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Deng R, Zhang L, Chen S, Li X, Xue B, Li H, Xu Y, Tian R, Liu Q, Wang L, Liu S, Yang D, Li P, Tang S, Zhu H. PZR suppresses innate immune response to RNA viral infection by inhibiting MAVS activation in interferon signaling mediated by RIG-I and MDA5. Antiviral Res 2024; 222:105797. [PMID: 38185222 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
RNA viral infections seriously endanger human health. Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2) suppresses innate immunity against influenza A virus, and pharmacological inhibition of SHP2 provokes hepatic innate immunity. SHP2 binds and catalyzes tyrosyl dephosphorylation of protein zero-related (PZR), but the regulatory effect of PZR on innate immune response to viral infection is unclear. In this study, the transcription and protein level of PZR in host cells were found to be decreased with RNA viral infection, and high level of PZR was uncovered to inhibit interferon (IFN) signaling mediated by RIG-I and MDA5. Through localizing in mitochondria, PZR targeted and interacted with MAVS (also known as IPS-1/VISA/Cardif), suppressing the aggregation and activation of MAVS. Specifically, Y263 residue in ITIM is critical for PZR to exert immunosuppression under RNA viral infection. Moreover, the recruited SHP2 by PZR that modified with tyrosine phosphorylation under RNA viral infection might inhibit phosphorylation activation of MAVS. In conclusion, PZR and SHP2 suppress innate immune response to RNA viral infection through inhibiting MAVS activation. This study reveals the regulatory mechanism of PZR-SHP2-MAVS signal axis on IFN signaling mediated by RIG-I and MDA5, which may provide new sight for developing antiviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rilin Deng
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Lini Zhang
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Shengwen Chen
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Xinran Li
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Binbin Xue
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Science, Department of Pathology and Hainan Province Clinical Medical Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China
| | - Huiyi Li
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Science, Department of Pathology and Hainan Province Clinical Medical Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Renyun Tian
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Luoling Wang
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Shun Liu
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Di Yang
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Penghui Li
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Songqing Tang
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Haizhen Zhu
- Institute of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Biology, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Science, Department of Pathology and Hainan Province Clinical Medical Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China.
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Hu X, Morazzani E, Compton JR, Harmon M, Soloveva V, Glass PJ, Garcia AD, Marugan JJ, Legler PM. In Silico Screening of Inhibitors of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Nonstructural Protein 2 Cysteine Protease. Viruses 2023; 15:1503. [PMID: 37515189 PMCID: PMC10385868 DOI: 10.3390/v15071503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) nonstructural protein 2 (nsP2) cysteine protease (EC 3.4.22.B79) is essential for viral replication. High throughput in silico/in vitro screening using a focused set of known cysteine protease inhibitors identified two epoxysuccinyl prodrugs, E64d and CA074 methyl ester (CA074me) and a reversible oxindole inhibitor. Here, we determined the X-ray crystal structure of the CA074-inhibited nsP2 protease and compared it with our E64d-inhibited structure. We found that the two inhibitors occupy different locations in the protease. We designed hybrid inhibitors with improved potency. Virus yield reduction assays confirmed that the viral titer was reduced by >5 logs with CA074me. Cell-based assays showed reductions in viral replication for CHIKV, VEEV, and WEEV, and weaker inhibition of EEEV by the hybrid inhibitors. The most potent was NCGC00488909-01 which had an EC50 of 1.76 µM in VEEV-Trd-infected cells; the second most potent was NCGC00484087 with an EC50 = 7.90 µM. Other compounds from the NCATS libraries such as the H1 antihistamine oxatomide (>5-log reduction), emetine, amsacrine an intercalator (NCGC0015113), MLS003116111-01, NCGC00247785-13, and MLS00699295-01 were found to effectively reduce VEEV viral replication in plaque assays. Kinetic methods demonstrated time-dependent inhibition by the hybrid inhibitors of the protease with NCGC00488909-01 (Ki = 3 µM) and NCGC00484087 (Ki = 5 µM). Rates of inactivation by CA074 in the presence of 6 mM CaCl2, MnCl2, or MgCl2 were measured with varying concentrations of inhibitor, Mg2+ and Mn2+ slightly enhanced inhibitor binding (3 to 6-fold). CA074 inhibited not only the VEEV nsP2 protease but also that of CHIKV and WEEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Hu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Elaine Morazzani
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Falls Church, VA 22042, USA
| | - Jaimee R Compton
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering (CBMSE), Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA
| | - Moeshia Harmon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
| | - Veronica Soloveva
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Pamela J Glass
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Andres Dulcey Garcia
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Juan J Marugan
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Patricia M Legler
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering (CBMSE), Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA
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Han L, Song S, Feng H, Ma J, Wei W, Si F. A roadmap for developing Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) vaccines: Lessons from the past, strategies for the future. Int J Biol Macromol 2023:125514. [PMID: 37353130 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125514] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), which can lead to severe central nervous system infections in both humans and animals. At present, the medical community does not possess a viable means of addressing VEE, rendering the prevention of the virus a matter of paramount importance. Regarding the prevention and control of VEEV, the implementation of a vaccination program has been recognized as the most efficient strategy. Nevertheless, there are currently no licensed vaccines or drugs available for human use against VEEV. This imperative has led to a surge of interest in vaccine research, with VEEV being a prime focus for researchers in the field. In this paper, we initially present a comprehensive overview of the current taxonomic classification of VEEV and the cellular infection mechanism of the virus. Subsequently, we provide a detailed introduction of the prominent VEEV vaccine types presently available, including inactivated vaccines, live attenuated vaccines, genetic, and virus-like particle vaccines. Moreover, we emphasize the challenges that current VEEV vaccine development faces and suggest urgent measures that must be taken to overcome these obstacles. Notably, based on our latest research, we propose the feasibility of incorporation codon usage bias strategies to create the novel VEEV vaccine. Finally, we prose several areas that future VEEV vaccine development should focus on. Our objective is to encourage collaboration between the medical and veterinary communities, expedite the translation of existing vaccines from laboratory to clinical applications, while also preparing for future outbreaks of new VEEV variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Han
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Breeding Pig, Shanghai 201106, China; Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Clinical Medical College of Henan University, Kai Feng 475000, China
| | - Shuai Song
- Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Veterinary Drugs and Diagnostic Techniques of Guangdong Province, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Huilin Feng
- Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Infection and Biological Safety, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Henan University, Kai Feng 475000, China
| | - Jing Ma
- Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Clinical Medical College of Henan University, Kai Feng 475000, China
| | - Wenqiang Wei
- Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Infection and Biological Safety, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Henan University, Kai Feng 475000, China.
| | - Fusheng Si
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Breeding Pig, Shanghai 201106, China.
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Hoffka G, Lountos GT, Needle D, Wlodawer A, Waugh DS, Tőzsér J, Mótyán JA. Self-inhibited State of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV) nsP2 Cysteine Protease: A Crystallographic and Molecular Dynamics Analysis. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168012. [PMID: 36792007 PMCID: PMC10758287 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
The Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) belongs to the Togaviridae family and is pathogenic to both humans and equines. The VEEV non-structural protein 2 (nsP2) is a cysteine protease (nsP2pro) that processes the polyprotein and thus it is a drug target for inhibitor discovery. The atomic structure of the VEEV nsP2 catalytic domain was previously characterized by both X-ray crystallography and computational studies. A modified nsP2pro harboring a N475A mutation in the N terminus was observed to exhibit an unexpected conformation: the N-terminal residues bind to the active site, mimicking binding of a substrate. The large conformational change of the N terminus was assumed to be induced by the N475A mutation, as N475 has an important role in stabilization of the N terminus and the active site. This conformation was first observed in the N475A mutant, but we also found it while determining a crystal structure of the catalytically active nsP2pro containing the wild-type N475 active site residue and K741A/K767A surface entropy reduction mutations. This suggests that the N475A mutation is not a prerequisite for self-inhibition. Here, we describe a high resolution (1.46 Å) crystal structure of a truncated nsP2pro (residues 463-785, K741A/K767A) and analyze the structure further by molecular dynamics to study the active and self-inhibited conformations of nsP2pro and its N475A mutant. A comparison of the different conformations of the N-terminal residues sheds a light on the interactions that play an important role in the stabilization of the enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyula Hoffka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Hungary; Doctoral School of Molecular Cell and Immune Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - George T Lountos
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Danielle Needle
- Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Alexander Wlodawer
- Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - David S Waugh
- Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - József Tőzsér
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Hungary
| | - János András Mótyán
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
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5
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Automated SSHHPS Analysis Predicts a Potential Host Protein Target Common to Several Neuroinvasive (+)ssRNA Viruses. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020542. [PMID: 36851756 PMCID: PMC9961674 DOI: 10.3390/v15020542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Within the viral genome, short stretches of homologous host pathogen sequences (SSHHPS) span the protease cleavage sites. To identify host proteins that may be cleaved during infection, we searched the human proteome for viral protease cleavage sites (~20 amino acids). We developed a sequence-to-symptom tool, automating the search and pairing process. We used the viral protein sequence, PHI-BLAST, and UniProt database for gene ontologies and disease relationships. We applied the tool to nine neuroinvasive viruses: Venezuelan and Eastern Equine encephalitis virus (VEEV, EEEV); severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS, SARS-CoV-2); Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS); EV-71; Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV); West Nile (WNV); and Zika (ZIKV). A comparison of the hits identified a protein common to all nine viruses called ADGRA2 (GPR124). ADGRA2 was a predicted hit of the 3CL main protease and papain-like protease (PLpro) of SARS-CoV-2. ADGRA2 is an adhesion G protein-coupled receptor and a key endothelial regulator of brain-specific angiogenesis. It is a Wnt7A/Wnt7B specific coactivator of beta-catenin signaling and is essential for blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity in central nervous system (CNS) diseases. We show the cleavage of the predicted sequences in MYOM1, VWF by the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro; DNAH8 (dynein) by the MERS PLpro; ADGRA2 by the alphaviral VEEV nsP2 protease; and POT1 by the SARS-CoV-2 and MERS PLpro.
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6
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Miltner N, Kalló G, Csősz É, Miczi M, Nagy T, Mahdi M, Mótyán JA, Tőzsér J. Identification of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (Mpro) Cleavage Sites Using Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis and In Silico Cleavage Site Prediction. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043236. [PMID: 36834648 PMCID: PMC9965337 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The main protease (Mpro) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) plays a crucial role in its life cycle. The Mpro-mediated limited proteolysis of the viral polyproteins is necessary for the replication of the virus, and cleavage of the host proteins of the infected cells may also contribute to viral pathogenesis, such as evading the immune responses or triggering cell toxicity. Therefore, the identification of host substrates of the viral protease is of special interest. To identify cleavage sites in cellular substrates of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, we determined changes in the HEK293T cellular proteome upon expression of the Mpro using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The candidate cellular substrates of Mpro were identified by mass spectrometry, and then potential cleavage sites were predicted in silico using NetCorona 1.0 and 3CLP web servers. The existence of the predicted cleavage sites was investigated by in vitro cleavage reactions using recombinant protein substrates containing the candidate target sequences, followed by the determination of cleavage positions using mass spectrometry. Unknown and previously described SARS-CoV-2 Mpro cleavage sites and cellular substrates were also identified. Identification of target sequences is important to understand the specificity of the enzyme, as well as aiding the improvement and development of computational methods for cleavage site prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémi Miltner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gergő Kalló
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Éva Csősz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Márió Miczi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Tibor Nagy
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Mohamed Mahdi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - János András Mótyán
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Correspondence: (J.A.M.); (J.T.); Tel.: +36-52-512-900 (J.A.M. & J.T.)
| | - József Tőzsér
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Correspondence: (J.A.M.); (J.T.); Tel.: +36-52-512-900 (J.A.M. & J.T.)
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Ogorek TJ, Golden JE. Advances in the Development of Small Molecule Antivirals against Equine Encephalitic Viruses. Viruses 2023; 15:413. [PMID: 36851628 PMCID: PMC9958955 DOI: 10.3390/v15020413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Venezuelan, western, and eastern equine encephalitic alphaviruses (VEEV, WEEV, and EEEV, respectively) are arboviruses that are highly pathogenic to equines and cause significant harm to infected humans. Currently, human alphavirus infection and the resulting diseases caused by them are unmitigated due to the absence of approved vaccines or therapeutics for general use. These circumstances, combined with the unpredictability of outbreaks-as exemplified by a 2019 EEE surge in the United States that claimed 19 patient lives-emphasize the risks posed by these viruses, especially for aerosolized VEEV and EEEV which are potential biothreats. Herein, small molecule inhibitors of VEEV, WEEV, and EEEV are reviewed that have been identified or advanced in the last five years since a comprehensive review was last performed. We organize structures according to host- versus virus-targeted mechanisms, highlight cellular and animal data that are milestones in the development pipeline, and provide a perspective on key considerations for the progression of compounds at early and later stages of advancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J. Ogorek
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jennifer E. Golden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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Skidmore AM, Bradfute SB. The life cycle of the alphaviruses: From an antiviral perspective. Antiviral Res 2023; 209:105476. [PMID: 36436722 PMCID: PMC9840710 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The alphaviruses are a widely distributed group of positive-sense, single stranded, RNA viruses. These viruses are largely arthropod-borne and can be found on all populated continents. These viruses cause significant human disease, and recently have begun to spread into new populations, such as the expansion of Chikungunya virus into southern Europe and the Caribbean, where it has established itself as endemic. The study of alphaviruses is an active and expanding field, due to their impacts on human health, their effects on agriculture, and the threat that some pose as potential agents of biological warfare and terrorism. In this systematic review we will summarize both historic knowledge in the field as well as recently published data that has potential to shift current theories in how alphaviruses are able to function. This review is comprehensive, covering all parts of the alphaviral life cycle as well as a brief overview of their pathology and the current state of research in regards to vaccines and therapeutics for alphaviral disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Skidmore
- Center for Global Health, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 915 Camino de Salud, IDTC Room 3245, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
| | - Steven B Bradfute
- Center for Global Health, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 915 Camino de Salud, IDTC Room 3330A, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
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Haikerwal A, Barrera MD, Bhalla N, Zhou W, Boghdeh N, Anderson C, Alem F, Narayanan A. Inhibition of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Using Small Interfering RNAs. Viruses 2022; 14:v14081628. [PMID: 35893693 PMCID: PMC9331859 DOI: 10.3390/v14081628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Acutely infectious new world alphaviruses such as Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV) pose important challenges to the human population due to a lack of effective therapeutic intervention strategies. Small interfering RNAs that can selectively target the viral genome (vsiRNAs) has been observed to offer survival advantages in several in vitro and in vivo models of acute virus infections, including alphaviruses such as Chikungunya virus and filoviruses such as Ebola virus. In this study, novel vsiRNAs that targeted conserved regions in the nonstructural and structural genes of the VEEV genome were designed and evaluated for antiviral activity in mammalian cells in the context of VEEV infection. The data demonstrate that vsiRNAs were able to effectively decrease the infectious virus titer at earlier time points post infection in the context of the attenuated TC-83 strain and the virulent Trinidad Donkey strain, while the inhibition was overcome at later time points. Depletion of Argonaute 2 protein (Ago2), the catalytic component of the RISC complex, negated the inhibitory effect of the vsiRNAs, underscoring the involvement of the siRNA pathway in the inhibition process. Depletion of the RNAi pathway proteins Dicer, MOV10, TRBP2 and Matrin 3 decreased viral load in infected cells, alluding to an impact of the RNAi pathway in the establishment of a productive infection. Additional studies focused on rational combinations of effective vsiRNAs and delivery strategies to confer better in vivo bioavailability and distribution to key target tissues such as the brain can provide effective solutions to treat encephalitic diseases resulting from alphavirus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrita Haikerwal
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (A.H.); (M.D.B.); (N.B.); (N.B.); (C.A.); (F.A.)
| | - Michael D. Barrera
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (A.H.); (M.D.B.); (N.B.); (N.B.); (C.A.); (F.A.)
| | - Nishank Bhalla
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (A.H.); (M.D.B.); (N.B.); (N.B.); (C.A.); (F.A.)
| | - Weidong Zhou
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA;
| | - Niloufar Boghdeh
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (A.H.); (M.D.B.); (N.B.); (N.B.); (C.A.); (F.A.)
| | - Carol Anderson
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (A.H.); (M.D.B.); (N.B.); (N.B.); (C.A.); (F.A.)
| | - Farhang Alem
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (A.H.); (M.D.B.); (N.B.); (N.B.); (C.A.); (F.A.)
| | - Aarthi Narayanan
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (A.H.); (M.D.B.); (N.B.); (N.B.); (C.A.); (F.A.)
- Correspondence:
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Lottini G, Baggiani M, Chesi G, D'Orsi B, Quaranta P, Lai M, Pancrazi L, Onorati M, Pistello M, Freer G, Costa M. Zika virus induces FOXG1 nuclear displacement and downregulation in human neural progenitors. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:1683-1698. [PMID: 35714598 PMCID: PMC9287670 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital alterations in the levels of the transcription factor Forkhead box g1 (FOXG1) coding gene trigger “FOXG1 syndrome,” a spectrum that recapitulates birth defects found in the “congenital Zika syndrome,” such as microcephaly and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Here, we report that Zika virus (ZIKV) infection alters FOXG1 nuclear localization and causes its downregulation, thus impairing expression of genes involved in cell replication and apoptosis in several cell models, including human neural progenitor cells. Growth factors, such as EGF and FGF2, and Thr271 residue located in FOXG1 AKT domain, take part in the nuclear displacement and apoptosis protection, respectively. Finally, by progressive deletion of FOXG1 sequence, we identify the C-terminus and the residues 428–481 as critical domains. Collectively, our data suggest a causal mechanism by which ZIKV affects FOXG1, its target genes, cell cycle progression, and survival of human neural progenitors, thus contributing to microcephaly. Zika virus induces FOXG1 displacement and downregulation in human neural progenitors FGF2 and EGF prevent FOXG1 displacement induced by Zika virus infection Phospho-Thr271 and C-terminal domain of FOXG1 are involved in its mislocalization FOXG1 target genes, cell survival, and cell death are affected by Zika virus
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Lottini
- Centro Retrovirus, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Matteo Baggiani
- Unit of Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Giulia Chesi
- Centro Retrovirus, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Beatrice D'Orsi
- Institute of Neuroscience, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi, 1, Pisa 56124, Italy; Centro Pisano ricerca e implementazione clinica Flash Radiotherapy (CPFR@CISUP), Presidio S. Chiara, ed.18 via Roma, 67, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Paola Quaranta
- Centro Retrovirus, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Michele Lai
- Centro Retrovirus, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Laura Pancrazi
- Institute of Neuroscience, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi, 1, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Marco Onorati
- Unit of Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Centro Retrovirus, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Giulia Freer
- Centro Retrovirus, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Mario Costa
- Institute of Neuroscience, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi, 1, Pisa 56124, Italy; Centro Pisano ricerca e implementazione clinica Flash Radiotherapy (CPFR@CISUP), Presidio S. Chiara, ed.18 via Roma, 67, Pisa 56126, Italy; Laboratory of Biology "Bio@SNS", Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri, Pisa 56124, Italy.
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11
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Wahaab A, Mustafa BE, Hameed M, Stevenson NJ, Anwar MN, Liu K, Wei J, Qiu Y, Ma Z. Potential Role of Flavivirus NS2B-NS3 Proteases in Viral Pathogenesis and Anti-flavivirus Drug Discovery Employing Animal Cells and Models: A Review. Viruses 2021; 14:44. [PMID: 35062249 PMCID: PMC8781031 DOI: 10.3390/v14010044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses are known to cause a variety of diseases in humans in different parts of the world. There are very limited numbers of antivirals to combat flavivirus infection, and therefore new drug targets must be explored. The flavivirus NS2B-NS3 proteases are responsible for the cleavage of the flavivirus polyprotein, which is necessary for productive viral infection and for causing clinical infections; therefore, they are a promising drug target for devising novel drugs against different flaviviruses. This review highlights the structural details of the NS2B-NS3 proteases of different flaviviruses, and also describes potential antiviral drugs that can interfere with the viral protease activity, as determined by various studies. Moreover, optimized in vitro reaction conditions for studying the NS2B-NS3 proteases of different flaviviruses may vary and have been incorporated in this review. The increasing availability of the in silico and crystallographic/structural details of flavivirus NS2B-NS3 proteases in free and drug-bound states can pave the path for the development of promising antiflavivirus drugs to be used in clinics. However, there is a paucity of information available on using animal cells and models for studying flavivirus NS2B-NS3 proteases, as well as on the testing of the antiviral drug efficacy against NS2B-NS3 proteases. Therefore, on the basis of recent studies, an effort has also been made to propose potential cellular and animal models for the study of flavivirus NS2B-NS3 proteases for the purposes of exploring flavivirus pathogenesis and for testing the efficacy of possible drugs targets, in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Wahaab
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 200241, China; (A.W.); (M.H.); (M.N.A.); (K.L.); (J.W.)
| | - Bahar E Mustafa
- Sub Campus Toba Tek Singh, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 36050, Pakistan;
| | - Muddassar Hameed
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 200241, China; (A.W.); (M.H.); (M.N.A.); (K.L.); (J.W.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, State University, Fralin Life Sciences Building, 360 W Campus Blacksburg, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Nigel J. Stevenson
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen, Adliya 15503, Bahrain;
- Viral Immunology Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 R590 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Muhammad Naveed Anwar
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 200241, China; (A.W.); (M.H.); (M.N.A.); (K.L.); (J.W.)
| | - Ke Liu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 200241, China; (A.W.); (M.H.); (M.N.A.); (K.L.); (J.W.)
| | - Jianchao Wei
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 200241, China; (A.W.); (M.H.); (M.N.A.); (K.L.); (J.W.)
| | - Yafeng Qiu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 200241, China; (A.W.); (M.H.); (M.N.A.); (K.L.); (J.W.)
| | - Zhiyong Ma
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 200241, China; (A.W.); (M.H.); (M.N.A.); (K.L.); (J.W.)
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12
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Guerrero-Arguero I, Tellez-Freitas CM, Weber KS, Berges BK, Robison RA, Pickett BE. Alphaviruses: Host pathogenesis, immune response, and vaccine & treatment updates. J Gen Virol 2021; 102. [PMID: 34435944 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Human pathogens belonging to the Alphavirus genus, in the Togaviridae family, are transmitted primarily by mosquitoes. The signs and symptoms associated with these viruses include fever and polyarthralgia, defined as joint pain and inflammation, as well as encephalitis. In the last decade, our understanding of the interactions between members of the alphavirus genus and the human host has increased due to the re-appearance of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in Asia and Europe, as well as its emergence in the Americas. Alphaviruses affect host immunity through cytokines and the interferon response. Understanding alphavirus interactions with both the innate immune system as well as the various cells in the adaptive immune systems is critical to developing effective therapeutics. In this review, we summarize the latest research on alphavirus-host cell interactions, underlying infection mechanisms, and possible treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israel Guerrero-Arguero
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.,Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | | | - K Scott Weber
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Bradford K Berges
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Richard A Robison
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Brett E Pickett
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
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13
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Reynolds N, Aceves NM, Liu JL, Compton JR, Leary DH, Freitas BT, Pegan SD, Doctor KZ, Wu FY, Hu X, Legler PM. The SARS-CoV-2 SSHHPS Recognized by the Papain-like Protease. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1483-1502. [PMID: 34019767 PMCID: PMC8171221 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Viral proteases are highly specific and recognize conserved cleavage site sequences of ∼6-8 amino acids. Short stretches of homologous host-pathogen sequences (SSHHPS) can be found spanning the viral protease cleavage sites. We hypothesized that these sequences corresponded to specific host protein targets since >40 host proteins have been shown to be cleaved by Group IV viral proteases and one Group VI viral protease. Using PHI-BLAST and the viral protease cleavage site sequences, we searched the human proteome for host targets and analyzed the hit results. Although the polyprotein and host proteins related to the suppression of the innate immune responses may be the primary targets of these viral proteases, we identified other cleavable host proteins. These proteins appear to be related to the virus-induced phenotype associated with Group IV viruses, suggesting that information about viral pathogenesis may be extractable directly from the viral genome sequence. Here we identify sequences cleaved by the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) in vitro within human MYH7 and MYH6 (two cardiac myosins linked to several cardiomyopathies), FOXP3 (an X-linked Treg cell transcription factor), ErbB4 (HER4), and vitamin-K-dependent plasma protein S (PROS1), an anticoagulation protein that prevents blood clots. Zinc inhibited the cleavage of these host sequences in vitro. Other patterns emerged from multispecies sequence alignments of the cleavage sites, which may have implications for the selection of animal models and zoonosis. SSHHPS/nsP is an example of a sequence-specific post-translational silencing mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathanael
D. Reynolds
- Center
for Bio/molecular Science and Engineering (CBMSE), U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue, Washington, DC 20375, United States
| | | | - Jinny L. Liu
- Center
for Bio/molecular Science and Engineering (CBMSE), U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue, Washington, DC 20375, United States
| | - Jaimee R. Compton
- Center
for Bio/molecular Science and Engineering (CBMSE), U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue, Washington, DC 20375, United States
| | - Dagmar H. Leary
- Center
for Bio/molecular Science and Engineering (CBMSE), U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue, Washington, DC 20375, United States
| | - Brendan T. Freitas
- Center
for Drug Discovery, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Scott D. Pegan
- Center
for Drug Discovery, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Katarina Z. Doctor
- Navy
Center for Applied Research in AI (NCARAI) Information Technology
Division, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave., Washington, DC 20375, United States
| | - Fred Y. Wu
- Indiana
University Health Systems, Indiana University
School of Medicine, Bloomington, Indiana 47401, United States
| | - Xin Hu
- National
Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of
Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United
States
| | - Patricia M. Legler
- Center
for Bio/molecular Science and Engineering (CBMSE), U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue, Washington, DC 20375, United States
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14
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Identification of Host Cellular Protein Substrates of SARS-COV-2 Main Protease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249523. [PMID: 33333742 PMCID: PMC7765187 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) being associated with severe pneumonia. Like with other viruses, the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with host cell proteins is necessary for successful replication, and cleavage of cellular targets by the viral protease also may contribute to the pathogenesis, but knowledge about the human proteins that are processed by the main protease (3CLpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is still limited. We tested the prediction potentials of two different in silico methods for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro cleavage sites in human proteins. Short stretches of homologous host-pathogen protein sequences (SSHHPS) that are present in SARS-CoV-2 polyprotein and human proteins were identified using BLAST analysis, and the NetCorona 1.0 webserver was used to successfully predict cleavage sites, although this method was primarily developed for SARS-CoV. Human C-terminal-binding protein 1 (CTBP1) was found to be cleaved in vitro by SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, the existence of the cleavage site was proved experimentally by using a His6-MBP-mEYFP recombinant substrate containing the predicted target sequence. Our results highlight both potentials and limitations of the tested algorithms. The identification of candidate host substrates of 3CLpro may help better develop an understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the replication and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2.
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15
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Bozóki B, Mótyán JA, Hoffka G, Waugh DS, Tőzsér J. Specificity Studies of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Non-Structural Protein 2 Protease Using Recombinant Fluorescent Substrates. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7686. [PMID: 33081394 PMCID: PMC7593941 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The non-structural protein 2 (nsP2) of alphavirus Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a cysteine protease that is responsible for processing of the viral non-structural polyprotein and is an important drug target owing to the clinical relevance of VEEV. In this study we designed two recombinant VEEV nsP2 constructs to study the effects of an N-terminal extension on the protease activity and to investigate the specificity of the elongated enzyme in vitro. The N-terminal extension was found to have no substantial effect on the protease activity. The amino acid preferences of the VEEV nsP2 protease were investigated on substrates representing wild-type and P5, P4, P2, P1, P1', and P2' variants of Semliki forest virus nsP1/nsP2 cleavage site, using a His6-MBP-mEYFP recombinant substrate-based protease assay which has been adapted for a 96-well plate-based format. The structural basis of enzyme specificity was also investigated in silico by analyzing a modeled structure of VEEV nsP2 complexed with oligopeptide substrate. To our knowledge, in vitro screening of P1' amino acid preferences of VEEV nsP2 protease remains undetermined to date, thus, our results may provide valuable information for studies and inhibitor design of different alphaviruses or other Group IV viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beáta Bozóki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.B.); (G.H.)
- Doctoral School of Molecular Cell and Immune Biology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - János András Mótyán
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.B.); (G.H.)
| | - Gyula Hoffka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.B.); (G.H.)
- Doctoral School of Molecular Cell and Immune Biology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- MTA-DE Laboratory of Protein Dynamics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - David S. Waugh
- Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA;
| | - József Tőzsér
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.B.); (G.H.)
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16
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Fatma B, Kumar R, Singh VA, Nehul S, Sharma R, Kesari P, Kuhn RJ, Tomar S. Alphavirus capsid protease inhibitors as potential antiviral agents for Chikungunya infection. Antiviral Res 2020; 179:104808. [PMID: 32380148 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arthritogenic alphavirus and currently, no antiviral drug is available to combat it. Capsid protein (CP) of alphaviruses present at the N-terminus of the structural polyprotein possesses auto-proteolytic activity which is essential for initiating the structural polyprotein processing. We are reporting for the first time antiviral molecules targeting capsid proteolytic activity. Structure-assisted drug-repositioning identified three molecules: P1,P4-Di(adenosine-5') tetraphosphate (AP4), Eptifibatide acetate (EAC) and Paromomycin sulphate (PSU) as potential capsid protease inhibitors. A FRET-based proteolytic assay confirmed anti-proteolytic activity of these molecules. Additionally, in vitro cell-based antiviral studies showed that EAC, AP4, and PSU drastically stifled CHIKV at the post-entry step with a half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 4.01 μM, 10.66 μM and 22.91 μM; respectively. Interestingly, the inhibitors had no adverse effect on viral RNA synthesis and treatment of cells with inhibitors diminished levels of CP in virus-infected cells, which confirmed inhibition of capsid auto-proteolytic activity. In conclusion, the discovery of antiviral molecules targeting capsid protease demystifies the alphavirus capsid protease as a potential target for antiviral drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benazir Fatma
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Ravi Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Vedita Anand Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Sanketkumar Nehul
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Rajesh Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Pooja Kesari
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Richard J Kuhn
- Department of Biological Sciences, And Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Shailly Tomar
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India.
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17
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Huang C, Wang X, Huang S, Ou L, Dai J, Wang K. Evasion strategies of Zika virus antagonizing host innate immunity. Future Virol 2019. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2019-0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus is a small enveloped positive-strand RNA virus, which belongs to the Flaviviridae family. The RNA genome of all flaviviruses encodes three structural and seven nonstructural genes, together with 5′- and 3′-untranslated region genes flanking. Accompanying the explosive nature of the Zika outbreak in 2014, there was a devastating congenital neurodevelopmental disease in fetuses. Apart from viral RNA replication, polyprotein cleavage, Zika virus nonstructural proteins also play vital roles in the host's innate immune evasion. In this brief report, we summarize the evasion mechanisms of the viral nonstructural proteins antagonizing host antiviral innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxiao Huang
- Institutes of Biology & Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Xiujuan Wang
- Institutes of Biology & Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Shuyi Huang
- Institutes of Biology & Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Linlin Ou
- Institutes of Biology & Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Jianfeng Dai
- Institutes of Biology & Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Kezhen Wang
- Institutes of Biology & Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China
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