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da Silva PG, Chaves EJF, Silva TMS, Rocha GB, Dantas WM, de Oliveira RN, Pena LJ. Antiviral Activity of Flavonoids from Geopropolis of the Brazilian Jandaira Bee against Zika and Dengue Viruses. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2494. [PMID: 37896254 PMCID: PMC10609720 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15102494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viruses within the Flaviviridae family such as Zika (ZIKV) and dengue (DENV) are responsible for major outbreaks in tropical countries, and there are no specific treatments against them. Naringenin and 7-O-methyl naringenin are flavonoids that can be extracted from geopropolis, a natural material that the Brazilian Jandaira stingless bee (Melipona subnitida Ducke) produces to protect its nest. Here, these flavonoids were tested against ZIKV and DENV using Vero cells as a cellular model to perform a cytotoxicity assay and to define the effective concentrations of TCID50 as the readout method. The results demonstrated the antiviral activity of the compounds against both viruses upon the treatment of infected cells. The tested flavonoids had antiviral activity comparable with 6-methylmercaptopurine riboside (6-MMPr), used here as a positive control. In addition, to identify the possible action mechanism of the antiviral candidates, we carried out a docking analysis followed by a molecular dynamics simulation to elucidate naringenin and 7-O-methyl naringenin binding sites to each virus. Altogether, these results demonstrate that both flavonoids have potent antiviral effects against both viruses and warrant further in vivo trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poliana Gomes da Silva
- Laboratory of Virology and Experimental Therapy (Lavite), Department of Virology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife 50670-420, Pernambuco, Brazil; (P.G.d.S.); (E.J.F.C.); (W.M.D.)
| | - Elton José Ferreira Chaves
- Laboratory of Virology and Experimental Therapy (Lavite), Department of Virology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife 50670-420, Pernambuco, Brazil; (P.G.d.S.); (E.J.F.C.); (W.M.D.)
| | - Tania Maria Sarmento Silva
- Phytochemical Bioprospecting Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife 52171-900, Pernambuco, Brazil;
| | - Gerd Bruno Rocha
- Laboratory of Computational Quantum Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58050-085, Paraiba, Brazil;
| | - Willyenne Marília Dantas
- Laboratory of Virology and Experimental Therapy (Lavite), Department of Virology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife 50670-420, Pernambuco, Brazil; (P.G.d.S.); (E.J.F.C.); (W.M.D.)
- Bioactive Compounds Synthesis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife 52171-900, Pernambuco, Brazil;
| | - Ronaldo Nascimento de Oliveira
- Bioactive Compounds Synthesis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife 52171-900, Pernambuco, Brazil;
| | - Lindomar José Pena
- Laboratory of Virology and Experimental Therapy (Lavite), Department of Virology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife 50670-420, Pernambuco, Brazil; (P.G.d.S.); (E.J.F.C.); (W.M.D.)
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Abduljalil JM, Elfiky AA, Sayed ESTA, AlKhazindar MM. In silico structural elucidation of Nipah virus L protein and targeting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domain by nucleoside analogs. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:8215-8229. [PMID: 36205638 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2130987] [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: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/10/2022]
Abstract
The large (L) protein of Mononegavirales is a multi-domain protein that performs transcription and genome replication. One of the important domains in L is the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), a promising target for antiviral drugs. In this work, we employed rigorous computational comparative modeling to predict the structure of L protein of Nipah virus (NiV). The RdRp domain was targeted by a panel of nucleotide analogs, previously reported to inhibit different viral RNA polymerases, using molecular docking. Best binder compounds were subjected to molecular dynamics simulation to validate their binding. Molecular mechanics/generalized-born surface area (MM/GBSA) calculations estimated the binding free energy. The predicted model of NiV L has an excellent quality as judged by physics- and knowledge-based validation tests. Galidesivir, AT-9010 and Norov-29 scored the top nucleotide analogs to bind to the RdRp. Their binding free energies obtained by MM/GBSA (-31.01 ± 3.9 to -38.37 ± 4.8 kcal/mol) ranked Norov-29 as the best potential inhibitor. Purine nucleotide analogs are expected to harbor the scaffold for an effective drug against NiV. Finally, this study is expected to provide a start point for medicinal chemistry and drug discovery campaigns toward identification of effective chemotherapeutic agent(s) against NiV.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jameel M Abduljalil
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Thamar University, Dhamar, Yemen
| | - Abdo A Elfiky
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - El-Sayed T A Sayed
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Maha M AlKhazindar
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
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3
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Diani E, Lagni A, Lotti V, Tonon E, Cecchetto R, Gibellini D. Vector-Transmitted Flaviviruses: An Antiviral Molecules Overview. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2427. [PMID: 37894085 PMCID: PMC10608811 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102427] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses cause numerous pathologies in humans across a broad clinical spectrum with potentially severe clinical manifestations, including hemorrhagic and neurological disorders. Among human flaviviruses, some viral proteins show high conservation and are good candidates as targets for drug design. From an epidemiological point of view, flaviviruses cause more than 400 million cases of infection worldwide each year. In particular, the Yellow Fever, dengue, West Nile, and Zika viruses have high morbidity and mortality-about an estimated 20,000 deaths per year. As they depend on human vectors, they have expanded their geographical range in recent years due to altered climatic and social conditions. Despite these epidemiological and clinical premises, there are limited antiviral treatments for these infections. In this review, we describe the major compounds that are currently under evaluation for the treatment of flavivirus infections and the challenges faced during clinical trials, outlining their mechanisms of action in order to present an overview of ongoing studies. According to our review, the absence of approved antivirals for flaviviruses led to in vitro and in vivo experiments aimed at identifying compounds that can interfere with one or more viral cycle steps. Still, the currently unavailability of approved antivirals poses a significant public health issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Diani
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.L.); (V.L.); (R.C.)
| | - Anna Lagni
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.L.); (V.L.); (R.C.)
| | - Virginia Lotti
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.L.); (V.L.); (R.C.)
| | - Emil Tonon
- Unit of Microbiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Riccardo Cecchetto
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.L.); (V.L.); (R.C.)
- Unit of Microbiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Davide Gibellini
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.L.); (V.L.); (R.C.)
- Unit of Microbiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
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4
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Zhu Y, Chen S, Lurong Q, Qi Z. Recent Advances in Antivirals for Japanese Encephalitis Virus. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051033. [PMID: 37243122 DOI: 10.3390/v15051033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Culex mosquitoes are the primary vectors of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Since its discovery in 1935, Japanese encephalitis (JE), caused by JEV, has posed a significant threat to human health. Despite the widespread implementation of several JEV vaccines, the transmission chain of JEV in the natural ecosystem has not changed, and the vector of transmission cannot be eradicated. Therefore, JEV is still the focus of attention for flaviviruses. At present, there is no clinically specific drug for JE treatment. JEV infection is a complex interaction between the virus and the host cell, which is the focus of drug design and development. An overview of antivirals that target JEV elements and host factors is presented in this review. In addition, drugs that balance antiviral effects and host protection by regulating innate immunity, inflammation, apoptosis, or necrosis are reviewed to treat JE effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhe Zhu
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shenglin Chen
- Department of Clinic Laboratory Diagnostics, General Hospital of Tibet Military Area Command of PLA, Lhasa 850007, China
| | - Qilin Lurong
- Department of Geriatrics, General Hospital of Tibet Military Area Command of PLA, Lhasa 850007, China
| | - Zhongtian Qi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
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Pattnaik A, Sahoo BR, Struble LR, Borgstahl GEO, Zhou Y, Franco R, Barletta RG, Osorio FA, Petro TM, Pattnaik AK. A Ferritin Nanoparticle-Based Zika Virus Vaccine Candidate Induces Robust Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses and Protects Mice from Lethal Virus Challenge. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:821. [PMID: 37112733 PMCID: PMC10143468 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The severe consequences of the Zika virus (ZIKV) infections resulting in congenital Zika syndrome in infants and the autoimmune Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults warrant the development of safe and efficacious vaccines and therapeutics. Currently, there are no approved treatment options for ZIKV infection. Herein, we describe the development of a bacterial ferritin-based nanoparticle vaccine candidate for ZIKV. The viral envelope (E) protein domain III (DIII) was fused in-frame at the amino-terminus of ferritin. The resulting nanoparticle displaying the DIII was examined for its ability to induce immune responses and protect vaccinated animals upon lethal virus challenge. Our results show that immunization of mice with a single dose of the nanoparticle vaccine candidate (zDIII-F) resulted in the robust induction of neutralizing antibody responses that protected the animals from the lethal ZIKV challenge. The antibodies neutralized infectivity of other ZIKV lineages indicating that the zDIII-F can confer heterologous protection. The vaccine candidate also induced a significantly higher frequency of interferon (IFN)-γ positive CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells suggesting that both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were induced by the vaccine candidate. Although our studies showed that a soluble DIII vaccine candidate could also induce humoral and cell-mediated immunity and protect from lethal ZIKV challenge, the immune responses and protection conferred by the nanoparticle vaccine candidate were superior. Further, passive transfer of neutralizing antibodies from the vaccinated animals to naïve animals protected against lethal ZIKV challenge. Since previous studies have shown that antibodies directed at the DIII region of the E protein do not to induce antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of ZIKV or other related flavivirus infections, our studies support the use of the zDIII-F nanoparticle vaccine candidate for safe and enhanced immunological responses against ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aryamav Pattnaik
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (A.P.); (B.R.S.); (Y.Z.); (R.F.); (R.G.B.); (F.A.O.)
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA;
| | - Bikash R. Sahoo
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (A.P.); (B.R.S.); (Y.Z.); (R.F.); (R.G.B.); (F.A.O.)
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA;
| | - Lucas R. Struble
- The Eppley Institute for Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffet Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (L.R.S.); (G.E.O.B.)
| | - Gloria E. O. Borgstahl
- The Eppley Institute for Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffet Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (L.R.S.); (G.E.O.B.)
| | - You Zhou
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (A.P.); (B.R.S.); (Y.Z.); (R.F.); (R.G.B.); (F.A.O.)
- Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Rodrigo Franco
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (A.P.); (B.R.S.); (Y.Z.); (R.F.); (R.G.B.); (F.A.O.)
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA;
| | - Raul G. Barletta
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (A.P.); (B.R.S.); (Y.Z.); (R.F.); (R.G.B.); (F.A.O.)
- Redox Biology Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Fernando A. Osorio
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (A.P.); (B.R.S.); (Y.Z.); (R.F.); (R.G.B.); (F.A.O.)
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA;
| | - Thomas M. Petro
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA;
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Asit K. Pattnaik
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; (A.P.); (B.R.S.); (Y.Z.); (R.F.); (R.G.B.); (F.A.O.)
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA;
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Redox Regulation and Metabolic Dependency of Zika Virus Replication: Inhibition by Nrf2-Antioxidant Response and NAD(H) Antimetabolites. J Virol 2023; 97:e0136322. [PMID: 36688653 PMCID: PMC9972919 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01363-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral infections alter host cell metabolism and homeostasis; however, the mechanisms that regulate these processes have only begun to be elucidated. We report here that Zika virus (ZIKV) infection activates the antioxidant nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which precedes oxidative stress. Downregulation of Nrf2 or inhibition of glutathione (GSH) synthesis resulted in significantly increased viral replication. Interestingly, 6-amino-nicotinamide (6-AN), a nicotinamide analog commonly used as an inhibitor of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), decreased viral replication by over 1,000-fold. This inhibition was neither recapitulated by the knockdown of PPP enzymes, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), or 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD), nor prevented by supplementation with ribose 5-phosphate. Instead, our metabolomics and metabolic phenotype studies support a mechanism in which 6-AN depletes cells of NAD(H) and impairs NAD(H)-dependent glycolytic steps resulting in inhibition of viral replication. The inhibitory effect of 6-AN was rescued with precursors of the salvage pathway but not with those of other NAD+ biosynthesis pathways. Inhibition of glycolysis reduced viral protein levels, which were recovered transiently. This transient recovery in viral protein synthesis was prevented when oxidative metabolism was inhibited by blockage of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier, fatty acid oxidation, or glutaminolysis, demonstrating a compensatory role of mitochondrial metabolism in ZIKV replication. These results establish an antagonistic role for the host cell Nrf2/GSH/NADPH-dependent antioxidant response against ZIKV and demonstrate the dependency of ZIKV replication on NAD(H). Importantly, our work suggests the potential use of NAD(H) antimetabolite therapy against the viral infection. IMPORTANCE Zika virus (ZIKV) is a major public health concern of international proportions. While the incidence of ZIKV infections has declined substantially in recent years, the potential for the reemergence or reintroduction remains high. Although viral infection alters host cell metabolism and homeostasis to promote its replication, deciphering the mechanism(s) involved in these processes is important for identifying therapeutic targets. The present work reveals the complexities of host cell redox regulation and metabolic dependency of ZIKV replication. An antagonistic effect of the Nrf2/GSH/NADP(H)-dependent antioxidant response against ZIKV infection and an essential role of NAD(H) metabolism and glycolysis for viral replication are established for the first time. These findings highlight the potential use of NAD(H) antimetabolites to counter ZIKV infection and pathogenesis.
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Abstract
Flaviviruses are vector-borne pathogens capable of causing devastating human diseases. The re-emergence of Zika in 2016 notoriously led to a widescale epidemic in the Americas. New daunting evidence suggests that a single mutation in Zika virus genome may increase transmission and pathogenesis, further highlighting the need to be prepared for flavivirus outbreaks. Dengue, in particular infects about 400 million people each year, leading to reoccurring local outbreaks. Public health efforts to mitigate flavivirus transmission is largely dependent on vector control strategies, as only a limited number of flavivirus vaccines have been developed thus far. There are currently no commercially available antivirals for flaviviruses, leaving supportive care as the primary treatment option. In this review, we will briefly paint a broad picture of the flavivirus landscape in terms of therapeutics, with particular focus on viral targets, promising novel compounds entering the drug discovery pipeline, as well as model systems for evaluating drug efficacy.
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Patiyal S, Dhall A, Bajaj K, Sahu H, Raghava GPS. Prediction of RNA-interacting residues in a protein using CNN and evolutionary profile. Brief Bioinform 2023; 24:6901899. [PMID: 36516298 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbac538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper describes a method Pprint2, which is an improved version of Pprint developed for predicting RNA-interacting residues in a protein. Training and independent/validation datasets used in this study comprises of 545 and 161 non-redundant RNA-binding proteins, respectively. All models were trained on training dataset and evaluated on the validation dataset. The preliminary analysis reveals that positively charged amino acids such as H, R and K, are more prominent in the RNA-interacting residues. Initially, machine learning based models have been developed using binary profile and obtain maximum area under curve (AUC) 0.68 on validation dataset. The performance of this model improved significantly from AUC 0.68 to 0.76, when evolutionary profile is used instead of binary profile. The performance of our evolutionary profile-based model improved further from AUC 0.76 to 0.82, when convolutional neural network has been used for developing model. Our final model based on convolutional neural network using evolutionary information achieved AUC 0.82 with Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.49 on the validation dataset. Our best model outperforms existing methods when evaluated on the independent/validation dataset. A user-friendly standalone software and web-based server named 'Pprint2' has been developed for predicting RNA-interacting residues (https://webs.iiitd.edu.in/raghava/pprint2 and https://github.com/raghavagps/pprint2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumeet Patiyal
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Okhla Phase 3, New Delhi-110020, India
| | - Anjali Dhall
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Okhla Phase 3, New Delhi-110020, India
| | - Khushboo Bajaj
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Okhla Phase 3, New Delhi-110020, India
| | - Harshita Sahu
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Okhla Phase 3, New Delhi-110020, India
| | - Gajendra P S Raghava
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Okhla Phase 3, New Delhi-110020, India
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Chen Y, Chi X, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Qiao L, Ding J, Han Y, Lin Y, Jiang J. Identification of Potent Zika Virus NS5 RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Inhibitors Combining Virtual Screening and Biological Assays. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031900. [PMID: 36768218 PMCID: PMC9915956 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031900] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic poses a significant threat to human health globally. Thus, there is an urgent need for developing effective anti-ZIKV agents. ZIKV non-structural protein 5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), a viral enzyme for viral replication, has been considered an attractive drug target. In this work, we screened an anti-infection compound library and a natural product library by virtual screening to identify potential candidates targeting RdRp. Then, five selected candidates were further applied for RdRp enzymatic analysis, cytotoxicity, and binding examination by SPR. Finally, posaconazole (POS) was confirmed to effectively inhibit both RdRp activity with an IC50 of 4.29 μM and the ZIKV replication with an EC50 of 0.59 μM. Moreover, POS was shown to reduce RdRp activity by binding with the key amino acid D666 through molecular docking and site-directed mutation analysis. For the first time, our work found that POS could inhibit ZIKV replication with a stronger inhibitory activity than chloroquine. This work also demonstrated fast anti-ZIKV screening for inhibitors of RdRp and provided POS as a potential anti-ZIKV agent.
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10
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Mottin M, de Paula Sousa BK, de Moraes Roso Mesquita NC, de Oliveira KIZ, Noske GD, Sartori GR, de Oliveira Albuquerque A, Urbina F, Puhl AC, Moreira-Filho JT, Souza GE, Guido RV, Muratov E, Neves BJ, da Silva JHM, Clark AE, Siqueira-Neto JL, Perryman AL, Oliva G, Ekins S, Andrade CH. Discovery of New Zika Protease and Polymerase Inhibitors through the Open Science Collaboration Project OpenZika. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:6825-6843. [PMID: 36239304 PMCID: PMC9923514 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a neurotropic arbovirus considered a global threat to public health. Although there have been several efforts in drug discovery projects for ZIKV in recent years, there are still no antiviral drugs approved to date. Here, we describe the results of a global collaborative crowdsourced open science project, the OpenZika project, from IBM's World Community Grid (WCG), which integrates different computational and experimental strategies for advancing a drug candidate for ZIKV. Initially, molecular docking protocols were developed to identify potential inhibitors of ZIKV NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5 RdRp), NS3 protease (NS2B-NS3pro), and NS3 helicase (NS3hel). Then, a machine learning (ML) model was built to distinguish active vs inactive compounds for the cytoprotective effect against ZIKV infection. We performed three independent target-based virtual screening campaigns (NS5 RdRp, NS2B-NS3pro, and NS3hel), followed by predictions by the ML model and other filters, and prioritized a total of 61 compounds for further testing in enzymatic and phenotypic assays. This yielded five non-nucleoside compounds which showed inhibitory activity against ZIKV NS5 RdRp in enzymatic assays (IC50 range from 0.61 to 17 μM). Two compounds thermally destabilized NS3hel and showed binding affinity in the micromolar range (Kd range from 9 to 35 μM). Moreover, the compounds LabMol-301 inhibited both NS5 RdRp and NS2B-NS3pro (IC50 of 0.8 and 7.4 μM, respectively) and LabMol-212 thermally destabilized the ZIKV NS3hel (Kd of 35 μM). Both also protected cells from death induced by ZIKV infection in in vitro cell-based assays. However, while eight compounds (including LabMol-301 and LabMol-212) showed a cytoprotective effect and prevented ZIKV-induced cell death, agreeing with our ML model for prediction of this cytoprotective effect, no compound showed a direct antiviral effect against ZIKV. Thus, the new scaffolds discovered here are promising hits for future structural optimization and for advancing the discovery of further drug candidates for ZIKV. Furthermore, this work has demonstrated the importance of the integration of computational and experimental approaches, as well as the potential of large-scale collaborative networks to advance drug discovery projects for neglected diseases and emerging viruses, despite the lack of available direct antiviral activity and cytoprotective effect data, that reflects on the assertiveness of the computational predictions. The importance of these efforts rests with the need to be prepared for future viral epidemic and pandemic outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina Mottin
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design (LabMol), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Bruna Katiele de Paula Sousa
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design (LabMol), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
| | | | | | - Gabriela Dias Noske
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Avenida João Dagnone, 1100, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13563-120, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fabio Urbina
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Ana C. Puhl
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - José Teófilo Moreira-Filho
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design (LabMol), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
| | - Guilherme E. Souza
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Avenida João Dagnone, 1100, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Rafael V.C. Guido
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Avenida João Dagnone, 1100, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Eugene Muratov
- University of North Carolina - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599, USA
- Universidade Federal de Paraíba, Joao Pessoa, PB, 58051-900, Brazil
| | - Bruno Junior Neves
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design (LabMol), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
| | | | - Alex E. Clark
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA
| | - Jair L. Siqueira-Neto
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA
| | - Alexander L. Perryman
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
- Repare Therapeutics, 7210 Rue Frederick-Banting, Suite 100, Montreal, QC, H4S 2A1, Canada
| | - Glaucius Oliva
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Avenida João Dagnone, 1100, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Carolina Horta Andrade
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design (LabMol), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
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11
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Pyasi S, Jonniya NA, Sk MF, Nayak D, Kar P. Finding potential inhibitors against RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV): an in- silico study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:10403-10421. [PMID: 34238122 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1946714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) is an enzootic agent that affects millions of bovines and causes major economic losses. Though the virus is seasonally reported with a very high morbidity rate (80-100%) from African, Australian, and Asiatic continents, it remains a neglected pathogen in many of its endemic areas, with no proper therapeutic drugs or vaccines presently available for treatment. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) catalyzes the viral RNA synthesis and is an appropriate candidate for antiviral drug developments. We utilized integrated computational tools to build the 3D model of BEFV-RdRp and then predicted its probable active binding sites. The virtual screening and optimization against these active sites, using several small-molecule inhibitors from a different category of Life Chemical database and FDA-approved drugs from the ZINC database, was performed. We found nine molecules that have docking scores varying between -6.84 to -10.43 kcal/mol. Furthermore, these complexes were analyzed for their conformational dynamics and thermodynamic stability using molecular dynamics simulations in conjunction with the molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA) scheme. The binding free energy calculations depict that the electrostatic interactions play a dominant role in the RdRp-inhibitor binding. The hot spot residues, such as Arg565, Asp631, Glu633, Asp740, and Glu707, were found to control the RdRp-inhibitor interaction. The ADMET analysis strongly suggests favorable pharmacokinetics of these compounds that may prove useful for treating the BEFV ailment. Overall, we anticipate that these findings would help explore and develop a wide range of anti-BEFV therapy.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Pyasi
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Nisha Amarnath Jonniya
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Md Fulbabu Sk
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Debasis Nayak
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Parimal Kar
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
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12
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Human Maternal-Fetal Interface Cellular Models to Assess Antiviral Drug Toxicity during Pregnancy. REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/reprodmed3040024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a period of elevated risk for viral disease severity, resulting in serious health consequences for both the mother and the fetus; yet antiviral drugs lack comprehensive safety and efficacy data for use among pregnant women. In fact, pregnant women are systematically excluded from therapeutic clinical trials to prevent potential fetal harm. Current FDA-recommended reproductive toxicity assessments are studied using small animals which often do not accurately predict the human toxicological profiles of drug candidates. Here, we review the potential of human maternal-fetal interface cellular models in reproductive toxicity assessment of antiviral drugs. We specifically focus on the 2- and 3-dimensional maternal placental models of different gestational stages and those of fetal embryogenesis and organ development. Screening of drug candidates in physiologically relevant human maternal-fetal cellular models will be beneficial to prioritize selection of safe antiviral therapeutics for clinical trials in pregnant women.
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13
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Antiviral activity of ouabain against a Brazilian Zika virus strain. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12598. [PMID: 35871157 PMCID: PMC9308787 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14243-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging arbovirus associated with neurological disorders. Currently, no specific vaccines or antivirals are available to treat the ZIKV infection. Ouabain, a cardiotonic steroid known as Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitor, has been previously described as an immunomodulatory substance by our group. Here, we evaluated for the first time the antiviral activity of this promising substance against a Brazilian ZIKV strain. Vero cells were treated with different concentrations of ouabain before and after the infection with ZIKV. The antiviral effect was evaluated by the TCID50 method and RT-qPCR. Ouabain presented a dose-dependent inhibitory effect against ZIKV, mainly when added post infection. The reduction of infectious virus was accompanied by a decrease in ZIKV RNA levels, suggesting that the mechanism of ZIKV inhibition by ouabain occurred at the replication step. In addition, our in silico data demonstrated a conformational stability and favorable binding free energy of ouabain in the biding sites of the NS5-RdRp and NS3-helicase proteins, which could be related to its mechanism of action. Taken together, these data demonstrate the antiviral activity of ouabain against a Brazilian ZIKV strain and evidence the potential of cardiotonic steroids as promising antiviral agents.
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14
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Natural Compounds as Non-Nucleoside Inhibitors of Zika Virus Polymerase through Integration of In Silico and In Vitro Approaches. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15121493. [PMID: 36558945 PMCID: PMC9788182 DOI: 10.3390/ph15121493] [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: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the past epidemic of Zika virus (ZIKV) resulted in severe neurological consequences for infected infants and adults, there are still no approved drugs to treat ZIKV infection. In this study, we applied computational approaches to screen an in-house database of 77 natural and semi-synthetic compounds against ZIKV NS5 RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (NS5 RdRp), an essential protein for viral RNA elongation during the replication process. For this purpose, we integrated computational approaches such as binding-site conservation, chemical space analysis and molecular docking. As a result, we prioritized nine virtual hits for experimental evaluation. Enzymatic assays confirmed that pedalitin and quercetin inhibited ZIKV NS5 RdRp with IC50 values of 4.1 and 0.5 µM, respectively. Moreover, pedalitin also displayed antiviral activity on ZIKV infection with an EC50 of 19.28 µM cell-based assays, with low toxicity in Vero cells (CC50 = 83.66 µM) and selectivity index of 4.34. These results demonstrate the potential of the natural compounds pedalitin and quercetin as candidates for structural optimization studies towards the discovery of new anti-ZIKV drug candidates.
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15
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Zika Virus Infection and Development of Drug Therapeutics. Appl Microbiol 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/applmicrobiol2040059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging flavivirus that is associated with neurological complications, such as neuroinflammatory Guillain Barré Syndrome in adults and microcephaly in newborns, and remains a potentially significant and international public health concern. The World Health Organization is urging the development of novel antiviral therapeutic strategies against ZIKV, as there are no clinically approved vaccines or drugs against this virus. Given the public health crisis that is related to ZIKV cases in the last decade, efficient strategies should be identified rapidly to combat or treat ZIKV infection. Several promising strategies have been reported through drug repurposing studies, de novo design, and the high-throughput screening of compound libraries in only a few years. This review summarizes the genome and structure of ZIKV, viral life cycle, transmission cycle, clinical manifestations, cellular and animal models, and antiviral drug developments, with the goal of increasing our understanding of ZIKV and ultimately defeating it.
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16
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Alamri MA, Mirza MU, Adeel MM, Ashfaq UA, Tahir ul Qamar M, Shahid F, Ahmad S, Alatawi EA, Albalawi GM, Allemailem KS, Almatroudi A. Structural Elucidation of Rift Valley Fever Virus L Protein towards the Discovery of Its Potential Inhibitors. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15060659. [PMID: 35745579 PMCID: PMC9228520 DOI: 10.3390/ph15060659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift valley fever virus (RVFV) is the causative agent of a viral zoonosis that causes a significant clinical burden in domestic and wild ruminants. Major outbreaks of the virus occur in livestock, and contaminated animal products or arthropod vectors can transmit the virus to humans. The viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp; L protein) of the RVFV is responsible for viral replication and is thus an appealing drug target because no effective and specific vaccine against this virus is available. The current study reported the structural elucidation of the RVFV-L protein by in-depth homology modeling since no crystal structure is available yet. The inhibitory binding modes of known potent L protein inhibitors were analyzed. Based on the results, further molecular docking-based virtual screening of Selleckchem Nucleoside Analogue Library (156 compounds) was performed to find potential new inhibitors against the RVFV L protein. ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) and toxicity analysis of these compounds was also performed. Besides, the binding mechanism and stability of identified compounds were confirmed by a 50 ns molecular dynamic (MD) simulation followed by MM/PBSA binding free energy calculations. Homology modeling determined a stable multi-domain structure of L protein. An analysis of known L protein inhibitors, including Monensin, Mycophenolic acid, and Ribavirin, provide insights into the binding mechanism and reveals key residues of the L protein binding pocket. The screening results revealed that the top three compounds, A-317491, Khasianine, and VER155008, exhibited a high affinity at the L protein binding pocket. ADME analysis revealed good pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic profiles of these compounds. Furthermore, MD simulation and binding free energy analysis endorsed the binding stability of potential compounds with L protein. In a nutshell, the present study determined potential compounds that may aid in the rational design of novel inhibitors of the RVFV L protein as anti-RVFV drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mubarak A. Alamri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 16273, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Muhammad Usman Mirza
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada;
| | - Muhammad Muzammal Adeel
- 3D Genomics Research Center, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Usman Ali Ashfaq
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (U.A.A.); (F.S.)
| | - Muhammad Tahir ul Qamar
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (U.A.A.); (F.S.)
- Correspondence: (M.T.u.Q.); (K.S.A.)
| | - Farah Shahid
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (U.A.A.); (F.S.)
| | - Sajjad Ahmad
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar 25000, Pakistan;
| | - Eid A. Alatawi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ghadah M. Albalawi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (G.M.A.); (A.A.)
- Department of Laboratory and Blood Bank, King Fahd Specialist Hospital, Tabuk 47717, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khaled S. Allemailem
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (G.M.A.); (A.A.)
- Correspondence: (M.T.u.Q.); (K.S.A.)
| | - Ahmad Almatroudi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (G.M.A.); (A.A.)
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17
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Finding a chink in the armor: Update, limitations, and challenges toward successful antivirals against flaviviruses. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010291. [PMID: 35482672 PMCID: PMC9049358 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses have caused large epidemics and ongoing outbreaks for centuries. They are now distributed in every continent infecting up to millions of people annually and may emerge to cause future epidemics. Some of the viruses from this group cause severe illnesses ranging from hemorrhagic to neurological manifestations. Despite decades of research, there are currently no approved antiviral drugs against flaviviruses, urging for new strategies and antiviral targets. In recent years, integrated omics data-based drug repurposing paired with novel drug validation methodologies and appropriate animal models has substantially aided in the discovery of new antiviral medicines. Here, we aim to review the latest progress in the development of both new and repurposed (i) direct-acting antivirals; (ii) host-targeting antivirals; and (iii) multitarget antivirals against flaviviruses, which have been evaluated both in vitro and in vivo, with an emphasis on their targets and mechanisms. The search yielded 37 compounds that have been evaluated for their efficacy against flaviviruses in animal models; 20 of them are repurposed drugs, and the majority of them exhibit broad-spectrum antiviral activity. The review also highlighted the major limitations and challenges faced in the current in vitro and in vivo evaluations that hamper the development of successful antiviral drugs for flaviviruses. We provided an analysis of what can be learned from some of the approved antiviral drugs as well as drugs that failed clinical trials. Potent in vitro and in vivo antiviral efficacy alone does not warrant successful antiviral drugs; current gaps in studies need to be addressed to improve efficacy and safety in clinical trials.
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18
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Sundar S, Piramanayagam S, Natarajan J. A review on structural genomics approach applied for drug discovery against three vector-borne viral diseases: Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. Virus Genes 2022; 58:151-171. [PMID: 35394596 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-022-01898-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Structural genomics involves the advent of three-dimensional structures of the genome encoded proteins through various techniques available. Numerous structural genomics research groups have been developed across the globe and they contribute enormously to the identification of three-dimensional structures of various proteins. In this review, we have discussed the applications of the structural genomics approach towards the discovery of potential lead-like molecules against the genomic drug targets of three vector-borne diseases, namely, Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. Currently, all these three diseases are associated with the most important global public health problems and significant economic burden in tropical countries. Structural genomics has accelerated the identification of novel drug targets and inhibitors for the treatment of these diseases. We start with the current development status of the drug targets and antiviral drugs against these three diseases and conclude by describing challenges that need to be addressed to overcome the shortcomings in the process of drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shobana Sundar
- Computational Biology Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India
| | | | - Jeyakumar Natarajan
- Data Mining and Text Mining Laboratory, Department of Bioinformatics, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
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19
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Chalcones from Angelica keiskei (ashitaba) inhibit key Zika virus replication proteins. Bioorg Chem 2022; 120:105649. [PMID: 35124513 PMCID: PMC9187613 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.105649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a dangerous human pathogen and no antiviral drugs have been approved to date. The chalcones are a group of small molecules that are found in a number of different plants, including Angelica keiskei Koidzumi, also known as ashitaba. To examine chalcone anti-ZIKV activity, three chalcones, 4-hydroxyderricin (4HD), xanthoangelol (XA), and xanthoangelol-E (XA-E), were purified from a methanol-ethyl acetate extract from A. keiskei. Molecular and ensemble docking predicted that these chalcones would establish multiple interactions with residues in the catalytic and allosteric sites of ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease, and in the allosteric site of the NS5 RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp). Machine learning models also predicted 4HD, XA and XA-E as potential anti-ZIKV inhibitors. Enzymatic and kinetic assays confirmed chalcone inhibition of the ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease allosteric site with IC50s from 18 to 50 µM. Activity assays also revealed that XA, but not 4HD or XA-E, inhibited the allosteric site of the RdRp, with an IC50 of 6.9 µM. Finally, we tested these chalcones for their anti-viral activity in vitro with Vero cells. 4HD and XA-E displayed anti-ZIKV activity with EC50 values of 6.6 and 22.0 µM, respectively, while XA displayed relatively weak anti-ZIKV activity with whole cells. With their simple structures and relative ease of modification, the chalcones represent attractive candidates for hit-to-lead optimization in the search of new anti-ZIKV therapeutics.
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20
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Pathania S, Rawal RK, Singh PK. RdRp (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase): A key target providing anti-virals for the management of various viral diseases. J Mol Struct 2022; 1250:131756. [PMID: 34690363 PMCID: PMC8520695 DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.131756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
With the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, anti-viral agents have regained center stage in the arena of medicine. Out of the various drug targets involved in managing RNA-viral infections, the one that dominates almost all RNA viruses is RdRp (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase). RdRp are proteins that are involved in the replication of RNA-based viruses. Inhibition of RdRps has been an integral approach for managing various viral infections such as dengue, influenza, HCV (Hepatitis), BVDV, etc. Inhibition of the coronavirus RdRp is currently rigorously explored for the treatment of Covid-19 related complications. So, keeping in view the importance and current relevance of this drug target, we have discussed the importance of RdRp in developing anti-viral agents against various viral diseases. Different reported inhibitors have also been discussed, and emphasis has been laid on highlighting the inhibitor's pharmacophoric features and SAR profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelly Pathania
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga-142001, Punjab, India
| | - Ravindra K. Rawal
- Department of Chemistry, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-133207, Haryana, India,CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat-785006, Assam, India,Corresponding authors
| | - Pankaj Kumar Singh
- Faculty of Medicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, FI-20014, Finland,Corresponding authors
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21
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Novel Nonnucleoside Inhibitors of Zika Virus Polymerase Identified through the Screening of an Open Library of Antikinetoplastid Compounds. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0089421. [PMID: 34152807 PMCID: PMC8370225 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00894-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen responsible for neurological disorders (Guillain-Barré syndrome) and congenital malformations (microcephaly). Its ability to cause explosive epidemics, such as that of 2015 to 2016, urges the identification of effective antiviral drugs. Viral polymerase inhibitors constitute one of the most successful fields in antiviral research. Accordingly, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity of flavivirus nonstructural protein 5 (NS5) provides a unique target for the development of direct antivirals with high specificity and low toxicity. Here, we describe the discovery and characterization of two novel nonnucleoside inhibitors of ZIKV polymerase. These inhibitors, TCMDC-143406 (compound 6) and TCMDC-143215 (compound 15) were identified through the screening of an open-resource library of antikinetoplastid compounds using a fluorescence-based polymerization assay based on ZIKV NS5. The two compounds inhibited ZIKV NS5 polymerase activity in vitro and ZIKV multiplication in cell culture (half-maximal effective concentrations [EC50] values of 0.5 and 2.6 μM for compounds 6 and 15, respectively). Both compounds also inhibited the replication of other pathogenic flaviviruses, namely, West Nile virus (WNV; EC50 values of 4.3 and 4.6 μM for compounds 6 and 15, respectively) and dengue virus 2 (DENV-2; EC50 values of 3.4 and 9.6 μM for compounds 6 and 15, respectively). Enzymatic assays confirmed that the polymerase inhibition was produced by a noncompetitive mechanism. Combinatorial assays revealed an antagonistic effect between both compounds, suggesting that they would bind to the same region of ZIKV polymerase. The nonnucleoside inhibitors of ZIKV polymerase here described could constitute promising lead compounds for the development of anti-ZIKV therapies and, eventually, broad-spectrum antiflavivirus drugs.
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22
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Fernandes PO, Chagas MA, Rocha WR, Moraes AH. Non-structural protein 5 (NS5) as a target for antiviral development against established and emergent flaviviruses. Curr Opin Virol 2021; 50:30-39. [PMID: 34340199 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2021.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Flaviviruses are among the most critical pathogens in tropical regions and cause a growing number of severe diseases in developing countries. The development of antiviral therapeutics is crucial for managing flavivirus outbreaks. Among the ten proteins encoded in the flavivirus RNA, non-structural protein 5, NS5, is a promising drug target. NS5 plays a fundamental role in flavivirus replication, viral RNA methylation, RNA polymerization, and host immune system evasion. Most of the NS5 inhibitor candidates target NS5 active sites. However, the similarity of NS5 activity sites with human enzymes can cause side effects. Identifying new allosteric sites in NS5 can contribute enormously to antiviral development. The NS5 structural characterization enabled exploring new regions, such as the residues involved in MTase-RdRp interaction, NS5 oligomerization, and NS5 interaction with other viral and host-cell proteins. Targeting NS5 critical interactions might lead to new compounds and overcomes the toxicity of current NS5-inhibitor candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipe O Fernandes
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marcelo A Chagas
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Willian R Rocha
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Adolfo H Moraes
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Department of NMR-based Structural Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany.
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23
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Insights on Dengue and Zika NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 224:113698. [PMID: 34274831 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Over recent years, many outbreaks caused by (re)emerging RNA viruses have been reported worldwide, including life-threatening Flaviviruses, such as Dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV). Currently, there is only one licensed vaccine against Dengue, Dengvaxia®. However, its administration is not recommended for children under nine years. Still, there are no specific inhibitors available to treat these infectious diseases. Among the flaviviral proteins, NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is a metalloenzyme essential for viral replication, suggesting that it is a promising macromolecular target since it has no human homolog. Nowadays, several NS5 RdRp inhibitors have been reported, while none inhibitors are currently in clinical development. In this context, this review constitutes a comprehensive work focused on RdRp inhibitors from natural, synthetic, and even repurposing sources. Furthermore, their main aspects associated with the structure-activity relationship (SAR), proposed mechanisms of action, computational studies, and other topics will be discussed in detail.
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Palmitoleate Protects against Zika Virus-Induced Placental Trophoblast Apoptosis. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9060643. [PMID: 34200091 PMCID: PMC8226770 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9060643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in pregnancy is associated with the development of microcephaly, intrauterine growth restriction, and ocular damage in the fetus. ZIKV infection of the placenta plays a crucial role in the vertical transmission from the maternal circulation to the fetus. Our previous study suggested that ZIKV induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis of placental trophoblasts. Here, we showed that palmitoleate, an omega-7 monounsaturated fatty acid, prevents ZIKV-induced ER stress and apoptosis in placental trophoblasts. Human trophoblast cell lines (JEG-3 and JAR) and normal immortalized trophoblasts (HTR-8) were used. We observed that ZIKV infection of the trophoblasts resulted in apoptosis and treatment of palmitoleate to ZIKV-infected cells significantly prevented apoptosis. However, palmitate (saturated fatty acid) did not offer protection from ZIKV-induced ER stress and apoptosis. We also observed that the Zika viral RNA copies were decreased, and the cell viability improved in ZIKV-infected cells treated with palmitoleate as compared to the infected cells without palmitoleate treatment. Further, palmitoleate was shown to protect against ZIKV-induced upregulation of ER stress markers, C/EBP homologous protein and X-box binding protein-1 splicing in placental trophoblasts. In conclusion, our studies suggest that palmitoleate protects placental trophoblasts against ZIKV-induced ER stress and apoptosis.
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25
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Kumar R, Mishra S, Shreya, Maurya SK. Recent advances in the discovery of potent RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp) inhibitors targeting viruses. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:306-320. [PMID: 34046618 PMCID: PMC8130609 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00318b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
WHO has declared COVID-19 a pandemic, which has affected the whole world and has caused unprecedented social and economic disruption. Since the emergence of the disease, several druggable targets have been suggested including 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), spike, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), and the papain-like protease (PLpro) computational approach. From the beginning, viral replication has been the main focus for any antiviral drug development for viral diseases, including HCV, influenza virus, zika virus, norovirus, measles, dengue virus, and coronaviruses. This review lists the nucleoside, nucleotide, and non-nucleoside RdRp inhibitor analogues of various viral diseases that may be evaluated for drug development to treat COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Kumar
- Chemical Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology Palampur Himachal Pradesh-176 061 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-HRDC Ghaziabad Uttar Pradesh 201 002 India
| | - Sahil Mishra
- Chemical Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology Palampur Himachal Pradesh-176 061 India
| | - Shreya
- Chemical Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology Palampur Himachal Pradesh-176 061 India
| | - Sushil K Maurya
- Chemical Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology Palampur Himachal Pradesh-176 061 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-HRDC Ghaziabad Uttar Pradesh 201 002 India
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26
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Kinobe RT, Owens L. A systematic review of experimental evidence for antiviral effects of ivermectin and an in silico analysis of ivermectin's possible mode of action against SARS-CoV-2. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2021; 35:260-276. [PMID: 33427370 PMCID: PMC8013482 DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Viral infections remain a major cause of economic loss with an unmet need for novel therapeutic agents. Ivermectin is a putative antiviral compound; the proposed mechanism is the inhibition of nuclear translocation of viral proteins, facilitated by mammalian host importins, a necessary process for propagation of infections. We systematically reviewed the evidence for the applicability of ivermectin against viral infections including SARS‐CoV‐2 regarding efficacy, mechanisms and selective toxicity. The SARS‐CoV‐2 genome was mined to determine potential nuclear location signals for ivermectin and meta‐analyses for in vivo studies included all comparators over time, dose range and viral replication in multiple organs. Ivermectin inhibited the replication of many viruses including those in Flaviviridae, Circoviridae and Coronaviridae families in vitro. Real and mock nuclear location signals were identified in SARS‐CoV‐2, a potential target for ivermectin and predicting a sequestration bait for importin β, stopping infected cells from reaching a virus‐resistant state. While pharmacokinetic evaluations indicate that ivermectin could be toxic if applied based on in vitro studies, inhibition of viral replication in vivo was shown for Porcine circovirus in piglets and Suid herpesvirus in mice. Overall standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals for ivermectin versus controls were −4.43 (−5.81, −3.04), p < 0.00001. Based on current results, the potential for repurposing ivermectin as an antiviral agent is promising. However, further work is needed to reconcile in vitro studies with clinical efficacy. Developing ivermectin as an additional antiviral agent should be pursued with an emphasis on pre‐clinical trials in validated models of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert T Kinobe
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Leigh Owens
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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27
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Majee P, Pattnaik A, Sahoo BR, Shankar U, Pattnaik AK, Kumar A, Nayak D. Inhibition of Zika virus replication by G-quadruplex-binding ligands. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 23:691-701. [PMID: 33575115 PMCID: PMC7851496 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-transmitted Flavivirus, emerged in the last decade causing serious diseases and affecting human health globally. Currently, no licensed vaccines or antivirals are available to combat ZIKV, although several vaccine candidates are in the pipeline. In recent years, the presence of non-canonical G-quadruplex (GQ) secondary structures in viral genomes has ignited significant attention as potential targets for antiviral strategy. In this study, we identified several novel conserved potential GQ structures by analyzing published ZIKV genome sequences using an in-house algorithm. Biophysical and biochemical analysis of the RNA sequences containing these potential GQ sequences suggested the existence of such structures in the ZIKV genomes. Studies with known GQ structure-binding and -stabilizing ligands such as Braco-19 and TMPyP4 provided support for this contention. The presence of these ligands in cell culture media led to significant inhibition of infectious ZIKV yield, as well as reduced viral genome replication and viral protein production. Overall, our results, for the first time, show that ZIKV replication can be inhibited by GQ structure-binding and -stabilizing compounds and suggest a new strategy against ZIKV infection mitigation and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prativa Majee
- Discipline of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Madhya Pradesh 453552, India
| | - Aryamav Pattnaik
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Bikash R Sahoo
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Uma Shankar
- Discipline of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Madhya Pradesh 453552, India
| | - Asit K Pattnaik
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Amit Kumar
- Discipline of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Madhya Pradesh 453552, India
| | - Debasis Nayak
- Discipline of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Madhya Pradesh 453552, India
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28
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Alamri MA, Tahir ul Qamar M, Mirza MU, Alqahtani SM, Froeyen M, Chen LL. Discovery of human coronaviruses pan-papain-like protease inhibitors using computational approaches. J Pharm Anal 2020; 10:546-559. [PMID: 32874702 PMCID: PMC7453225 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2020.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The papain-like protease (PLpro) is vital for the replication of coronaviruses (CoVs), as well as for escaping innate-immune responses of the host. Hence, it has emerged as an attractive antiviral drug-target. In this study, computational approaches were employed, mainly the structure-based virtual screening coupled with all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to computationally identify specific inhibitors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) PLpro, which can be further developed as potential pan-PLpro based broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. The sequence, structure, and functional conserveness of most deadly human CoVs PLpro were explored, and it was revealed that functionally important catalytic triad residues are well conserved among SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The subsequent screening of a focused protease inhibitors database composed of ∼7,000 compounds resulted in the identification of three candidate compounds, ADM_13083841, LMG_15521745, and SYN_15517940. These three compounds established conserved interactions which were further explored through MD simulations, free energy calculations, and residual energy contribution estimated by MM-PB(GB)SA method. All these compounds showed stable conformation and interacted well with the active residues of SARS-CoV-2 PLpro, and showed consistent interaction profile with SARS-CoV PLpro and MERS-CoV PLpro as well. Conclusively, the reported SARS-CoV-2 PLpro specific compounds could serve as seeds for developing potent pan-PLpro based broad-spectrum antiviral drugs against deadly human coronaviruses. Moreover, the presented information related to binding site residual energy contribution could lead to further optimization of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mubarak A. Alamri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkarj, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Muhammad Usman Mirza
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Safar M. Alqahtani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkarj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Matheus Froeyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ling-Ling Chen
- College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
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29
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Noreen, Ali R, Badshah SL, Faheem M, Abbasi SW, Ullah R, Bari A, Jamal SB, Mahmood HM, Haider A, Haider S. Identification of potential inhibitors of Zika virus NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase through virtual screening and molecular dynamic simulations. Saudi Pharm J 2020; 28:1580-1591. [PMID: 33424251 PMCID: PMC7783101 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2020.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is one of the mosquito borne flavivirus with several outbreaks in past few years in tropical and subtropical regions. The non-structural proteins of flaviviruses are suitable active targets for inhibitory drugs due to their role in pathogenicity. In ZIKV, the non-structural protein 5 (NS5) RNA-Dependent RNA polymerase replicates its genome. Here we have performed virtual screening to identify suitable ligands that can potentially halt the ZIKV NS5 RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). During this process, we searched and screened a library of ligands against ZIKV NS5 RdRp. The selected ligands with significant binding energy and ligand-receptor interactions were further processed. Among the selected docked conformations, top five was further optimized at atomic level using molecular dynamic simulations followed by binding free energy calculations. The interactions of ligands with the target structure of ZIKV RdRp revealed that they form strong bonds within the active sites of the receptor molecule. The efficacy of these drugs against ZIKV can be further analyzed through in-vitro and in-vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noreen
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
- Department of Chemistry, Islamia College University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Roshan Ali
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Syed Lal Badshah
- Department of Chemistry, Islamia College University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Faheem
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Sumra Wajid Abbasi
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Riaz Ullah
- Department of Pharmacognosy (MAPPRC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Bari
- Department of Pharmacuitcal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Syed Babar Jamal
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Hafiz Majid Mahmood
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adnan Haider
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Sajjad Haider
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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30
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Mirza MU, Ahmad S, Abdullah I, Froeyen M. Identification of novel human USP2 inhibitor and its putative role in treatment of COVID-19 by inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 papain-like (PLpro) protease. Comput Biol Chem 2020; 89:107376. [PMID: 32979815 PMCID: PMC7487165 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2020.107376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Human ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase-2 (USP2) inhibitors, such as thiopurine analogs, have been reported to inhibit SARS-CoV papain-like proteases (PLpro). The PLpro have significant functional implications in the innate immune response during SARS-CoV-2 infection and considered an important antiviral target. Both proteases share strikingly similar USP fold with right-handed thumb-palm-fingers structural scaffold and conserved catalytic triad Cys-His-Asp/Asn. In this urgency situation of COVID-19 outbreak, there is a lack of in-vitro facilities readily available to test SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors in whole-cell assays. Therefore, we adopted an alternate route to identify potential USP2 inhibitor through integrated in-silico efforts. After an extensive virtual screening protocol, the best compounds were selected and tested. The compound Z93 showed significant IC50 value against Jurkat (9.67 μM) and MOTL-4 cells (11.8 μM). The binding mode of Z93 was extensively analyzed through molecular docking, followed by MD simulations, and molecular interactions were compared with SARS-CoV-2. The relative binding poses of Z93 fitted well in the binding site of both proteases and showed consensus π-π stacking and H-bond interactions with histidine and aspartate/asparagine residues of the catalytic triad. These results led us to speculate that compound Z93 might be the first potential chemical lead against SARS-CoV-2 PLpro, which warrants in-vitro evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Usman Mirza
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarfraz Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia
| | - Iskandar Abdullah
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia
| | - Matheus Froeyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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31
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Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Signaling Activation Antagonizes Autophagy To Facilitate Zika Virus Replication. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.01575-20. [PMID: 32878890 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01575-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus, is linked to microcephaly and other neurological defects in neonates and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. The molecular mechanisms regulating ZIKV infection and pathogenic outcomes are incompletely understood. Signaling by the mechanistic (mammalian) target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase is important for cell survival and proliferation, and viruses are known to hijack this pathway for their replication. Here, we show that in human neuronal precursors and glial cells in culture, ZIKV infection activates both mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTORC2. Inhibition of mTOR kinase by Torin1 or rapamycin results in reduction in ZIKV protein expression and progeny production. Depletion of Raptor, the defining subunit of mTORC1, by small interfering RNA (siRNA) negatively affects ZIKV protein expression and viral replication. Although depletion of Rictor, the unique subunit of mTORC2, or the mTOR kinase itself also inhibits the viral processes, the extent of inhibition is less pronounced. Autophagy is transiently induced early by ZIKV infection, and impairment of autophagosome elongation by the class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) enhances viral protein accumulation and progeny production. mTOR phosphorylates and inactivates ULK1 (S757) at later stages of ZIKV infection, suggesting a link between autophagy inhibition and mTOR activation by ZIKV. Accordingly, inhibition of ULK1 (by MRT68921) or autophagy (by 3-MA) reversed the effects of mTOR inhibition, leading to increased levels of ZIKV protein expression and progeny production. Our results demonstrate that ZIKV replication requires the activation of both mTORC1 and mTORC2, which negatively regulates autophagy to facilitate ZIKV replication.IMPORTANCE The re-emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) and its association with neurological complications necessitates studies on the molecular mechanisms that regulate ZIKV pathogenesis. The mTOR signaling cascade is tightly regulated and central to normal neuronal development and survival. Disruption of mTOR signaling can result in neurological abnormalities. In the studies reported here, we demonstrate for the first time that ZIKV infection results in activation of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 to promote virus replication. Although autophagy is activated early in infection to counter virus replication, it is subsequently suppressed by mTOR. These results reveal critical roles of mTOR signaling and autophagy in ZIKV infection and point to a possible mechanism underlying ZIKV-induced pathogenesis. Elucidating the role of mTOR signaling in ZIKV infection will provide insights into the mechanisms of ZIKV-induced neurological complications and potential targets for therapeutic approaches.
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32
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Novel Nucleoside Analogues as Effective Antiviral Agents for Zika Virus Infections. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25204813. [PMID: 33092055 PMCID: PMC7594033 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Previously considered a neglected flavivirus, Zika virus has recently emerged as a public health concern due to its ability to spread rapidly and cause severe neurological disorders, such as microcephaly in newborn babies from infected mothers, and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Despite extensive efforts towards the identification of effective therapies, specific antivirals are still not available. As part of ongoing medicinal chemistry studies to identify new antiviral agents, we screened against Zika virus replication in vitro in a targeted internal library of small-molecule agents, comprising both nucleoside and non-nucleoside agents. Among the compounds evaluated, novel aryloxyphosphoramidate prodrugs of the nucleosides 2′-C-methyl-adenosine, 2-CMA, and 7-deaza-2′C-methyl-adenosine, 7-DMA, were found to significantly inhibit the virus-induced cytopathic effect in multiple relevant cell lines. In addition, one of these prodrugs exhibits a synergistic antiviral effect against Zika virus when applied in combination with an indirect antiviral agent, a l-dideoxy bicyclic pyrimidine nucleoside analogue, which potently inhibits vaccinia and measles viruses in vitro by targeting a host pathway. Our findings provide a solid basis for further development of an antiviral therapy for Zika virus infections, possibly exploiting a dual approach combining two different agents, one targeting the viral polymerase (direct-acting antiviral), the second targeting a host-directed autophagy mechanism.
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33
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Leier HC, Weinstein JB, Kyle JE, Lee JY, Bramer LM, Stratton KG, Kempthorne D, Navratil AR, Tafesse EG, Hornemann T, Messer WB, Dennis EA, Metz TO, Barklis E, Tafesse FG. A global lipid map defines a network essential for Zika virus replication. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3652. [PMID: 32694525 PMCID: PMC7374707 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17433-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV), an arbovirus of global concern, remodels intracellular membranes to form replication sites. How ZIKV dysregulates lipid networks to allow this, and consequences for disease, is poorly understood. Here, we perform comprehensive lipidomics to create a lipid network map during ZIKV infection. We find that ZIKV significantly alters host lipid composition, with the most striking changes seen within subclasses of sphingolipids. Ectopic expression of ZIKV NS4B protein results in similar changes, demonstrating a role for NS4B in modulating sphingolipid pathways. Disruption of sphingolipid biosynthesis in various cell types, including human neural progenitor cells, blocks ZIKV infection. Additionally, the sphingolipid ceramide redistributes to ZIKV replication sites, and increasing ceramide levels by multiple pathways sensitizes cells to ZIKV infection. Thus, we identify a sphingolipid metabolic network with a critical role in ZIKV replication and show that ceramide flux is a key mediator of ZIKV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans C Leier
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Jules B Weinstein
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Jennifer E Kyle
- Biological Sciences Division, Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Joon-Yong Lee
- Biological Sciences Division, Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Lisa M Bramer
- Computing and Analytics Division, National Security Directorate, PNNL, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Kelly G Stratton
- Computing and Analytics Division, National Security Directorate, PNNL, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Douglas Kempthorne
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Center for Diversity and Inclusion, OHSU, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Aaron R Navratil
- Departments of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Endale G Tafesse
- Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A8, Canada
| | - Thorsten Hornemann
- University Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8091, Switzerland
| | - William B Messer
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, OHSU, Portland, Oregon, 97239, USA
| | - Edward A Dennis
- Departments of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Thomas O Metz
- Biological Sciences Division, Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Eric Barklis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Fikadu G Tafesse
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
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Khalid H, Landry KB, Ijaz B, Ashfaq UA, Ahmed M, Kanwal A, Froeyen M, Mirza MU. Discovery of novel Hepatitis C virus inhibitor targeting multiple allosteric sites of NS5B polymerase. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 84:104371. [PMID: 32485331 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
HCV is a viral infection posing a severe global threat when left untreated progress to end-stage liver disease, including cirrhosis and HCC. The NS5B polymerase of HCV is the most potent target that harbors four allosteric binding sites that could interfere with the HCV infection. We present the discovery of a novel synthetic compound that harbors the potential of NS5B polymerase inhibition. All eight compounds belonging to the benzothiazine family of heterocycles displayed no cellular cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells at nontoxic dose concentration (200 μM). Subsequently, among eight compounds of the series, merely compound 5b exhibited significant inhibition of the expression of the HCV NS5B gene as compared to DMSO control in semi-quantitative PCR. Based on our western blot result, 5b at the range of 50, 100 and 200 μM induced 20, 40, and 70% inhibition of NS5B protein respectively. To estimate the binding potential, 5b was docked at respective allosteric sites followed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for a period of 20 ns. In addition, binding free energy calculation by MM-GB/PBSA method revealed a conserved interaction profile of residues lining the allosteric sites in agreement with the reported NS5B co-crystallized inhibitors. The presented results provide important information about a novel compound 5b which may facilitate the the discovery of novel inhibitors that tends to target multiple sites on NS5B polymerase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hina Khalid
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Koloko Brice Landry
- Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Bushra Ijaz
- Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Usman Ali Ashfaq
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan.
| | - Matloob Ahmed
- Department of Chemistry, Government College University, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Afshan Kanwal
- Department of Chemistry, Government College University, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Matheus Froeyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, REGA Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Muhammad Usman Mirza
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, REGA Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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A new antiviral scaffold for human norovirus identified with computer-aided approaches on the viral polymerase. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18413. [PMID: 31804593 PMCID: PMC6895199 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54903-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human norovirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide, affecting every year 685 million people. In about one third of cases, this virus affects children under five years of age, causing each year up to 200,000 child deaths, mainly in the developing countries. Norovirus outbreaks are associated with very significant economic losses, with an estimated societal cost of 60 billion dollars per year. Despite the marked socio-economic consequences associated, no therapeutic options or vaccines are currently available to treat or prevent this infection. One promising target to identify new antiviral agents for norovirus is the viral polymerase, which has a pivotal role for the viral replication and lacks closely homologous structures in the host. Starting from the scaffold of a novel class of norovirus polymerase inhibitors recently discovered in our research group with a computer-aided method, different new chemical modifications were designed and carried out, with the aim to identify improved agents effective against norovirus replication in cell-based assays. While different new inhibitors of the viral polymerase were found, a further computer-aided ligand optimisation approach led to the identification of a new antiviral scaffold for norovirus, which inhibits human norovirus replication at low-micromolar concentrations.
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36
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Basak SC, Majumdar S, Nandy A, Roy P, Dutta T, Vracko M, Bhattacharjee AK. Computer-Assisted and Data Driven Approaches for Surveillance, Drug Discovery, and Vaccine Design for the Zika Virus. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2019; 12:ph12040157. [PMID: 31623241 PMCID: PMC6958466 DOI: 10.3390/ph12040157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human life has been at the edge of catastrophe for millennia due diseases which emerge and reemerge at random. The recent outbreak of the Zika virus (ZIKV) is one such menace that shook the global public health community abruptly. Modern technologies, including computational tools as well as experimental approaches, need to be harnessed fast and effectively in a coordinated manner in order to properly address such challenges. In this paper, based on our earlier research, we have proposed a four-pronged approach to tackle the emerging pathogens like ZIKV: (a) Epidemiological modelling of spread mechanisms of ZIKV; (b) assessment of the public health risk of newly emerging strains of the pathogens by comparing them with existing strains/pathogens using fast computational sequence comparison methods; (c) implementation of vaccine design methods in order to produce a set of probable peptide vaccine candidates for quick synthesis/production and testing in the laboratory; and (d) designing of novel therapeutic molecules and their laboratory testing as well as validation of new drugs or repurposing of drugs for use against ZIKV. For each of these stages, we provide an extensive review of the technical challenges and current state-of-the-art. Further, we outline the future areas of research and discuss how they can work together to proactively combat ZIKV or future emerging pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhash C Basak
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN 55812, USA.
| | | | - Ashesh Nandy
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Education, Kolkata 700068, India.
| | - Proyasha Roy
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Education, Kolkata 700068, India.
| | - Tathagata Dutta
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Education, Kolkata 700068, India.
| | - Marjan Vracko
- National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia.
| | - Apurba K Bhattacharjee
- Biomedical Graduate Research Organization, Department of Microbiology and Immunology School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
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Bernatchez JA, Tran LT, Li J, Luan Y, Siqueira-Neto JL, Li R. Drugs for the Treatment of Zika Virus Infection. J Med Chem 2019; 63:470-489. [PMID: 31549836 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus is an emerging flavivirus that causes the neurodevelopmental congenital Zika syndrome and that has been linked to the neuroinflammatory Guillain-Barré syndrome. The absence of a vaccine or a clinically approved drug to treat the disease combined with the likelihood that another outbreak will occur in the future defines an unmet medical need. Several promising drug candidate molecules have been reported via repurposing studies, high-throughput compound library screening, and de novo design in the short span of a few years. Intense research activity in this area has occurred in response to the World Health Organization declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on February 1, 2016. In this Perspective, the authors review the emergence of Zika virus, the biology of its replication, targets for therapeutic intervention, target product profile, and current drug development initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lana T Tran
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States
| | | | - Yepeng Luan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy , Qingdao University , Qingdao 266071 , Shandong , China
| | | | - Rongshi Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy , Qingdao University , Qingdao 266071 , Shandong , China.,UNMC Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, and Center for Staphylococcal Research , University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha , Nebraska 68198 , United States
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Annamalai AS, Pattnaik A, Sahoo BR, Guinn ZP, Bullard BL, Weaver EA, Steffen D, Natarajan SK, Petro TM, Pattnaik AK. An Attenuated Zika Virus Encoding Non-Glycosylated Envelope (E) and Non-Structural Protein 1 (NS1) Confers Complete Protection against Lethal Challenge in a Mouse Model. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:vaccines7030112. [PMID: 31547297 PMCID: PMC6789518 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7030112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus, emerged in the last decade causing serious human diseases, including congenital microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Although many vaccine platforms are at various stages of development, no licensed vaccines are currently available. Previously, we described a mutant MR766 ZIKV (m2MR) bearing an E protein mutation (N154A) that prevented its glycosylation, resulting in attenuation and defective neuroinvasion. To further attenuate m2MR for its potential use as a live viral vaccine, we incorporated additional mutations into m2MR by substituting the asparagine residues in the glycosylation sites (N130 and N207) of NS1 with alanine residues. Examination of pathogenic properties revealed that the virus (m5MR) carrying mutations in E (N154A) and NS1 (N130A and N207A) was fully attenuated with no disease signs in infected mice, inducing high levels of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, and protecting mice from subsequent lethal virus challenge. Furthermore, passive transfer of sera from m5MR-infected mice into naïve animals resulted in complete protection from lethal challenge. The immune sera from m5MR-infected animals neutralized both African and Asian lineage viruses equally well, suggesting that m5MR virus could be developed as a potentially broad live virus vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun S Annamalai
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
| | - Aryamav Pattnaik
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
| | - Bikash R Sahoo
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
| | - Zack P Guinn
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
| | - Brianna L Bullard
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
| | - Eric A Weaver
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
| | - David Steffen
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
| | - Sathish Kumar Natarajan
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
- Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
| | - Thomas M Petro
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
| | - Asit K Pattnaik
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
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Hu Y, Sun L. Systematic Analysis of Structure Similarity between Zika Virus and Other Flaviviruses. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:1070-1080. [PMID: 31038920 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has caused global concern because of its association with fetal microcephaly and serious neurological complications in adults since 2016. Currently, no specific anti-ZIKV therapy is available to control ZIKV infection. During the last couple of years, the intensive investigation of ZIKV structure has provided significant information for structure-based vaccine and drug design. In this review, we summarized the research progress on the structures of ZIKV and its component proteins. We analyzed the structure identity and the differences between ZIKV and other flaviviruses. This information is crucial to guiding structure-based anti-ZIKV inhibitors and vaccine discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxia Hu
- The Fifth People’s Hospital of Shanghai and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 131 Dongan Road, Shanghai 20032, China
| | - Lei Sun
- The Fifth People’s Hospital of Shanghai and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 131 Dongan Road, Shanghai 20032, China
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In silico structural elucidation of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase towards the identification of potential Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus inhibitors. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6809. [PMID: 31048746 PMCID: PMC6497722 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43129-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus (CCHFV) is a segmented negative single-stranded RNA virus (-ssRNA) which causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans with a mortality rate of ~50%. To date, no vaccine has been approved. Treatment is limited to supportive care with few investigational drugs in practice. Previous studies have identified viral RNA dependent RNA Polymerase (RdRp) as a potential drug target due to its significant role in viral replication and transcription. Since no crystal structure is available yet, we report the structural elucidation of CCHFV-RdRp by in-depth homology modeling. Even with low sequence identity, the generated model suggests a similar overall structure as previously reported RdRps. More specifically, the model suggests the presence of structural/functional conserved RdRp motifs for polymerase function, the configuration of uniform spatial arrangement of core RdRp sub-domains, and predicted positively charged entry/exit tunnels, as seen in sNSV polymerases. Extensive pharmacophore modeling based on per-residue energy contribution with investigational drugs allowed the concise mapping of pharmacophoric features and identified potential hits. The combination of pharmacophoric features with interaction energy analysis revealed functionally important residues in the conserved motifs together with in silico predicted common inhibitory binding modes with highly potent reference compounds.
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Zou J, Shi PY. Strategies for Zika drug discovery. Curr Opin Virol 2019; 35:19-26. [PMID: 30852345 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) can cause devastating congenital syndrome in fetuses from pregnant women and autoimmune disorder Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. No clinically approved vaccine or drug is currently available for ZIKV. This unmet medical need has motivated a global effort to develop countermeasures. Several promising ZIKV vaccine candidates have already entered clinical trials. In contrast, antiviral development of ZIKV is lagging behind. Here, we review the overall strategies for ZIKV drug discovery, including (i) repurposing of clinically approved drugs, (ii) viral replication-based phenotypic screening for inhibitors, and (iii) targeted drug discovery of viral proteins. Along with vaccines, the development of antiviral treatment will provide a complementary means to control ZIKV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Pei-Yong Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Department of Phamarcology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
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42
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Song J, Liu G, Wang R, Sun L, Zhang P. A novel method for predicting RNA-interacting residues in proteins using a combination of feature-based and sequence template-based methods. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2019.1612275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jiazhi Song
- Department of Computational intelligence College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering of Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, PR China
| | - Guixia Liu
- Department of Computational intelligence College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering of Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, PR China
| | - Rongquan Wang
- Department of Computational intelligence College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering of Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, PR China
| | - Liyan Sun
- Department of Computational intelligence College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering of Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, PR China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Department of Computational intelligence College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering of Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, PR China
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Han Y, Mesplède T. Investigational drugs for the treatment of Zika virus infection: a preclinical and clinical update. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2018; 27:951-962. [PMID: 30430882 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2018.1548609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Zika virus (ZIKV) infection results in severe neurological complications and has emerged as a threat to public health worldwide. No drugs or vaccines are available for use in the clinic and the need for novel and effective therapeutic agents is urgent. AREAS COVERED This review describes the latest progress of antiviral development for the treatment of ZIKV infection; it primarily focuses on the literature describing 20 potential anti-ZIKV drugs/agents currently being tested in vivo or in clinical trials. The paper also discusses the need for novel ZIKV inhibitors and the critical issues for successful antiviral drug development. EXPERT OPINION So far, 20 compounds have been tested in vivo and three in the clinical trials; progressing these compounds to the clinic is a challenge. Novel ZIKV inhibitors that target virus or host factors are urgently needed. Knowledge-driven drug repurposing, structure-based discovery, RNA interference, long noncoding RNAs, miRNAs, and peptide inhibitors may pave the way for the discovery of such novel agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingshan Han
- a McGill University AIDS Centre , Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital , Montreal , Canada
| | - Thibault Mesplède
- a McGill University AIDS Centre , Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital , Montreal , Canada
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Alves MP, Vielle NJ, Thiel V, Pfaender S. Research Models and Tools for the Identification of Antivirals and Therapeutics against Zika Virus Infection. Viruses 2018; 10:v10110593. [PMID: 30380760 PMCID: PMC6265910 DOI: 10.3390/v10110593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus recently re-emerged and caused global outbreaks mainly in Central Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands and in Central and South America. Even though there is a declining trend, the virus continues to spread throughout different geographical regions of the world. Since its re-emergence in 2015, massive advances have been made regarding our understanding of clinical manifestations, epidemiology, genetic diversity, genomic structure and potential therapeutic intervention strategies. Nevertheless, treatment remains a challenge as there is no licensed effective therapy available. This review focuses on the recent advances regarding research models, as well as available experimental tools that can be used for the identification and characterization of potential antiviral targets and therapeutic intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco P Alves
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Nathalie J Vielle
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Stephanie Pfaender
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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Sinigaglia A, Riccetti S, Trevisan M, Barzon L. In silico approaches to Zika virus drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2018; 13:825-835. [PMID: 30160181 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2018.1515909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION After the WHO declared Zika virus (ZIKV) as a public health emergency of international concern, intense research for the development of vaccines and drugs has been undertaken, leading to the development of several candidates. Areas covered: This review discusses the developments achieved so far by computational methods in the discovery of candidate compounds targeting ZIKV proteins, i.e. the envelope and capsid structural proteins, the NS3 helicase/protease, and the NS5 methyltransferase/RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Expert opinion: Research for effective drugs against ZIKV is still in a very early discovery phase. Notwithstanding the intense efforts for the development of new drugs and the identification of several promising candidates by using different approaches, including computational methods, so far only a few candidates have been experimentally tested. An important caveat of anti-flavivirus drug development is represented by the difficult of reproducing the in vivo microenvironment of the replication complex, which may lead to discrepancies between in vitro results and experimental evaluation in vivo. Moreover, anti-ZIKV drugs have the additional requirement of an excellent safety profile in pregnancy and ability to diffuse to different tissues, including the central nervous system, the testis, and the placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Riccetti
- a Department of Molecular Medicine , University of Padova , Padova , Italy
| | - Marta Trevisan
- a Department of Molecular Medicine , University of Padova , Padova , Italy
| | - Luisa Barzon
- a Department of Molecular Medicine , University of Padova , Padova , Italy
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Elfiky AA, Ismail AM. Molecular docking revealed the binding of nucleotide/side inhibitors to Zika viral polymerase solved structures. SAR AND QSAR IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 29:409-418. [PMID: 29652194 DOI: 10.1080/1062936x.2018.1454981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
A new Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak started in 2015. According to the World Health Organization, 84 countries confirmed ZIKV infection. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) was an appealing target for drug designers during the last two decades. Through molecular docking, we screened 16 nucleotide/side inhibitors against ZIKV RdRp. While the mode of interaction with ZIKV is different from that in the hepatitis C virus (HCV), nucleotide/side inhibitors in this study (mostly anti-HCV) showed promising binding affinities (-6.2 to -9.7 kcal/mol calculated by AutoDock Vina) to ZIKV RdRp. Setrobuvir, YAK and, to a lesser extent, IDX-184 reveal promising results compared to other inhibitors in terms of binding ZIKV RdRp. These candidates would be powerful anti-ZIKV drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Elfiky
- a Biophysics Department, Faculty of Sciences , Cairo University , Giza , Egypt
- b Quantitative Life Science Department, The Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics , Strada Costiera , Trieste , Italy
- c Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Alberta , Edmonton , AB , Canada
| | - A M Ismail
- a Biophysics Department, Faculty of Sciences , Cairo University , Giza , Egypt
- d Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry , University of Alberta , Edmonton , AB , Canada
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