1
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Murray J, Martin DE, Hosking S, Orr-Burks N, Hogan RJ, Tripp RA. Probenecid Inhibits Influenza A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) Viruses In Vitro and in Mice. Viruses 2024; 16:152. [PMID: 38275962 PMCID: PMC10821351 DOI: 10.3390/v16010152] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Avian influenza (AI) viruses cause infection in birds and humans. Several H5N1 and H7N9 variants are highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses. H5N1 is a highly infectious bird virus infecting primarily poultry, but unlike other AIs, H5N1 also infects mammals and transmits to humans with a case fatality rate above 40%. Similarly, H7N9 can infect humans, with a case fatality rate of over 40%. Since 1996, there have been several HPAI outbreaks affecting humans, emphasizing the need for safe and effective antivirals. We show that probenecid potently inhibits H5N1 and H7N9 replication in prophylactically or therapeutically treated A549 cells and normal human broncho-epithelial (NHBE) cells, and H5N1 replication in VeroE6 cells and mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackelyn Murray
- Animal Health Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine Athens, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA; (J.M.); (S.H.); (N.O.-B.); (R.J.H.)
| | | | - Sarah Hosking
- Animal Health Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine Athens, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA; (J.M.); (S.H.); (N.O.-B.); (R.J.H.)
| | - Nichole Orr-Burks
- Animal Health Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine Athens, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA; (J.M.); (S.H.); (N.O.-B.); (R.J.H.)
| | - Robert J. Hogan
- Animal Health Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine Athens, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA; (J.M.); (S.H.); (N.O.-B.); (R.J.H.)
| | - Ralph A. Tripp
- Animal Health Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine Athens, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA; (J.M.); (S.H.); (N.O.-B.); (R.J.H.)
- TrippBio, Inc., Jacksonville, FL 32256, USA;
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2
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Liang JJ, Pitsillou E, Hung A, Karagiannis TC. A repository of COVID-19 related molecular dynamics simulations and utilisation in the context of nsp10-nsp16 antivirals. J Mol Graph Model 2024; 126:108666. [PMID: 37976980 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2023.108666] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted the importance of establishing systems and infrastructure to develop vaccines, antiviral drugs, and therapeutic antibodies against emerging pathogens. Typical drug discovery processes involve targeting suitable proteins to effect pathogen replication or to attenuate host responses, by examining either large chemical databases or protein-protein interactions. Following initial screens, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are critical for gaining further insight into molecular interactions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many research groups made their simulations widely available, as highlighted by the comprehensive D.E. Shaw Research trajectory database. To investigate protein target sites and evaluate potential lead compounds, we performed over 300 MD simulations relating to COVID-19. We organised our simulations into a repository, which is publicly available at https://epimedlab.org/trajectories/. The trajectories cover a large part of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) proteome, and the majority of our MD simulations focused on the identification of potential antivirals. For example, we focused on the S-adenosyl-l-methionine binding site of the nsp10-nsp16 complex, a critical component of viral replication, revealing verbascoside as a potential lead. Moreover, we utilised MD trajectories to explore the interface between the spike protein receptor binding domain and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, with the ultimate aim being investigation of new variants in real-time. Overall, MD simulations are a critical component of the in silico drug discovery process and as highlighted throughout the pandemic, data sharing enables accelerated progress. We have organised our extensive collection of COVID-19 related MD trajectories into an easily accessible repository.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia J Liang
- Epigenetics in Human Health and Disease Program, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Prahran, VIC, 3004, Australia; Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Training, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Eleni Pitsillou
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Training, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Andrew Hung
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Tom C Karagiannis
- Epigenetics in Human Health and Disease Program, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Prahran, VIC, 3004, Australia; Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Training, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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3
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Duan L, Tang B, Luo S, Xiong D, Wang Q, Xu X, Zhang JZH. Entropy driven cooperativity effect in multi-site drug optimization targeting SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:313. [PMID: 37796323 PMCID: PMC11072831 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04985-4] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Papain-like protease (PLpro), a non-structural protein encoded by SARS-CoV-2, is an important therapeutic target. Regions 1 and 5 of an existing drug, GRL0617, can be optimized to produce cooperativity with PLpro binding, resulting in stronger binding affinity. This work investigated the origin of the cooperativity using molecular dynamics simulations combined with the interaction entropy (IE) method. The regions' improvement exhibits cooperativity by calculating the binding free energies between the complex of PLpro-inhibitor. The thermodynamic integration method further verified the cooperativity generated in the drug improvement. To further determine the specific source of cooperativity, enthalpy and entropy in the complexes were calculated using molecular mechanics/generalized Born surface area and IE. The results show that the entropic change is an important contributor to the cooperativity. Our study also identified residues P248, Q269, and T301 that play a significant role in cooperativity. The optimization of the inhibitor stabilizes these residues and minimizes the entropic loss, and the cooperativity observed in the binding free energy can be attributed to the change in the entropic contribution of these residues. Based on our research, the application of cooperativity can facilitate drug optimization, and provide theoretical ideas for drug development that leverage cooperativity by reducing the contribution of entropy through multi-locus binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Duan
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China.
| | - Bolin Tang
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Song Luo
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Danyang Xiong
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Qihang Wang
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Xiaole Xu
- School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - John Z H Zhang
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology and Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
- NYU-ECNU Center for Computational Chemistry at NYU Shanghai, Shanghai, 200062, China.
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
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4
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Marx SK, Mickolajczyk KJ, Craig J, Thomas C, Pfeffer A, Abell S, Carrasco J, Franzi M, Huang J, Kim H, Brinkerhoff H, Kapoor T, Gundlach J, Laszlo A. Observing inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 helicase at single-nucleotide resolution. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:9266-9278. [PMID: 37560916 PMCID: PMC10516658 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The genome of SARS-CoV-2 encodes for a helicase (nsp13) that is essential for viral replication and highly conserved across related viruses, making it an attractive antiviral target. Here we use nanopore tweezers, a high-resolution single-molecule technique, to gain detailed insight into how nsp13 turns ATP-hydrolysis into directed motion along nucleic acid strands. We measured nsp13 both as it translocates along single-stranded DNA or unwinds double-stranded DNA. Our data reveal nsp13's single-nucleotide steps, translocating at ∼1000 nt/s or unwinding at ∼100 bp/s. Nanopore tweezers' high spatiotemporal resolution enables detailed kinetic analysis of nsp13 motion. As a proof-of-principle for inhibition studies, we observed nsp13's motion in the presence of the ATPase inhibitor ATPγS. We construct a detailed picture of inhibition in which ATPγS has multiple mechanisms of inhibition. The dominant mechanism of inhibition depends on the application of assisting force. This lays the groundwork for future single-molecule inhibition studies with viral helicases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinduja K Marx
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Keith J Mickolajczyk
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Jonathan M Craig
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - Akira M Pfeffer
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Sarah J Abell
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - Michaela C Franzi
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jesse R Huang
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Hwanhee C Kim
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Henry Brinkerhoff
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Tarun M Kapoor
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jens H Gundlach
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Andrew H Laszlo
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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5
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Chatterjee S, Bhattacharya M, Dhama K, Lee SS, Chakraborty C. Molnupiravir's mechanism of action drives "error catastrophe" in SARS-CoV-2: A therapeutic strategy that leads to lethal mutagenesis of the virus. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 33:49-52. [PMID: 37397276 PMCID: PMC10300273 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Srijan Chatterjee
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopaedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Manojit Bhattacharya
- Department of Zoology, Fakir Mohan University, Vyasa Vihar, Balasore, Odisha 756020, India
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243122, India
| | - Sang-Soo Lee
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopaedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Chiranjib Chakraborty
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Adamas University, Kolkata, West Bengal 700126, India
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6
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von Delft A, Hall MD, Kwong AD, Purcell LA, Saikatendu KS, Schmitz U, Tallarico JA, Lee AA. Accelerating antiviral drug discovery: lessons from COVID-19. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:585-603. [PMID: 37173515 PMCID: PMC10176316 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00692-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a wave of rapid and collaborative drug discovery efforts took place in academia and industry, culminating in several therapeutics being discovered, approved and deployed in a 2-year time frame. This article summarizes the collective experience of several pharmaceutical companies and academic collaborations that were active in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antiviral discovery. We outline our opinions and experiences on key stages in the small-molecule drug discovery process: target selection, medicinal chemistry, antiviral assays, animal efficacy and attempts to pre-empt resistance. We propose strategies that could accelerate future efforts and argue that a key bottleneck is the lack of quality chemical probes around understudied viral targets, which would serve as a starting point for drug discovery. Considering the small size of the viral proteome, comprehensively building an arsenal of probes for proteins in viruses of pandemic concern is a worthwhile and tractable challenge for the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette von Delft
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute for Health Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Matthew D Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Alpha A Lee
- PostEra, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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7
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Chalmers G. Introducing ligand GA, a genetic algorithm molecular tool for automated protein inhibitor design. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20877. [PMID: 36463310 PMCID: PMC9719503 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22281-2] [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: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Ligand GA is introduced in this work and approaches the problem of finding small molecules inhibiting protein functions by using the protein site to find close to optimal or optimal small molecule binders. Genetic algorithms (GA) are an effective means for approximating or solving computationally hard mathematics problems with large search spaces such as this one. The algorithm is designed to include constraints on the generated molecules from ADME restriction, localization in a binding site, specified hydrogen bond requirements, toxicity prevention from multiple proteins, sub-structure restrictions, and database inclusion. This algorithm and work is in the context of computational modeling, ligand design and docking to protein sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon Chalmers
- grid.213876.90000 0004 1936 738XComplex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
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8
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Marx SK, Mickolajczyk KJ, Craig JM, Thomas CA, Pfeffer AM, Abell SJ, Carrasco JD, Franzi MC, Huang JR, Kim HC, Brinkerhoff HD, Kapoor TM, Gundlach JH, Laszlo AH. Inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 helicase at single-nucleotide resolution. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.10.07.511351. [PMID: 36238723 PMCID: PMC9558434 DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.07.511351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The genome of SARS-CoV-2 encodes for a helicase called nsp13 that is essential for viral replication and highly conserved across related viruses, making it an attractive antiviral target. Here we use nanopore tweezers, a high-resolution single-molecule technique, to gain detailed insight into how nsp13 turns ATP-hydrolysis into directed motion along nucleic acid strands. We measured nsp13 both as it translocates along single-stranded DNA or unwinds short DNA duplexes. Our data confirm that nsp13 uses the inchworm mechanism to move along the DNA in single-nucleotide steps, translocating at ~1000 nt/s or unwinding at ~100 bp/s. Nanopore tweezers' high spatio-temporal resolution enables observation of the fundamental physical steps taken by nsp13 even as it translocates at speeds in excess of 1000 nucleotides per second enabling detailed kinetic analysis of nsp13 motion. As a proof-of-principle for inhibition studies, we observed nsp13's motion in the presence of the ATPase inhibitor ATPγS. Our data reveals that ATPγS interferes with nsp13's action by affecting several different kinetic processes. The dominant mechanism of inhibition differs depending on the application of assisting force. These advances demonstrate that nanopore tweezers are a powerful method for studying viral helicase mechanism and inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinduja K Marx
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Keith J Mickolajczyk
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Jonathan M Craig
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | | | - Akira M Pfeffer
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Sarah J Abell
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | | | | | - Jesse R Huang
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Hwanhee C Kim
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | | | - Tarun M Kapoor
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Jens H Gundlach
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Andrew H Laszlo
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
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9
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Duan X, Lacko LA, Chen S. Druggable targets and therapeutic development for COVID-19. Front Chem 2022; 10:963701. [PMID: 36277347 PMCID: PMC9581228 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.963701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which is caused by SARS-CoV-2, is the biggest challenge to the global public health and economy in recent years. Until now, only limited therapeutic regimens have been available for COVID-19 patients, sparking unprecedented efforts to study coronavirus biology. The genome of SARS-CoV-2 encodes 16 non-structural, four structural, and nine accessory proteins, which mediate the viral life cycle, including viral entry, RNA replication and transcription, virion assembly and release. These processes depend on the interactions between viral polypeptides and host proteins, both of which could be potential therapeutic targets for COVID-19. Here, we will discuss the potential medicinal value of essential proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and key host factors. We summarize the most updated therapeutic interventions for COVID-19 patients, including those approved clinically or in clinical trials.
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10
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A Versatile Class of 1,4,4-Trisubstituted Piperidines Block Coronavirus Replication In Vitro. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15081021. [PMID: 36015168 PMCID: PMC9416004 DOI: 10.3390/ph15081021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a clear need for novel antiviral concepts to control SARS-CoV-2 infection. Based on the promising anti-coronavirus activity observed for a class of 1,4,4-trisubstituted piperidines, we here conducted a detailed analysis of the structure–activity relationship of these structurally unique inhibitors. Despite the presence of five points of diversity, the synthesis of an extensive series of analogues was readily achieved by Ugi four-component reaction from commercially available reagents. After evaluating 63 analogues against human coronavirus 229E, four of the best molecules were selected and shown to have micromolar activity against SARS-CoV-2. Since the action point was situated post virus entry and lying at the stage of viral polyprotein processing and the start of RNA synthesis, enzymatic assays were performed with CoV proteins involved in these processes. While no inhibition was observed for SARS-CoV-2 nsp12-nsp7-nsp8 polymerase, nsp14 N7-methyltransferase and nsp16/nsp10 2’-O-methyltransferase, nor the nsp3 papain-like protease, the compounds clearly inhibited the nsp5 main protease (Mpro). Although the inhibitory activity was quite modest, the plausibility of binding to the catalytic site of Mpro was established by in silico studies. Therefore, the 1,4,4-trisubstituted piperidines appear to represent a novel class of non-covalent CoV Mpro inhibitors that warrants further optimization and development.
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Stevens LJ, Pruijssers AJ, Lee HW, Gordon CJ, Tchesnokov EP, Gribble J, George AS, Hughes TM, Lu X, Li J, Perry JK, Porter DP, Cihlar T, Sheahan TP, Baric RS, Götte M, Denison MR. Mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase confer resistance to remdesivir by distinct mechanisms. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabo0718. [PMID: 35482820 PMCID: PMC9097878 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abo0718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The nucleoside analog remdesivir (RDV) is a Food and Drug Administration-approved antiviral for treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. Thus, it is critical to understand factors that promote or prevent RDV resistance. We passaged SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of increasing concentrations of GS-441524, the parent nucleoside of RDV. After 13 passages, we isolated three viral lineages with phenotypic resistance as defined by increases in half-maximal effective concentration from 2.7- to 10.4-fold. Sequence analysis identified nonsynonymous mutations in nonstructural protein 12 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (nsp12-RdRp): V166A, N198S, S759A, V792I, and C799F/R. Two lineages encoded the S759A substitution at the RdRp Ser759-Asp-Asp active motif. In one lineage, the V792I substitution emerged first and then combined with S759A. Introduction of S759A and V792I substitutions at homologous nsp12 positions in murine hepatitis virus demonstrated transferability across betacoronaviruses; introduction of these substitutions resulted in up to 38-fold RDV resistance and a replication defect. Biochemical analysis of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp encoding S759A demonstrated a roughly 10-fold decreased preference for RDV-triphosphate (RDV-TP) as a substrate, whereas nsp12-V792I diminished the uridine triphosphate concentration needed to overcome template-dependent inhibition associated with RDV. The in vitro-selected substitutions identified in this study were rare or not detected in the greater than 6 million publicly available nsp12-RdRp consensus sequences in the absence of RDV selection. The results define genetic and biochemical pathways to RDV resistance and emphasize the need for additional studies to define the potential for emergence of these or other RDV resistance mutations in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J. Stevens
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Andrea J. Pruijssers
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Hery W. Lee
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T9, CA
| | - Calvin J. Gordon
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T9, CA
| | - Egor P. Tchesnokov
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T9, CA
| | - Jennifer Gribble
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Amelia S. George
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Tia M. Hughes
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Xiaotao Lu
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Jiani Li
- Gilead Sciences, Inc, Foster City, CA, 94404, USA
| | | | | | - Tomas Cihlar
- Gilead Sciences, Inc, Foster City, CA, 94404, USA
| | - Timothy P. Sheahan
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Ralph S. Baric
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Matthias Götte
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T9, CA
| | - Mark R. Denison
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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12
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Choi SH, Choi JH, Yun KW. Therapeutics for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 in children and adolescents. Clin Exp Pediatr 2022; 65:377-386. [PMID: 35760410 PMCID: PMC9348956 DOI: 10.3345/cep.2022.00458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a mild to moderate respiratory illness in most children and adolescents, but a small proportion develop severe or critical illness. Although pediatric clinical trials for the treatment of COVID-19 are sparse, there are some available drugs for children and adolescents with severe COVID-19. This review summarizes clinical data focusing on antiviral agents and immunomodulators for COVID-19 treatment. Additionally, the current recommendations for therapeutics for children and adolescents with COVID-19 are discussed. Remdesivir is suggested for pediatric patients with COVID-19 in the following cases: children and adolescents with severe COVID-19 who need supplemental oxygen without mechanical ventilation; adolescents aged ≥12 years and weight of at least 40 kg with COVID-19 who do not require supplemental oxygen and are within 7 days of symptom onset and are at high risk of progression to severe illness. Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is considered for adolescents aged ≥12 years and weighing at least 40 kg who do not require supplemental oxygen and are within 5 days of symptom onset and are at high risk of progression to severe disease. Corticosteroids are not recommended in children and adolescents with mild to moderate COVID-19. Corticosteroids are recommended in children and adolescents with severe to critical COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo-Han Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Jae Hong Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea
| | - Ki Wook Yun
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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13
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In Vitro Selection of Remdesivir-Resistant SARS-CoV-2 Demonstrates High Barrier to Resistance. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0019822. [PMID: 35708323 PMCID: PMC9295571 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00198-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro selection of remdesivir-resistant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) revealed the emergence of a V166L substitution, located outside of the polymerase active site of the Nsp12 protein, after 9 passages of a single lineage. V166L remained the only Nsp12 substitution after 17 passages (10 μM remdesivir), conferring a 2.3-fold increase in 50% effective concentration (EC50). When V166L was introduced into a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 virus, a 1.5-fold increase in EC50 was observed, indicating a high in vitro barrier to remdesivir resistance.
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14
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Puhl AC, Gomes GF, Damasceno S, Godoy AS, Noske GD, Nakamura AM, Gawriljuk VO, Fernandes RS, Monakhova N, Riabova O, Lane TR, Makarov V, Veras FP, Batah SS, Fabro AT, Oliva G, Cunha FQ, Alves-Filho JC, Cunha TM, Ekins S. Pyronaridine Protects against SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Mouse. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1147-1160. [PMID: 35609344 PMCID: PMC9159503 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
There are currently relatively few small-molecule antiviral drugs that are either approved or emergency-approved for use against severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). One of these is remdesivir, which was originally repurposed from its use against Ebola. We evaluated three molecules we had previously identified computationally with antiviral activity against Ebola and Marburg and identified pyronaridine, which inhibited the SARS-CoV-2 replication in A549-ACE2 cells. The in vivo efficacy of pyronaridine has now been assessed in a K18-hACE transgenic mouse model of COVID-19. Pyronaridine treatment demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of viral load in the lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected mice, reducing lung pathology, which was also associated with significant reduction in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokine and cell infiltration. Pyronaridine inhibited the viral PLpro activity in vitro (IC50 of 1.8 μM) without any effect on Mpro, indicating a possible molecular mechanism involved in its ability to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication. We have also generated several pyronaridine analogs to assist in understanding the structure activity relationship for PLpro inhibition. Our results indicate that pyronaridine is a potential therapeutic candidate for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Puhl
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606,
United States
| | - Giovanni F. Gomes
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID),
Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirao Preto 14049-900, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Samara Damasceno
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID),
Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirao Preto 14049-900, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Andre S. Godoy
- Institute of Physics of Sao Carlos,
University of São Paulo, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100 -
Jardim Santa Angelina, Sao Carlos 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Gabriela D. Noske
- Institute of Physics of Sao Carlos,
University of São Paulo, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100 -
Jardim Santa Angelina, Sao Carlos 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Aline M. Nakamura
- Institute of Physics of Sao Carlos,
University of São Paulo, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100 -
Jardim Santa Angelina, Sao Carlos 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Victor O. Gawriljuk
- Institute of Physics of Sao Carlos,
University of São Paulo, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100 -
Jardim Santa Angelina, Sao Carlos 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Rafaela S. Fernandes
- Institute of Physics of Sao Carlos,
University of São Paulo, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100 -
Jardim Santa Angelina, Sao Carlos 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Natalia Monakhova
- Research Center of Biotechnology
RAS, Leninsky prospect, 33, Building 2, 119071 Moscow,
Russia
| | - Olga Riabova
- Research Center of Biotechnology
RAS, Leninsky prospect, 33, Building 2, 119071 Moscow,
Russia
| | - Thomas R. Lane
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606,
United States
| | - Vadim Makarov
- Research Center of Biotechnology
RAS, Leninsky prospect, 33, Building 2, 119071 Moscow,
Russia
| | - Flavio P. Veras
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID),
Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirao Preto 14049-900, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Sabrina S. Batah
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine,
Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São
Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirao Preto 14049-900, São
Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre T. Fabro
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine,
Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São
Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirao Preto 14049-900, São
Paulo, Brazil
| | - Glaucius Oliva
- Institute of Physics of Sao Carlos,
University of São Paulo, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100 -
Jardim Santa Angelina, Sao Carlos 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Fernando Q. Cunha
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID),
Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirao Preto 14049-900, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - José C. Alves-Filho
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID),
Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirao Preto 14049-900, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Thiago M. Cunha
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID),
Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirao Preto 14049-900, São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606,
United States
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15
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Shrimp JH, Janiszewski J, Chen CZ, Xu M, Wilson KM, Kales SC, Sanderson PE, Shinn P, Schneider R, Itkin Z, Guo H, Shen M, Klumpp-Thomas C, Michael SG, Zheng W, Simeonov A, Hall MD. Suite of TMPRSS2 Assays for Screening Drug Repurposing Candidates as Potential Treatments of COVID-19. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1191-1203. [PMID: 35648838 PMCID: PMC9172053 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the causative viral pathogen driving the COVID-19 pandemic that prompted an immediate global response to the development of vaccines and antiviral therapeutics. For antiviral therapeutics, drug repurposing allows for rapid movement of the existing clinical candidates and therapies into human clinical trials to be tested as COVID-19 therapies. One effective antiviral treatment strategy used early in symptom onset is to prevent viral entry. SARS-CoV-2 enters ACE2-expressing cells when the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 followed by cleavage at two cut sites by TMPRSS2. Therefore, a molecule capable of inhibiting the protease activity of TMPRSS2 could be a valuable antiviral therapy. Initially, we used a fluorogenic high-throughput screening assay for the biochemical screening of 6030 compounds in NCATS annotated libraries. Then, we developed an orthogonal biochemical assay that uses mass spectrometry detection of product formation to ensure that hits from the primary screen are not assay artifacts from the fluorescent detection of product formation. Finally, we assessed the hits from the biochemical screening in a cell-based SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped particle entry assay. Of the six molecules advanced for further studies, two are approved drugs in Japan (camostat and nafamostat), two have entered clinical trials (PCI-27483 and otamixaban), while the other two molecules are peptidomimetic inhibitors of TMPRSS2 taken from the literature that have not advanced into clinical trials (compounds 92 and 114). This work demonstrates a suite of assays for the discovery and development of new inhibitors of TMPRSS2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan H. Shrimp
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - John Janiszewski
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Catherine Z. Chen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Miao Xu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Kelli M. Wilson
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Stephen C. Kales
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Philip E. Sanderson
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Paul Shinn
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Rick Schneider
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Zina Itkin
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Hui Guo
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Min Shen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Carleen Klumpp-Thomas
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Samuel G. Michael
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Wei Zheng
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Anton Simeonov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
| | - Matthew D. Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850
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16
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Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 triggering the COVID-19 pandemic ranks as arguably the greatest medical emergency of the last century. COVID-19 has highlighted health disparities both within and between countries and will leave a lasting impact on global society. Nonetheless, substantial investment in life sciences over recent decades has facilitated a rapid scientific response with innovations in viral characterization, testing, and sequencing. Perhaps most remarkably, this permitted the development of highly effective vaccines, which are being distributed globally at unprecedented speed. In contrast, drug treatments for the established disease have delivered limited benefits so far. Innovative and rapid approaches in the design and execution of large-scale clinical trials and repurposing of existing drugs have saved many lives; however, many more remain at risk. In this review we describe challenges and unmet needs, discuss existing therapeutics, and address future opportunities. Consideration is given to factors that have hindered drug development in order to support planning for the next pandemic challenge and to allow rapid and cost-effective development of new therapeutics with equitable delivery.
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17
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Adashi EY, Cohen IG. Antiviral Therapeutics: Key to Curbing the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Med 2022; 135:411-412. [PMID: 34732351 PMCID: PMC8557389 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2021.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eli Y Adashi
- Department of Medical Science, Brown University, Providence, RI.
| | - I Glenn Cohen
- Harvard Law School, Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass
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18
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Shrimp JH, Janiszewski J, Chen CZ, Xu M, Wilson KM, Kales SC, Sanderson PE, Shinn P, Itkin Z, Guo H, Shen M, Klumpp-thomas C, Michael SG, Zheng W, Simeonov A, Hall MD. A Suite of TMPRSS2 Assays for Screening Drug Repurposing Candidates as Potential Treatments of COVID-19.. [PMID: 35169799 PMCID: PMC8845423 DOI: 10.1101/2022.02.04.479134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the causative viral pathogen driving the COVID-19 pandemic that prompted an immediate global response to the development of vaccines and antiviral therapeutics. For antiviral therapeutics, drug repurposing allowed for rapid movement of existing clinical candidates and therapies into human clinical trials to be tested as COVID-19 therapies. One effective antiviral treatment strategy used early in symptom onset is to prevent viral entry. SARS-CoV-2 enters ACE2-expressing cells when the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 followed by cleavage at two cut sites on the spike protein. TMPRSS2 has a protease domain capable of cleaving the two cut sites; therefore, a molecule capable of inhibiting the protease activity of TMPRSS2 could be a valuable antiviral therapy. Initially, we used a fluorogenic high-throughput screening assay for the biochemical screening of 6030 compounds in NCATS annotated libraries. Then, we developed an orthogonal biochemical assay that uses mass spectrometry detection of product formation to ensure that hits from the primary screen are not assay artifacts from the fluorescent detection of product formation. Finally, we assessed the hits from the biochemical screening in a cell-based SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped particle entry assay. Of the six molecules advanced for further studies, two are approved drugs in Japan (camostat and nafamostat), two have entered clinical trials (PCI-27483 and otamixaban), while the other two molecules are peptidomimetic inhibitors of TMPRSS2 taken from the literature that have not advanced into clinical trials (compounds 92 and 114). This work demonstrates a suite of assays for the discovery and development of new inhibitors of TMPRSS2.
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19
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Malone B, Urakova N, Snijder EJ, Campbell EA. Structures and functions of coronavirus replication-transcription complexes and their relevance for SARS-CoV-2 drug design. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:21-39. [PMID: 34824452 PMCID: PMC8613731 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-021-00432-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 89.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has killed millions of people and continues to cause massive global upheaval. Coronaviruses are positive-strand RNA viruses with an unusually large genome of ~30 kb. They express an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and a cohort of other replication enzymes and supporting factors to transcribe and replicate their genomes. The proteins performing these essential processes are prime antiviral drug targets, but drug discovery is hindered by our incomplete understanding of coronavirus RNA synthesis and processing. In infected cells, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase must coordinate with other viral and host factors to produce both viral mRNAs and new genomes. Recent research aiming to decipher and contextualize the structures, functions and interplay of the subunits of the SARS-CoV-2 replication and transcription complex proteins has burgeoned. In this Review, we discuss recent advancements in our understanding of the molecular basis and complexity of the coronavirus RNA-synthesizing machinery. Specifically, we outline the mechanisms and regulation of RNA translation, replication and transcription. We also discuss the composition of the replication and transcription complexes and their suitability as targets for antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Malone
- grid.134907.80000 0001 2166 1519Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY USA
| | - Nadya Urakova
- grid.10419.3d0000000089452978Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Eric J. Snijder
- grid.10419.3d0000000089452978Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth A. Campbell
- grid.134907.80000 0001 2166 1519Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY USA
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20
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Malek RJ, Bill CA, Vines CM. Clinical drug therapies and biologicals currently used or in clinical trial to treat COVID-19. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 144:112276. [PMID: 34624681 PMCID: PMC8486678 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants capable of escaping vaccine-generated immune responses poses a looming threat to vaccination efforts and will likely prolong the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the prevalence of beta coronaviruses circulating in animals and the precedent they have set in jumping into human populations indicates that they pose a continuous threat for future pandemics. Currently, only one therapeutic is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treating COVID-19, remdesivir, although other therapies are authorized for emergency use due to this pandemic being a public health emergency. In this review, twenty-four different treatments are discussed regarding their use against COVID-19 and any potential future coronavirus-associated illnesses. Their traditional use, mechanism of action against COVID-19, and efficacy in clinical trials are assessed. Six treatments evaluated are shown to significantly decrease mortality in clinical trials, and ten treatments have shown some form of clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory J. Malek
- University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX 78705, United States
| | - Colin A. Bill
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso TX 79968, United States
| | - Charlotte M. Vines
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso TX 79968, United States,Corresponding author
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21
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Pedler RL, Speck PG. Marine mollusc extracts-Potential source of SARS-CoV-2 antivirals. Rev Med Virol 2021; 32:e2310. [PMID: 34726308 PMCID: PMC8646538 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is a novel human coronavirus and the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid‐19). There is an urgent need for effective antivirals to treat current Covid‐19 cases and protect those unable to be vaccinated against SARS‐CoV‐2. Marine molluscs live in an environment containing high virus densities (>107 virus particles per ml), and there are an estimated 100,000 species in the phylum Mollusca, demonstrating the success of their innate immune system. Mollusc‐derived antivirals are yet to be used clinically despite the activity of many extracts, including against human viruses, being demonstrated in vitro. Hemolymph of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) has in vitro antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus and human adenovirus, while antiviral action against SARS‐CoV‐2 has been proposed by in silico studies. Such evidence suggests that molluscs, and in particular C. gigas hemolymph, may represent a source of antivirals for human coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Pedler
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Peter G Speck
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
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22
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Salimi-Jeda A, Abbassi S, Mousavizadeh A, Esghaie M, Bokharaei-Salim F, Jeddi F, Shafaati M, Abdoli A. SARS-CoV-2: Current trends in emerging variants, pathogenesis, immune responses, potential therapeutic, and vaccine development strategies. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 101:108232. [PMID: 34673335 PMCID: PMC8519814 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
More than a year after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is still a major global challenge for scientists to understand the different dimensions of infection and find ways to prevent, treat, and develop a vaccine. On January 30, 2020, the world health organization (WHO) officially announced this new virus as an international health emergency. While many biological and mechanisms of pathogenicity of this virus are still unclear, it seems that cytokine storm resulting from an immune response against the virus is considered the main culprit of the severity of the disease. Despite many global efforts to control the SARS-CoV-2, several problems and challenges have been posed in controlling the COVID-19 infection. These problems include the various mutations, the emergence of variants with high transmissibility, the short period of immunity against the virus, the possibility of reinfection in people improved, lack of specific drugs, and problems in the development of highly sensitive and specific vaccines. In this review, we summarized the results of the current trend and the latest research studies on the characteristics of the structure and genome of the SARS-CoV- 2, new mutations and variants of SARS-CoV-2, pathogenicity, immune response, virus diagnostic tests, potential treatment, and vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Salimi-Jeda
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sina Abbassi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medical Science, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atieh Mousavizadeh
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Esghaie
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farah Bokharaei-Salim
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farhad Jeddi
- Department of Medical Genetics and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Maryam Shafaati
- Department of Microbiology, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Fars, Iran
| | - Asghar Abdoli
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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23
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Fiorentino G, Coppola A, Izzo R, Annunziata A, Bernardo M, Lombardi A, Trimarco V, Santulli G, Trimarco B. Effects of adding L-arginine orally to standard therapy in patients with COVID-19: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Results of the first interim analysis. EClinicalMedicine 2021; 40:101125. [PMID: 34522871 PMCID: PMC8428476 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We and others have previously demonstrated that the endothelium is a primary target of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and L-arginine has been shown to improve endothelial dysfunction. However, the effects of L-arginine have never been evaluated in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS This is a parallel-group, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted on patients hospitalized for severe COVID-19. Patients received 1.66 g L-arginine twice a day or placebo, administered orally. The primary efficacy endpoint was a reduction in respiratory support assessed 10 and 20 days after randomization. Secondary outcomes were the length of in-hospital stay, the time to normalization of lymphocyte number, and the time to obtain a negative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swab. This clinical trial had been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04637906. FINDINGS We present here the results of the initial interim analysis on the first 101 patients. No treatment-emergent serious adverse events were attributable to L-arginine. At 10-day evaluation, 71.1% of patients in the L-arginine arm and 44.4% in the placebo arm (p < 0.01) had the respiratory support reduced; however, a significant difference was not detected 20 days after randomization. Strikingly, patients treated with L-arginine exhibited a significantly reduced in-hospital stay vs placebo, with a median (interquartile range 25th,75th percentile) of 46 days (45,46) in the placebo group vs 25 days (21,26) in the L-arginine group (p < 0.0001); these findings were also confirmed after adjusting for potential confounders including age, duration of symptoms, comorbidities, D-dimer, as well as antiviral and anticoagulant treatments. The other secondary outcomes were not significantly different between groups. INTERPRETATION In this interim analysis, adding oral L-arginine to standard therapy in patients with severe COVID-19 significantly decreases the length of hospitalization and reduces the respiratory support at 10 but not at 20 days after starting the treatment. FUNDING Both placebo and L-arginine were kindly provided by Farmaceutici Damor S.p.A., Naples.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Raffaele Izzo
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, “Federico II” University, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Annunziata
- COVID-19 Division, A.O.R.N. Ospedali dei Colli, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Angela Lombardi
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolsim (FIDAM), Einstein - Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Valentina Trimarco
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences, and Dentistry, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy
| | - Gaetano Santulli
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, “Federico II” University, Naples, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolsim (FIDAM), Einstein - Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- International Translational Research and Medical Education (ITME) Consortium, Naples, Italy
- Corresponding author at: Department of Medicine (Cardiology) and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY; International Translational Research and Medical Education (ITME) Consortium, and “Federico II” University, Naples, Italy.
| | - Bruno Trimarco
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, “Federico II” University, Naples, Italy
- International Translational Research and Medical Education (ITME) Consortium, Naples, Italy
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24
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Malone
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Campbell
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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