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Baei B, Askari P, Askari FS, Kiani SJ, Mohebbi A. Pharmacophore modeling and QSAR analysis of anti-HBV flavonols. PLoS One 2025; 20:e0316765. [PMID: 39804828 PMCID: PMC11730388 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 12/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2025] Open
Abstract
Due to its global burden, Targeting Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in humans is crucial. Herbal medicine has long been significant, with flavonoids demonstrating promising results. Hence, the present study aimed to establish a way of identifying flavonoids with anti-HBV activities. Flavonoid structures with anti-HBV activities were retrieved. A flavonol-based pharmacophore model was established using LigandScout v4.4. Screening was performed using the PharmIt server. A QSAR equation was developed and validated with independent sets of compounds. The applicability domain (AD) was defined using Euclidean distance calculations for model validation. The best model, consisting of 57 features, was generated. High-throughput screening (HTS) using the flavonol-based model resulted in 509 unique hits. The model's accuracy was further validated using a set of FDA-approved chemicals, demonstrating a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 100%. Additionally, the QSAR model with two predictors, x4a and qed, exhibited predictive solid performance with an adjusted-R2 value of 0.85 and 0.90 of Q2. PCA showed essential patterns and relationships within the dataset, with the first two components explaining nearly 98% of the total variance. Current HBV therapies tend to fail to provide a complete cure, emphasizing the need for new therapies. This study's importance was to highlight flavonols as potential anti-HBV medicines, presenting a supplementary option for existing therapy. The QSAR model has been validated with two separate chemical sets, guaranteeing its reproducibility and usefulness for other flavonols by utilizing the predictive characteristics of X4A and qed. These results provide new possibilities for discovering future anti-HBV drugs by integrating modeling and experimental research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basireh Baei
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Parnia Askari
- Department of Life and Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Seyed Jalal Kiani
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Mohebbi
- Vista Aria Rena Gene Inc., Gorgan, Golestan, Iran
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Naderi M, Salavatiha Z, Gogoi U, Mohebbi A. An overview of anti-Hepatitis B virus flavonoids and their mechanisms of action. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1356003. [PMID: 38487354 PMCID: PMC10937540 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1356003] [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: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Flavonoids, a diverse group of polyphenolic compounds found in various plant-based foods, have garnered attention for their potential in combating Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection. Flavonoids have demonstrated promising anti-HBV activities by interfering with multiple stages of the HBV life cycle, making them promising candidates for novel antiviral agents. Certain plant families, such as Theaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Gentianaceae, are of particular interest for their flavonoid-rich members with anti-HBV activities. Evidences, both in vitro and in vivo, supports the anti-HBV potential of flavonoids. These subsets of compound exert their anti-HBV effects through various mechanisms, including inhibiting viral entry, disrupting viral replication, modulating transcription factors, enhancing the immune response, and inducing autophagy. The antioxidant properties of flavonoids play a crucial role in modulating oxidative stress associated with HBV infection. Several flavonoids like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), proanthocyanidin (PAC), hexamethoxyflavone, wogonin, and baicalin have shown significant anti-HBV potential, holding promise as therapeutic agents. Synergistic effects between flavonoids and existing antiviral therapies offer a promising approach to enhance antiviral efficacy and reduce drug resistance. Challenges, including limited bioavailability, translation from preclinical studies to clinical practice, and understanding precise targets, need to be addressed. Future research should focus on clinical trials, combination therapies, and the development of flavonoid derivatives with improved bioavailability, and optimizing their effectiveness in managing chronic HBV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malihe Naderi
- Department of Microbiology & Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Salavatiha
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Urvashee Gogoi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
| | - Alireza Mohebbi
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Vista Aria Rena Gene Inc., Gorgan, Golestan, Iran
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Mohebbi A, Ghorbanzadeh T, Naderifar S, Khalaj F, Askari FS, Sammak AS. A fragment-based drug discovery developed on ciclopirox for inhibition of Hepatitis B virus core protein: An in silico study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285941. [PMID: 37196004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein is an attractive target for preventing capsid assembly and viral replication. Drug repurposing strategies have introduced several drugs targeting HBV core protein. This study used a fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) approach to reconstruct a repurposed core protein inhibitor to some novel antiviral derivatives. Auto Core Fragment in silico Screening (ACFIS) server was used for deconstruction-reconstruction of Ciclopirox in complex with HBV core protein. The Ciclopirox derivatives were ranked based on their free energy of binding (ΔGB). A quantitative structure affinity relationship (QSAR) was established on the Ciclopirox derivatives. The model was validated by a Ciclopirox-property-matched decoy set. A principal component analysis (PCA) was also assessed to define the relationship of the predictive variable of the QSAR model. 24-derivatives with a ΔGB (-16.56±1.46 Kcal.mol-1) more than Ciclopirox was highlighted. A QSAR model with a predictive power of 88.99% (F-statistics = 9025.78, corrected df(25), Pr > F = 0.0001) was developed by four predictive descriptors (ATS1p, nCs, Hy, F08[C-C]). The model validation showed no predictive power for the decoy set (Q2 = 0). No significant correlation was observed between predictors. By directly attaching to the core protein carboxyl-terminal domain, Ciclopirox derivatives may be able to suppress HBV virus assembly and subsequent viral replication inhibition. Hydrophobic residue Phe23 is a critical amino acid in the ligand binding domain. These ligands share the same physicochemical properties that lead to the development of a robust QSAR mode. The same strategy may also be used for future drug discovery of viral inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Mohebbi
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Vista Aria Rena Gene Inc., Golestan Province, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Touba Ghorbanzadeh
- Department of Microbiology, Tehran North Branch, Islamic Azad University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shabnam Naderifar
- Department of Biotechnology, Brandenburg Technology University, Senftenberg, Germany
| | - Fattaneh Khalaj
- Liver and Pancreatobiliary Diseases Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Digestive Diseases Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ali Salehnia Sammak
- Department of Microbiology, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran
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Zou W, Qian F, Jin F, Li D, Chen J. Characterization of mutations in the reverse transcriptase region of hepatitis B virus in treated and untreated chronic hepatitis B patients. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2021; 115:870-877. [PMID: 33236067 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa142] [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: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The reverse transcriptase (RT) region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the target of antiviral treatment. However, the discrepancy in RT mutations between nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-treated and -untreated chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients is un clear. METHODS Serum samples were collected from 119 NA-treated and 135 NA-untreated patients. The sampling time was decided by the clinician. Full-length HBV RT regions were amplified using nest polymerase chain reaction. The mutations within the RT region were analysed by direct sequencing. RESULTS The incidence of RT mutations in treated patients was higher than that in untreated patients (p<0.05). The classic drug-resistant mutations were detected in 44.5% (53/119) of treated patients, which was significantly higher than in untreated patients (6.7% [9/135]) (p<0.05). The non-classical mutations showed their complexity and diversity in both patient groups. Multiple mutations (three or more) were more frequent in treated patients than in untreated patients (p<0.05). Several novel mutations might be related to NA resistance. CONCLUSIONS The selection pressures of NAs accelerated the development of RT mutations, especially within the functional domain. Mutations in the RT region occurred not only at classical sites, but also at other non-classical sites, which might be related to drug resistance and/or viral replication. The biological function and fitness of HBV isolates harbouring these novel mutations need further in vitro and in vivo verification experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Zou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Central Hospital Huzhou University, 1558 Sanhuan North Road, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Fuchu Qian
- Department of Precision Medicine, Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Central Hospital Huzhou University, 1558 Sanhuan North Road, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,Huzhou Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, 1558 Sanhuan North Road, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Fang Jin
- Department of Precision Medicine, Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Central Hospital Huzhou University, 1558 Sanhuan North Road, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,Huzhou Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, 1558 Sanhuan North Road, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Dongli Li
- Department of Precision Medicine, Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Central Hospital Huzhou University, 1558 Sanhuan North Road, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,Huzhou Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, 1558 Sanhuan North Road, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Precision Medicine, Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Central Hospital Huzhou University, 1558 Sanhuan North Road, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,Huzhou Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, 1558 Sanhuan North Road, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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