Claas
- Department of Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - James A Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jeffrey A Bluestone
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Qizhi Tang
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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3
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Vlachakis D, Papakonstantinou E, Mitsis T, Pierouli K, Diakou I, Chrousos G, Bacopoulou F. Molecular mechanisms of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and potential anti-COVID19 pharmacological targets since the outbreak of the pandemic. Food Chem Toxicol 2020; 146:111805. [PMID: 33038452 PMCID: PMC7543766 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2020.111805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as a severe threat against public health and global economies. COVID-19, the disease caused by this virus, is highly contagious and has led to an ongoing pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 affects, mainly, the respiratory system, with most severe cases primarily showcasing acute respiratory distress syndrome. Currently, no targeted therapy exists, and since the number of infections and death toll keeps rising, it has become a necessity to study possible therapeutic targets. Antiviral drugs can target various stages of the viral infection, and in the case of SARS-CoV-2, both structural and non-structural proteins have been proposed as potential drug targets. This review focuses on the most researched SARS-CoV-2 proteins, their structure, function, and possible therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Athens, 11855, Greece; University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, 8 Levadias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece; Lab of Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens, 11527, Greece; Department of Informatics, Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Eleni Papakonstantinou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Athens, 11855, Greece
| | - Thanasis Mitsis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Athens, 11855, Greece
| | - Katerina Pierouli
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Athens, 11855, Greece
| | - Io Diakou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Athens, 11855, Greece
| | - George Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, 8 Levadias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece; Lab of Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens, 11527, Greece
| | - Flora Bacopoulou
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, 8 Levadias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece.
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4
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Integrated structural and functional analysis of the protective effects of kinetin against oxidative stress in mammalian cellular systems. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13330. [PMID: 32770053 PMCID: PMC7414151 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70253-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolism and signaling of cytokinins was first established in plants, followed by cytokinin discoveries in all kingdoms of life. However, understanding of their role in mammalian cells is still scarce. Kinetin is a cytokinin that mitigates the effects of oxidative stress in mammalian cells. The effective concentrations of exogenously applied kinetin in invoking various cellular responses are not well standardized. Likewise, the metabolism of kinetin and its cellular targets within the mammalian cells are still not well studied. Applying vitality tests as well as comet assays under normal and hyper-oxidative states, our analysis suggests that kinetin concentrations of 500 nM and above cause cytotoxicity as well as genotoxicity in various cell types. However, concentrations below 100 nM do not cause any toxicity, rather in this range kinetin counteracts oxidative burst and cytotoxicity. We focus here on these effects. To get insights into the cellular targets of kinetin mediating these pro-survival functions and protective effects we applied structural and computational approaches on two previously testified targets for these effects. Our analysis deciphers vital residues in adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) and adenosine receptor (A2A-R) that facilitate the binding of kinetin to these two important human cellular proteins. We finally discuss how the therapeutic potential of kinetin against oxidative stress helps in various pathophysiological conditions.
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5
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Papageorgiou L, Papakonstantinou E, Salis C, Polychronidou E, Hagidimitriou M, Maroulis D, Eliopoulos E, Vlachakis D. Drugena: A Fully Automated Immunoinformatics Platform for the Design of Antibody-Drug Conjugates Against Neurodegenerative Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1194:203-215. [PMID: 32468536 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32622-7_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies are proteins that are the first line of defense in the adaptive immune response of vertebrates. Thereby, they are involved in a multitude of biochemical mechanisms and clinical manifestations with significant medical interest, such as autoimmunity, the regulation of infection, and cancer. An emerging field in antibody science that is of huge medicinal interest is the development of novel antibody-interacting drugs. Such entities are the antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which are a new type of targeted therapy, which consist of an antibody linked to a payload drug. Overall, the underlying principle of ADCs is the discerning delivery of a drug to a target, hoping to increase the potency of the original drug. Drugena suite is a pioneering platform that employs state-of-the-art computational biology methods in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases using ADCs. Drugena encompasses an up-to-date structural database of specialized antibodies for neurological disorders and the NCI database with over 96 million entities for the in silico development of ADCs. The pipeline of the Drugena suite has been divided into several steps and modules that are closely related with a synergistic fashion under a user-friendly graphical user interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Papageorgiou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Papakonstantinou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Constantinos Salis
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Marianna Hagidimitriou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Maroulis
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Elias Eliopoulos
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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6
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Raftopoulou S, Nicolaides NC, Papageorgiou L, Amfilochiou A, Zakinthinos SG, George P, Eliopoulos E, Chrousos GP, Vlachakis D. Structural Study of the DNA: Clock/Bmal1 Complex Provides Insights for the Role of Cortisol, hGR, and HPA Axis in Stress Management and Sleep Disorders. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1195:59-71. [PMID: 32468460 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32633-3_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we deploy an in silico pipeline of structural bioinformatics, thermodynamics, and molecular dynamics to investigate the role of cortisol in circadian rhythms, biorhythms, stress response, and even sleep disorders. Our study shows that high concentrations of cortisol intercalate in the minor groove of DNA. This phenomenon widens the adjacent major grooves and provides the Clock/Bmal1 complex with more space to dock and interact with DNA. Then, the strong charges of cortisol pull the alpha helices of the Clock/Bmal1 complex and bend it inward, thus establishing stronger interactions and prolonged signaling. Our results indicate that elevated cortisol levels play an important role in stress, inflammation, and sleep disorders as a result of prolonged and stronger dsDNA - Clock/Bmal1 interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Raftopoulou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Affidea Healthcare Company, Athens, Greece
| | - Nicolas C Nicolaides
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Louis Papageorgiou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Amfilochiou
- Sismanoglio General Hospital of Attica, Respiratory Function & Sleep Study Unit, Marousi, Greece
| | - Spyros G Zakinthinos
- Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Evangelismos Hospital, Medical School of Athens University, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Elias Eliopoulos
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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7
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Papageorgiou L, Maroulis D, Chrousos GP, Eliopoulos E, Vlachakis D. Antibody Clustering Using a Machine Learning Pipeline that Fuses Genetic, Structural, and Physicochemical Properties. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1194:41-58. [PMID: 32468522 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32622-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Antibody V domain clustering is of paramount importance to a repertoire of immunology-related areas. Although several approaches have been proposed for antibody clustering, still no consensus has been reached. Numerous attempts use information from genes, protein sequences, 3D structures, and 3D surfaces in an effort to elucidate unknown action mechanisms directly related to their function and to either link them directly to diseases or drive the discovery of new medicines, such as antibody drug conjugates (ADC). Herein, we describe a new V domain antibody clustering method based on the comparison of the interaction sites between each antibody and its antigen. A more specific clustering analysis of the antibody's V domain was provided using deep learning and data mining techniques. The multidimensional information was extracted from the structural resolved antibodies when they were captured to interact with other proteins. The available 3D structures of protein antigen-antibody (Ag-Ab) interfaces contain information about how antibody V domains recognize antigens as well as about which amino acids are involved in the recognition. As such, the antibody surface holds information about antigens' folding that reside with the Ab-Ag interface residues and how they interact. In order to gain insight into the nature of such interactions, we propose a new simple philosophy to transform the conserved framework (fragment regions, complementarity-determining regions) of antibody V domain in a binary form using structural features of antibody-antigen interactions, toward identifying new antibody signatures in V domain binding activity. Finally, an advanced three-level hybrid classification scheme has been set for clustering antibodies in subgroups, which can combine the information from the protein sequences, the three-dimensional structures, and specific "key patterns" of recognized interactions. The clusters provide multilevel information about antibodies and antibody-antigen complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Papageorgiou
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Maroulis
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Elias Eliopoulos
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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8
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Olive Oil Polyphenols in Neurodegenerative Pathologies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1195:77-91. [PMID: 32468462 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32633-3_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases lead to the death of nerve cells in the brain or the spinal cord. A wide range of diseases are included within the group of neurodegenerative disorders, with the most common ones being dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases. Millions of older people are suffering from such pathologies. The global increase of life expectancy unavoidably leads to a consequent increase in the number of people who will be at some degree affected by neurodegenerative-related diseases. At this moment, there is no effective therapy or treatment that can reverse the loss of neurons. A growing number of studies highlight the value of the consumption of medical foods, and in particular olive oil, as one of the most important components of the Mediterranean diet. A diet based on extra virgin olive oil seems to contribute toward the lowering of risk of age-related pathologies due to high phenol concentration. The link of a polyphenol found in extra virgin olive oil, namely, tyrosol, with the protein tyrosinase, associated to Parkinson's disease is underlined as a paradigm of affiliation between polyphenols and neurodegenerative disorders.
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9
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Yellow Fever: Integrating Current Knowledge with Technological Innovations to Identify Strategies for Controlling a Re-Emerging Virus. Viruses 2019; 11:v11100960. [PMID: 31627415 PMCID: PMC6832525 DOI: 10.3390/v11100960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Yellow fever virus (YFV) represents a re-emerging zoonotic pathogen, transmitted by mosquito vectors to humans from primate reservoirs. Sporadic outbreaks of YFV occur in endemic tropical regions, causing a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) associated with high mortality rates. Despite a highly effective vaccine, no antiviral treatments currently exist. Therefore, YFV represents a neglected tropical disease and is chronically understudied, with many aspects of YFV biology incompletely defined including host range, host–virus interactions and correlates of host immunity and pathogenicity. In this article, we review the current state of YFV research, focusing on the viral lifecycle, host responses to infection, species tropism and the success and associated limitations of the YFV-17D vaccine. In addition, we highlight the current lack of available treatments and use publicly available sequence and structural data to assess global patterns of YFV sequence diversity and identify potential drug targets. Finally, we discuss how technological advances, including real-time epidemiological monitoring of outbreaks using next-generation sequencing and CRISPR/Cas9 modification of vector species, could be utilized in future battles against this re-emerging pathogen which continues to cause devastating disease.
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10
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Venkataraman S, Prasad BVLS, Selvarajan R. RNA Dependent RNA Polymerases: Insights from Structure, Function and Evolution. Viruses 2018; 10:v10020076. [PMID: 29439438 PMCID: PMC5850383 DOI: 10.3390/v10020076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is one of the most versatile enzymes of RNA viruses that is indispensable for replicating the genome as well as for carrying out transcription. The core structural features of RdRps are conserved, despite the divergence in their sequences. The structure of RdRp resembles that of a cupped right hand and consists of fingers, palm and thumb subdomains. The catalysis involves the participation of conserved aspartates and divalent metal ions. Complexes of RdRps with substrates, inhibitors and metal ions provide a comprehensive view of their functional mechanism and offer valuable insights regarding the development of antivirals. In this article, we provide an overview of the structural aspects of RdRps and their complexes from the Group III, IV and V viruses and their structure-based phylogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangita Venkataraman
- Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar, Guntur 522510, India.
| | - Burra V L S Prasad
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Manesar, Gurgaon 122413, India.
| | - Ramasamy Selvarajan
- ICAR National Research Centre for Banana, Thayanur Post, Tiruchirapalli 620102, India.
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11
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Mechanism and structural diversity of exoribonuclease-resistant RNA structures in flaviviral RNAs. Nat Commun 2018; 9:119. [PMID: 29317714 PMCID: PMC5760640 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02604-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses such as Yellow fever, Dengue, West Nile, and Zika generate disease-linked viral noncoding RNAs called subgenomic flavivirus RNAs. Subgenomic flavivirus RNAs result when the 5'-3' progression of cellular exoribonuclease Xrn1 is blocked by RNA elements called Xrn1-resistant RNAs located within the viral genome's 3'-untranslated region that operate without protein co-factors. Here, we show that Xrn1-resistant RNAs can halt diverse exoribonucleases, revealing a mechanism in which they act as general mechanical blocks that 'brace' against an enzyme's surface, presenting an unfolding problem that confounds further enzyme progression. Further, we directly demonstrate that Xrn1-resistant RNAs exist in a diverse set of flaviviruses, including some specific to insects or with no known arthropod vector. These Xrn1-resistant RNAs comprise two secondary structural classes that mirror previously reported phylogenic analysis. Our discoveries have implications for the evolution of exoribonuclease resistance, the use of Xrn1-resistant RNAs in synthetic biology, and the development of new therapies.
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12
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Papageorgiou L, Vlachakis C, Dragoumani K, Raftopoulou S, Brouzas D, Nicolaides NC, Chrousos GP, Charmandari E, Megalooikonomou V, Vlachakis D. HCV genetics and genotypes dictate future antiviral strategies. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOCHEMISTRY 2017; 6:33-40. [PMID: 29387656 PMCID: PMC5788192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
At the end of the 1980s, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) was cloned and formally identified as the cause of the majority of non-A and non-B hepatitis cases. Today, around 170 million people worldwide are infected with HCV, making it five times more common than infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Several methods exist which mediate the spread of infection. One of the most common and efficient is sharing or re-using injecting equipment; studies have indicated that 80-90% of individuals in some populations of intravenous drug users test positive in serum HCV assays. Contracting HCV from infected blood transfusions was also a major cause of infection before screening tests were introduced in the early 1990s. Other possible, but less common, methods of infection transmission include mother-to-child during pregnancy, sexual contact and nosocomial acquisition (for example between surgical or dialysis patients). It appears that concurrent HIV-1 infection increases the risk of HCV transmission via the mother-to-child or sexual routes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Papageorgiou
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University Campus, Athens 15784, Greece
- Department of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, M. Assias Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Chrisanthy Vlachakis
- Clinical Dietitian-Nutritionist, PhD, Harokopio University, Kallithea, Attica, Greece
| | | | - Sofia Raftopoulou
- Sotiria Chest Diseases Hospital,152, Mesogion Av., Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Brouzas
- 1 Department of Ophthalmology, University of Athens, 154, Mesogion Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Nicolas C Nicolaides
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Saudi Diabetes Study Research Group, King Fahd Center for Medical Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Evangelia Charmandari
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasileios Megalooikonomou
- Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, School of Engineering, University of Patras, Patras 26500, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, School of Engineering, University of Patras, Patras 26500, Greece
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855, Athens, Greece
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13
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Papageorgiou L, Loukatou S, Sofia K, Maroulis D, Vlachakis D. An updated evolutionary study of Flaviviridae NS3 helicase and NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase reveals novel invariable motifs as potential pharmacological targets. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2017; 12:2080-93. [PMID: 26864387 DOI: 10.1039/c5mb00706b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The rate of Flaviviridae family virus infections worldwide has increased dramatically in the last few years. In addition, infections caused by arthropod vector viruses including Hepatitis C, West Nile, Dengue fever, Yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis are emerging throughout the world. Based on a recent taxon update, the Flaviviridae family comprises four main genera; Flavivirus, Hepacivirus, Pestivirus and a recent genus Pegivirus. Although the new scientific classification plays a key role in providing useful information about the relationships between viruses, many new documented viruses remain unclassified. Furthermore, based on the different results of several studies the classification is unclear. In an effort to provide more insights into the classification of viruses, a holistic evolutionary study of the two viral enzymes NS3 helicase and NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) has been conducted in this study. These two viral enzymes are very crucial for the inhibition of viruses due to the fact that they are involved in the survival, proliferation and transmission of viruses. The main goal of this study is the presentation of two novel updated phylogenetic trees of the enzymes NS3 helicase and NS5 RdRp as a reliable phylogeny "map" to correlate the information of the closely related viruses and identify new possible targets for the Flaviviridae family virus inhibition. Despite the earliest trials for drugs against Flaviviridae related viruses, no antiviral drug vaccine has been available to date. Therefore there is an urgent need for research towards the development of efficient antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Papageorgiou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece. and Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University Campus, Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Styliani Loukatou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece.
| | - Kossida Sofia
- IMGT®, The International ImMunoGeneTics Information System®, Universite de Montpellier, Laboratoire d'ImmunoGenetique Moleculaire LIGM, UPR CNRS 1142, Institut de Genetique Humaine, 141 rue de la Cardonille, Montpellier, 34396 Cedex 5, France
| | - Dimitrios Maroulis
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University Campus, Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece.
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14
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Papageorgiou L, Megalooikonomou V, Vlachakis D. Genetic and structural study of DNA-directed RNA polymerase II of Trypanosoma brucei, towards the designing of novel antiparasitic agents. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3061. [PMID: 28265521 PMCID: PMC5335688 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei brucei (TBB) belongs to the unicellular parasitic protozoa organisms, specifically to the Trypanosoma genus of the Trypanosomatidae class. A variety of different vertebrate species can be infected by TBB, including humans and animals. Under particular conditions, the TBB can be hosted by wild and domestic animals; therefore, an important reservoir of infection always remains available to transmit through tsetse flies. Although the TBB parasite is one of the leading causes of death in the most underdeveloped countries, to date there is neither vaccination available nor any drug against TBB infection. The subunit RPB1 of the TBB DNA-directed RNA polymerase II (DdRpII) constitutes an ideal target for the design of novel inhibitors, since it is instrumental role is vital for the parasite’s survival, proliferation, and transmission. A major goal of the described study is to provide insights for novel anti-TBB agents via a state-of-the-art drug discovery approach of the TBB DdRpII RPB1. In an attempt to understand the function and action mechanisms of this parasite enzyme related to its molecular structure, an in-depth evolutionary study has been conducted in parallel to the in silico molecular designing of the 3D enzyme model, based on state-of-the-art comparative modelling and molecular dynamics techniques. Based on the evolutionary studies results nine new invariant, first-time reported, highly conserved regions have been identified within the DdRpII family enzymes. Consequently, those patches have been examined both at the sequence and structural level and have been evaluated in regard to their pharmacological targeting appropriateness. Finally, the pharmacophore elucidation study enabled us to virtually in silico screen hundreds of compounds and evaluate their interaction capabilities with the enzyme. It was found that a series of chlorine-rich set of compounds were the optimal inhibitors for the TBB DdRpII RPB1 enzyme. All-in-all, herein we present a series of new sites on the TBB DdRpII RPB1 of high pharmacological interest, alongside the construction of the 3D model of the enzyme and the suggestion of a new in silico pharmacophore model for fast screening of potential inhibiting agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Papageorgiou
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece; Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, University of Patras, Patra, Greece
| | | | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece; Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, University of Patras, Patra, Greece
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15
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Teixeira M, Sela N, Ng J, Casteel CL, Peng HC, Bekal S, Girke T, Ghanim M, Kaloshian I. A novel virus from Macrosiphum euphorbiae with similarities to members of the family Flaviviridae. J Gen Virol 2016; 97:1261-1271. [PMID: 26822322 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A virus with a large genome was identified in the transcriptome of the potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) and was named Macrosiphum euphorbiae virus 1 (MeV-1). The MeV-1 genome is 22 780 nt in size, including 3' and 5' non-coding regions, with a single large ORF encoding a putative polyprotein of 7333 aa. The C-terminal region of the predicted MeV-1 polyprotein contained sequences with similarities to helicase, methyltransferase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) motifs, while the N-terminal region lacked any motifs including structural proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of the helicase placed MeV-1 close to pestiviruses, while the RdRp region placed it close to pestiviruses and flaviviruses, suggesting MeV-1 has a positive-polarity ssRNA genome and is a member of the family Flaviviridae. Since the MeV-1 genome is predicted to contain a methyltransferase, a gene present typically in flaviviruses but not pestiviruses, MeV-1 is likely a member of the genus Flavivirus. MeV-1 was present in nymphal and adult stages of the aphid, aphid saliva and plant tissues fed upon by aphids. However, the virus was unable to multiply and spread in tomato plants. In addition, dsRNA, the replication intermediate of RNA viruses, was isolated from virus-infected M. euphorbiae and not from tomato plants infested with the aphid. Furthermore, nymphs laid without exposure to infected plants harboured the virus, indicating that MeV-1 is an aphid-infecting virus likely transmitted transovarially. The virus was present in M. euphorbiae populations from Europe but not from North America and was absent in all other aphid species tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Teixeira
- Department of Nematology,University of California, Riverside, California,USA
| | - Noa Sela
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research,Volcani Center, Bet Dagan,Israel
| | - James Ng
- Plant Pathology and Microbiology,University of California, Riverside, California,USA.,Institute of Integrative Genome Biology,University of California, Riverside, California,USA
| | - Clare L Casteel
- Department of Plant Pathology,University of California, Davis, California,USA
| | - Hsuan-Chieh Peng
- Plant Pathology and Microbiology,University of California, Riverside, California,USA
| | - Sadia Bekal
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering,University of Illinois, Urbana, IL,USA
| | - Thomas Girke
- Institute of Integrative Genome Biology,University of California, Riverside, California,USA.,Department of Botany and Plant Sciences,University of California, Riverside, California,USA
| | - Murad Ghanim
- Department of Entomology,Volcani Center, Bet Dagan,Israel
| | - Isgouhi Kaloshian
- Institute of Integrative Genome Biology,University of California, Riverside, California,USA.,Department of Nematology,University of California, Riverside, California,USA
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16
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Bencurova E, Kovac A, Pulzova L, Gyuranecz M, Mlynarcik P, Mucha R, Vlachakis D, Kossida S, Flachbartova Z, Bhide M. Deciphering the protein interaction in adhesion of Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica to the endothelial cells. Microb Pathog 2015; 81:6-15. [PMID: 25769821 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2015.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular form of Francisella is able to cross various cell barriers and invade multiple organs, such as skin, liver, lung and central nervous system. Transient adhesion of Francisella to endothelial cells may trigger the process of translocation. In this report, we showed that Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica (Fth) is able to adhere to the endothelial cells, while ICAM-1 may serve as an adhesion molecule for Fth. Pull down and affinity ligand binding assays indicated that the PilE4 could be the probable ligand for ICAM-1. Further deciphering of this ligand:receptor interaction revealed that PilE4 interacts with Ig-like C2-type 1 domain of ICAM-1. To corroborate the role of PilE4 and ICAM-1 interaction in adhesion of extracellular form of Fth to endothelial cells, ICAM-1 was blocked with monoclonal anti-ICAM-1 antibody prior to the incubation with Fth and numbers of adherent bacteria were counted. Blocking of the ICAM-1 significantly reduced (500-fold, P < 0.05) number of adherent Fth compared to unblocked cells. PilE4:ICAM-1 interaction unfolded here may provide a new perspective on molecules involved in the adhesion of extracellular form of Francisella to endothelial cells and probably its translocation across endothelial barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Bencurova
- Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Andrej Kovac
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Pulzova
- Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Miklós Gyuranecz
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1581 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Patrik Mlynarcik
- Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Rastislav Mucha
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Sophia Kossida
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Zuzana Flachbartova
- Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Mangesh Bhide
- Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia; Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia.
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17
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Unzippers, resolvers and sensors: a structural and functional biochemistry tale of RNA helicases. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:2269-93. [PMID: 25622248 PMCID: PMC4346836 DOI: 10.3390/ijms16022269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Revised: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The centrality of RNA within the biological world is an irrefutable fact that currently attracts increasing attention from the scientific community. The panoply of functional RNAs requires the existence of specific biological caretakers, RNA helicases, devoted to maintain the proper folding of those molecules, resolving unstable structures. However, evolution has taken advantage of the specific position and characteristics of RNA helicases to develop new functions for these proteins, which are at the interface of the basic processes for transference of information from DNA to proteins. RNA helicases are involved in many biologically relevant processes, not only as RNA chaperones, but also as signal transducers, scaffolds of molecular complexes, and regulatory elements. Structural biology studies during the last decade, founded in X-ray crystallography, have characterized in detail several RNA-helicases. This comprehensive review summarizes the structural knowledge accumulated in the last two decades within this family of proteins, with special emphasis on the structure-function relationships of the most widely-studied families of RNA helicases: the DEAD-box, RIG-I-like and viral NS3 classes.
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18
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Vlachakis D, Fakourelis P, Megalooikonomou V, Makris C, Kossida S. DrugOn: a fully integrated pharmacophore modeling and structure optimization toolkit. PeerJ 2015; 3:e725. [PMID: 25648563 PMCID: PMC4304849 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 12/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During the past few years, pharmacophore modeling has become one of the key components in computer-aided drug design and in modern drug discovery. DrugOn is a fully interactive pipeline designed to exploit the advantages of modern programming and overcome the command line barrier with two friendly environments for the user (either novice or experienced in the field of Computer Aided Drug Design) to perform pharmacophore modeling through an efficient combination of the PharmACOphore, Gromacs, Ligbuilder and PDB2PQR suites. Our platform features a novel workflow that guides the user through each logical step of the iterative 3D structural optimization setup and drug design process. For the pharmacophore modeling we are focusing on either the characteristics of the receptor or the full molecular system, including a set of selected ligands. DrugOn can be freely downloaded from our dedicated server system at www.bioacademy.gr/bioinformatics/drugon/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Paraskevas Fakourelis
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | | | - Christos Makris
- Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Sophia Kossida
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,IMGT, Laboratoire d'ImmunoGénétique Moléculaire, Institut de Génétique Humaine, Montpellier, France
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19
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Papageorgiou L, Loukatou S, Koumandou VL, Makałowski W, Megalooikonomou V, Vlachakis D, Kossida S. Structural models for the design of novel antiviral agents against Greek Goat Encephalitis. PeerJ 2014; 2:e664. [PMID: 25392762 PMCID: PMC4226726 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Greek Goat Encephalitis virus (GGE) belongs to the Flaviviridae family of the genus Flavivirus. The GGE virus constitutes an important pathogen of livestock that infects the goat’s central nervous system. The viral enzymes of GGE, helicase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), are ideal targets for inhibitor design, since those enzymes are crucial for the virus’ survival, proliferation and transmission. In an effort to understand the molecular structure underlying the functions of those viral enzymes, the three dimensional structures of GGE NS3 helicase and NS5 RdRP have been modelled. The models were constructed in silico using conventional homology modelling techniques and the known 3D crystal structures of solved proteins from closely related species as templates. The established structural models of the GGE NS3 helicase and NS5 RdRP have been evaluated for their viability using a repertoire of in silico tools. The goal of this study is to present the 3D conformations of the GGE viral enzymes as reliable structural models that could provide the platform for the design of novel anti-GGE agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Papageorgiou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece ; Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Styliani Loukatou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Vassiliki Lila Koumandou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | | | | | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Sophia Kossida
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece
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20
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Vlachakis D, Bencurova E, Papangelopoulos N, Kossida S. Current state-of-the-art molecular dynamics methods and applications. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2014; 94:269-313. [PMID: 24629189 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800168-4.00007-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulations are used to describe the patterns, strength, and properties of protein behavior, drug-receptor interactions, the solvation of molecules, the conformational changes that a protein or molecule may undergo under various conditions, and other events that require the systematic evaluation of molecular properties in dynamic molecular systems. Only few years ago proteins were considered to be rigid body structures with very limited conformational flexibility. However, it is now clear that proteins are highly dynamic structures, the internal organization of which is the key to their 3D spatial arrangement and hence biological function. The study of protein dynamics in the lab is a very complicated, expensive, and time-consuming process. Therefore, a lot of effort and hope lies with the computers and the in silico study of protein structure and molecular dynamics. Herein, an effort has been made to describe the ever-evolving field of molecular dynamics, the different algorithms, and force fields that are being used as well as to provide some insight on what the near future holds for this auspicious field of computational structural biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Elena Bencurova
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece; Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Nikitas Papangelopoulos
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sophia Kossida
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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21
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Vlachakis D, Tsaniras SC, Ioannidou K, Papageorgiou L, Baumann M, Kossida S. A series of Notch3 mutations in CADASIL; insights from 3D molecular modelling and evolutionary analyses. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOCHEMISTRY 2014; 3:134. [PMID: 31799216 PMCID: PMC6887539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
CADASIL disease belongs to the group of rare diseases. It is well established that the Notch3 protein is primarily responsible for the development of CADASIL syndrome. Herein, we attempt to shed light to the actual molecular mechanism underlying CADASIL via insights that we have from preliminary in silico and proteomics studies on the Notch3 protein. At the moment, we are aware of a series of Notch3 point mutations that promote CADASIL. In this direction, we investigate the nature, extent, physicochemical and structural significance of the mutant species in an effort to identify the underlying mechanism of Notch3 role and implications in cell signal transduction. Overall, our in silico study has revealed a rather complex molecular mechanism of Notch3 on the structural level; depending of the nature and position of each mutation, a consensus significant loss of beta-sheet structure is observed throughout all in silico modeled mutant/wild type biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Katerina Ioannidou
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
| | - Louis Papageorgiou
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Marc Baumann
- Protein Chemistry/Proteomics Unit, Biomedicum Helsinki, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, Finland
| | - Sophia Kossida
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
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22
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Vlachakis D, Kossida S. Molecular modeling and pharmacophore elucidation study of the Classical Swine Fever virus helicase as a promising pharmacological target. PeerJ 2013; 1:e85. [PMID: 23781407 PMCID: PMC3685396 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2013] [Accepted: 05/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Classical Swine Fever virus (CSFV) is a major pathogen of livestock and belongs to the flaviviridae viral family. Even though there aren’t any verified zoonosis cases yet, the outcomes of CSFV epidemics have been devastating to local communities. In an effort to shed light to the molecular mechanisms underlying the structural and drug design potential of the viral helicase, the three dimensional structure of CSFV helicase has been modeled using conventional homology modeling techniques and the crystal structure of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a template. The established structure of the CSFV helicase has been in silico evaluated for its viability using a repertoire of in silico tools. The ultimate goal of this study is to introduce the 3D conformation of the CSFV helicase as a reliable structure that may be used as the designing platform for de novo, structure-based drug design experiments. In this direction using the modeled structure of CSVF helicase, a 3D pharmacophore was designed. The pharmacophore comprises of a series of key characteristics that molecular inhibitors must satisfy in order to achieve maximum predicted affinity for the given enzyme. Overall, invaluable insights and conclusions are drawn from this structural study of the CSFV helicase, which may provide the scientific community with the founding plinth in the fight against CSFV infections through the perspective of the CSFV helicase as a potential pharmacological target. Notably, to date no antiviral agent is available against the CSFV nor is expected soon. Subsequently, there is urgent need for new modern and state-of-the-art antiviral strategies to be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation , Academy of Athens, Athens , Greece
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