In vitro and in silico evaluation of antiretrovirals against SARS-CoV-2: A drug repurposing approach

Enterocin DD14 can inhibit the infection of eukaryotic cells with enveloped viruses

Bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized bacterial peptides endowed with antibacterial, antiprotozoal, anticancer and antiviral activities. In the present study, we evaluated the antiviral activities of two bacteriocins, enterocin DD14 (EntDD14) and lacticaseicin 30, against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Vero, Huh7 and Vero E6 cells, respectively. In addition, the interactions of these bacteriocins with the envelope glycoprotein D of HSV-1 and the receptor binding domains of HCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2 have been computationally evaluated using protein-protein docking and molecular dynamics simulations. HSV-1 replication in Vero cells was inhibited by EntDD14 and, to a lesser extent, by lacticaseicin 30 added to cells after virus inoculation. EntDD14 and lacticaseicin 30 had no apparent antiviral activity against HCoV-229E; however, EntDD14 was able to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 cells. Further studies are needed to elucidate the antiviral mechanism of these bacteriocins.

Effectiveness of Drug Repurposing and Natural Products Against SARS-CoV-2: A Comprehensive Review

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a betacoronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, causing respiratory disorders, and even death in some individuals, if not appropriately treated in time. To face the pandemic, preventive measures have been taken against contagions and the application of vaccines to prevent severe disease and death cases. For the COVID-19 treatment, antiviral, antiparasitic, anticoagulant and other drugs have been reused due to limited specific medicaments for the disease. Drug repurposing is an emerging strategy with therapies that have already tested safe in humans. One promising alternative for systematic experimental screening of a vast pool of compounds is computational drug repurposing (in silico assay). Using these tools, new uses for approved drugs such as chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, zidovudine, ribavirin, lamivudine, remdesivir, lopinavir and tenofovir/emtricitabine have been conducted, showing effectiveness in vitro and in silico against SARS-CoV-2 and some of these, also in clinical trials. Additionally, therapeutic options have been sought in natural products (terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins and phenolics) with promising in vitro and in silico results for use in COVID-19 disease. Among these, the most studied are resveratrol, quercetin, hesperidin, curcumin, myricetin and betulinic acid, which were proposed as SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors. Among the drugs reused to control the SARS-CoV2, better results have been observed for remdesivir in hospitalized patients and outpatients. Regarding natural products, resveratrol, curcumin, and quercetin have demonstrated in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and in vivo, a nebulized formulation has demonstrated to alleviate the respiratory symptoms of COVID-19. This review shows the evidence of drug repurposing efficacy and the potential use of natural products as a treatment for COVID-19. For this, a search was carried out in PubMed, SciELO and ScienceDirect databases for articles about drugs approved or under study and natural compounds recognized for their antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2.

Screening compounds for treating the diabetes and COVID-19 from Miao medicine by molecular docking and bioinformatics

Both diabetes and Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are seriously harmful to human health, and they are closely related. It is of great significance to find drugs that can simultaneously treat diabetes and COVID-19. Based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine for treating COVID-19, this study first sorted out the compounds of Guizhou Miao medicine with "return to the lung channel" and "clear heat and detoxify" effects in China. The active components against COVID-19 were screened by molecular docking with SARS-CoV-2 PLpro and angiotensin-converting enzyme II as targets. Furthermore, the common target dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) of diabetes and COVID-19 was used as a screening protein, and molecular docking was used to obtain potential components for the treatment of diabetes and COVID-19. Finally, the mechanism of potential ingredients in the treatment of diabetes and COVID-19 was explored with bioinformatics. More than 80 kinds of Miao medicine were obtained, and 584 compounds were obtained. Further, 110 compounds against COVID-19 were screened, and top 6 potential ingredients for the treatment of diabetes and COVID-19 were screened, including 3-O-β-D-Xylopyranosyl-(1-6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, Glycyrrhizic acid, Sequoiaflavone, 2-O-Caffeoyl maslinic acid, Pholidotin, and Ambewelamide A. Bioinformatics analysis found that their mechanism of action in treating diabetes and COVID-19 may be related to regulating the expression of DPP4, angiotensin II type 1 receptor, vitamin D receptor, plasminogen, chemokine C-C-motif receptor 6, and interleukin 2. We believe that Guizhou Miao medicine is rich in potential ingredients for the treatment of diabetes and COVID-19.