Examining the interactions scorpion venom peptides (HP1090, Meucin-13, and Meucin-18) with the receptor binding domain of the coronavirus spike protein to design a mutated therapeutic peptide

Emerging therapeutic applications of scorpion venom peptides in the Middle East and North Africa: A comprehensive review

The predominantly arid and semi-arid climate, with high temperatures and vast desert areas in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, creates a favorable environment for scorpions, resulting in diversity of species of different genera. Animal venom, particularly scorpion venom, poses a health risk to victims who are envenomed. However, its abundance of bioactive protein molecules also makes it a promising source for new drug development. Numerous studies worldwide have revealed that venom-based molecules exhibit diverse therapeutic activities, including anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-hypertensive, immunomodulatory, and analgesic properties. Researchers from MENA region are also actively contributing to this global challenge. In this review, we will explore the abundance and diversity of scorpions in the MENA region and examine recent studies on the therapeutic activities of molecules extracted from their venom. Nonetheless, additional research is needed to address the challenges of developing effective natural drugs from scorpion venom.

In silico antiviral effect assessment of some venom gland peptides from Odontobuthus doriae scorpion against SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 is from the enveloped virus family responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. No efficient drugs are currently available to treat infection explicitly caused by this virus. Therefore, searching for effective treatments for severe illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 is crucial. Scorpion venoms are significant sources of peptides with pharmaceutical potential, including antivirals. Although some studies have determined the antiviral effects of some scorpion peptides on other members of the Coronaviridae family, a few anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects of these peptides have been reported until now. This study assessed the antiviral effects of five predicted antimicrobial peptides with potential for antiviral activities from the Iranian yellow scorpion "Odontobuthus doriae" by computational methods. These peptides were selected from the cDNA library that our research team constructed. A 3D model of peptides was designed with I-TASSER. The models were refined using a 200 ns Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation using Gromacs 2021.2 software. Refined models were Docked with the RBD domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using HADDOCK software. The docking of human ACE2 peptide with the RBD domain was also assessed. The docked complexes (RBD-peptide and RBD-ACE2) were refined again by a 100 ns MD simulation and then analyzed. The results from molecular docking after molecular dynamics simulation showed that ODAMP2 and ODAMP5 after stabilizing analysis and according to MMPBSA results (with -59.24 kcal/mol and -51.82 kcal/mol, respectively) have a strong binding affinity to the RBD domain of COVID-19 spike protein compared to human ACE2 and some other studied components. Therefore, this peptide can be an excellent candidate for use as an agent to inhibit the RBD domain of SARS-COV2 virus in clinical studies for medicinal purposes after in vitro and in vivo laboratory evaluations.

Exploring the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein destabilizer toxin from the scorpion, spider, and wasp group of toxins as a promising candidate for the identification of pharmacophores against viral infections

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the infectious agent that causes coronavirus illness (COVID-19). The majority of virus-infected individuals will recover without the need for special care after experiencing mild-to-moderate respiratory symptoms. Some people, nevertheless, will get quite sick and need medical help. The choice of COVID-19 treatment should be made individually. The severity of the illness and the chance that it will worsen will determine the decision. Therefore, developing more potent medications is always a primary goal. Finding more effective drugs is a top priority. In this regard, natural animal toxins, such as toxin derived from scorpions, spiders, and wasps, have been found to include compounds that have significant therapeutic properties. Specifically, targeting the spike protein which acts as a gateway for the vires to enter the human or animal cells.

Aim

This study focuses on the ability of toxins to destabilize the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is responsible for the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Methods

The active protein structure of the SARS-CoV-2, the toxins chosen obtained from the RCSB-protein data bank (PDB), and the molecular structures of toxins that were not proteins were either obtained from PubChem or downloaded as computer structure models from RCSB-PDB. Using molecular docking software such as "PyRx," analyzers such as "BIOVIA-Discovery studios" and "Pymol," and various techniques, the evaluation of the interactions between the spike protein and toxin was performed, to find possible pharmacophores that might serve as a foundation for upcoming medication development. The protein-ligand complex was put to test through the molecular dynamic (MD) simulation via visual molecular dynamics /nanoscale molecular dynamics application to determine the complex stability.

Results

The current research findings reveal intriguing binding affinities and interaction patterns between the toxin and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, where the complex was identified to be stable throughout the study resembling the cellular conditions via MD simulations. We discuss the implications of these interactions and how they might interfere viral infection and entry.

Conclusion

The current study sheds light on a promising avenue for the development of antiviral therapies, leveraging natural venoms as a source of inspiration for pharmacophore-based drug discovery opposing viral infections.

Exploring the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein destabilizer toxin from the scorpion, spider, and wasp group of toxins as a promising candidate for the identification of pharmacophores against viral infections

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the infectious agent that causes coronavirus illness (COVID-19). The majority of virus-infected individuals will recover without the need for special care after experiencing mild-to-moderate respiratory symptoms. Some people, nevertheless, will get quite sick and need medical help. The choice of COVID-19 treatment should be made individually. The severity of the illness and the chance that it will worsen will determine the decision. Therefore, developing more potent medications is always a primary goal. Finding more effective drugs is a top priority. In this regard, natural animal toxins, such as toxin derived from scorpions, spiders, and wasps, have been found to include compounds that have significant therapeutic properties. Specifically, targeting the spike protein which acts as a gateway for the vires to enter the human or animal cells.

Aim

This study focuses on the ability of toxins to destabilize the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is responsible for the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Methods

The active protein structure of the SARS-CoV-2, the toxins chosen obtained from the RCSB-protein data bank (PDB), and the molecular structures of toxins that were not proteins were either obtained from PubChem or downloaded as computer structure models from RCSB-PDB. Using molecular docking software such as "PyRx," analyzers such as "BIOVIA-Discovery studios" and "Pymol," and various techniques, the evaluation of the interactions between the spike protein and toxin was performed, to find possible pharmacophores that might serve as a foundation for upcoming medication development. The protein-ligand complex was put to test through the molecular dynamic (MD) simulation via visual molecular dynamics /nanoscale molecular dynamics application to determine the complex stability.

Results

The current research findings reveal intriguing binding affinities and interaction patterns between the toxin and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, where the complex was identified to be stable throughout the study resembling the cellular conditions via MD simulations. We discuss the implications of these interactions and how they might interfere viral infection and entry.

Conclusion

The current study sheds light on a promising avenue for the development of antiviral therapies, leveraging natural venoms as a source of inspiration for pharmacophore-based drug discovery opposing viral infections.

Central Countries' and Brazil's Contributions to Nanotechnology

Abstract:

Nanotechnology is a cornerstone of the scientific advances witnessed over the past few years. Nanotechnology applications are extensively broad, and an overview of the main trends worldwide can give an insight into the most researched areas and gaps to be covered. This document presents an overview of the trend topics of the three leading countries studying in this area, as well as Brazil for comparison. The data mining was made from the Scopus database and analyzed using the VOSviewer and Voyant Tools software. More than 44.000 indexed articles published from 2010 to 2020 revealed that the countries responsible for the highest number of published articles are The United States, China, and India, while Brazil is in the fifteenth position. Thematic global networks revealed that the standing-out research topics are health science, energy, wastewater treatment, and electronics. In a temporal observation, the primary topics of research are: India (2020), which was devoted to facing SARS-COV 2; Brazil (2019), which is developing promising strategies to combat cancer; China (2018), whit research on nanomedicine and triboelectric nanogenerators; the United States (2017) and the Global tendencies (2018) are also related to the development of triboelectric nanogenerators. The collected data are available on GitHub. This study demonstrates the innovative use of data-mining technologies to gain a comprehensive understanding of nanotechnology's contributions and trends and highlights the diverse priorities of nations in this cutting-edge field.

Short-Chained Linear Scorpion Peptides: A Pool for Novel Antimicrobials

Scorpion venom peptides are generally classified into two main groups: the disulfide bridged peptides (DBPs), which usually target membrane-associated ion channels, and the non-disulfide bridged peptides (NDBPs), a smaller group with multifunctional properties. In the past decade, these peptides have gained interest because most of them display functions that include antimicrobial, anticancer, haemolytic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Our current study focuses on the short (9-19 amino acids) antimicrobial linear scorpion peptides. Most of these peptides display a net positive charge of 1 or 2, an isoelectric point at pH 9-10, a broad range of hydrophobicity, and a Grand Average of Hydropathy (GRAVY) Value ranging between -0.05 and 1.7. These features allow these peptides to be attracted toward the negatively charged phospholipid head groups of the lipid membranes of target cells, a force driven by electrostatic interactions. This review outlines the antimicrobial potential of short-chained linear scorpion venom peptides. Additionally, short linear scorpion peptides are in general more attractive for large-scale synthesis from a manufacturing point of view. The structural and functional diversity of these peptides represents a good starting point for the development of new peptide-based therapeutics.

Venomous gland transcriptome and venom proteomic analysis of the scorpion Androctonus amoreuxi reveal new peptides with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity

The recent COVID-19 pandemic shows the critical need for novel broad spectrum antiviral agents. Scorpion venoms are known to contain highly bioactive peptides, several of which have demonstrated strong antiviral activity against a range of viruses. We have generated the first annotated reference transcriptome for the Androctonus amoreuxi venom gland and used high performance liquid chromatography, transcriptome mining, circular dichroism and mass spectrometric analysis to purify and characterize twelve previously undescribed venom peptides. Selected peptides were tested for binding to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and inhibition of the spike RBD - human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) interaction using surface plasmon resonance-based assays. Seven peptides showed dose-dependent inhibitory effects, albeit with IC50 in the high micromolar range (117-1202 µM). The most active peptide was synthesized using solid phase peptide synthesis and tested for its antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 (Lineage B.1.1.7). On exposure to the synthetic peptide of a human lung cell line infected with replication-competent SARS-CoV-2, we observed an IC50 of 200 nM, which was nearly 600-fold lower than that observed in the RBD - hACE2 binding inhibition assay. Our results show that scorpion venom peptides can inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 replication although unlikely through inhibition of spike RBD - hACE2 interaction as the primary mode of action. Scorpion venom peptides represent excellent scaffolds for design of novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 constrained peptides. Future studies should fully explore their antiviral mode of action as well as the structural dynamics of inhibition of target virus-host interactions.

Peptides with Diverse Functions from Scorpion Venom: A Great Opportunity for the Treatment of a Wide Variety of Diseases

Toxicology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

The venom glands are a rich source of biologically important peptides with pharmaceutical properties. Scorpion venoms have been identified as a reservoir for components that might be considered as great candidates for drug development. Pharmacological properties of the venom compounds have been confirmed in the treatment of different disorders. Ion channel blockers and AMPs are the main groups of scorpion venom components. Despite the existence of several studies about scorpion peptides, there are still valuable components to be discovered. Additionally, owing to the improvement of proteomics and transcriptomics, the number of peptide drugs is steadily increasing, which reflects the importance of these medications. This review evaluates available literatures on some important scorpion venom peptides with pharmaceutical activities. Given that the last three years have been dominated by the COVID-19 from the medical/pharmaceutical perspective, scorpion compounds with the potential against the coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are discussed in this review.

Harnessing the Power of Venomous Animal-Derived Toxins against COVID-19

Animal-derived venoms are complex mixtures of toxins triggering important biological effects during envenomings. Although venom-derived toxins are known for their potential of causing harm to victims, toxins can also act as pharmacological agents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was observed an increase in in-depth studies on antiviral agents, and since, to date, there has been no completely effective drug against the global disease. This review explores the crosstalk of animal toxins and COVID-19, aiming to map potential therapeutic agents derived from venoms (e.g., bees, snakes, scorpions, etc.) targeting COVID-19.

Antimicrobial Mechanisms and Clinical Application Prospects of Antimicrobial Peptides

Antimicrobial peptides are a type of small-molecule peptide that widely exist in nature and are components of the innate immunity of almost all living things. They play an important role in resisting foreign invading microorganisms. Antimicrobial peptides have a wide range of antibacterial activities against bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms. They are active against traditional antibiotic-resistant strains and do not easily induce the development of drug resistance. Therefore, they have become a hot spot of medical research and are expected to become a new substitute for fighting microbial infection and represent a new method for treating drug-resistant bacteria. This review briefly introduces the source and structural characteristics of antimicrobial peptides and describes those that have been used against common clinical microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and especially coronaviruses), focusing on their antimicrobial mechanism of action and clinical application prospects.

Antiviral Effects of Animal Toxins: Is There a Way to Drugs?

Viruses infect all types of organisms, causing viral diseases, which are very common in humans. Since viruses use the metabolic pathways of their host cells to replicate, they are difficult to eradicate without affecting the cells. The most effective measures against viral infections are vaccinations and antiviral drugs, which selectively inhibit the viral replication cycle. Both methods have disadvantages, which requires the development of new approaches to the treatment of viral diseases. In the study of animal venoms, it was found that, in addition to toxicity, venoms exhibit other types of biological activity, including an antiviral one, the first mention of which dates back to middle of the last century, but detailed studies of their antiviral activity have been conducted over the past 15 years. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced these studies and several compounds with antiviral activity have been identified in venoms. Some of them are very active and can be considered as the basis for antiviral drugs. This review discusses recent antiviral studies, the found compounds with high antiviral activity, and the possible mechanisms of their action. The prospects for using the animal venom components to create antiviral drugs, and the expected problems and possible solutions are also considered.