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Ashley CN, Broni E, Wood CM, Okuneye T, Ojukwu MPT, Dong Q, Gallagher C, Miller WA. Identifying potential monkeypox virus inhibitors: an in silico study targeting the A42R protein. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1351737. [PMID: 38500508 PMCID: PMC10945028 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1351737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Monkeypox (now Mpox), a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV) is an emerging threat to global health. In the time span of only six months, from May to October 2022, the number of MPXV cases breached 80,000 and many of the outbreaks occurred in locations that had never previously reported MPXV. Currently there are no FDA-approved MPXV-specific vaccines or treatments, therefore, finding drugs to combat MPXV is of utmost importance. The A42R profilin-like protein of the MPXV is involved in cell development and motility making it a critical drug target. A42R protein is highly conserved across orthopoxviruses, thus A42R inhibitors may work for other family members. This study sought to identify potential A42R inhibitors for MPXV treatment using computational approaches. The energy minimized 3D structure of the A42R profilin-like protein (PDB ID: 4QWO) underwent virtual screening using a library of 36,366 compounds from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), AfroDb, and PubChem databases as well as known inhibitor tecovirimat via AutoDock Vina. A total of seven compounds comprising PubChem CID: 11371962, ZINC000000899909, ZINC000001632866, ZINC000015151344, ZINC000013378519, ZINC000000086470, and ZINC000095486204, predicted to have favorable binding were shortlisted. Molecular docking suggested that all seven proposed compounds have higher binding affinities to A42R (-7.2 to -8.3 kcal/mol) than tecovirimat (-6.7 kcal/mol). This was corroborated by MM/PBSA calculations, with tecovirimat demonstrating the highest binding free energy of -68.694 kJ/mol (lowest binding affinity) compared to the seven shortlisted compounds that ranged from -73.252 to -97.140 kJ/mol. Furthermore, the 7 compounds in complex with A42R demonstrated higher stability than the A42R-tecovirimat complex when subjected to 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations. The protein-ligand interaction maps generated using LigPlot+ suggested that residues Met1, Glu3, Trp4, Ile7, Arg127, Val128, Thr131, and Asn133 are important for binding. These seven compounds were adequately profiled to be potential antivirals via PASS predictions and structural similarity searches. All seven potential lead compounds were scored Pa > Pi for antiviral activity while ZINC000001632866 and ZINC000015151344 were predicted as poxvirus inhibitors with Pa values of 0.315 and 0.215, and Pi values of 0.052 and 0.136, respectively. Further experimental validations of the identified lead compounds are required to corroborate their predicted activity. These seven identified compounds represent solid footing for development of antivirals against MPXV and other orthopoxviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn N. Ashley
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
| | - Emmanuel Broni
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
| | - Chanyah M. Wood
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Lincoln University, Lincoln, PA, United States
| | - Tunmise Okuneye
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
- Department of Biology, Lincoln University, Lincoln, PA, United States
| | - Mary-Pearl T. Ojukwu
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Lincoln University, Lincoln, PA, United States
- College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Qunfeng Dong
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
- Center for Biomedical Informatics, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
| | - Carla Gallagher
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Lincoln University, Lincoln, PA, United States
| | - Whelton A. Miller
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
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Zhang Y, Fang L, Zhou Y, Zhang Y, Liang B, Yan C, Li L. A case report of long-delayed diagnosis of pseudorabies virus encephalitis with endophthalmitis: lessons from metagenomic next generation sequencing. BMC Neurol 2023; 23:192. [PMID: 37194001 PMCID: PMC10186779 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-023-03227-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pseudorabies virus (PRV) was thought to only infect animals. Recent studies have shown that it can also infect human. CASE PRESENTATION We report a case of pseudorabies virus encephalitis and endophthalmitis, diagnosed 89 days after onset, confirmed with intraocular fluid metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) after the result of two cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) mNGS tests were negative. Although treatment with intravenous acyclovir, foscarnet sodium, and methylprednisolone improved the symptoms of encephalitis, significant diagnostic delay resulted in permanent visual loss. CONCLUSIONS This case suggests that pseudorabies virus (PRV) DNA in the intraocular fluid may have a higher positivity than that in the CSF. PRV may persist in the intraocular fluid for an extended period and may thus require extended antiviral therapy. Patients with severe encephalitis and PRV should be examined with the focus on pupil reactivity and light reflex. A fundus examination should be performed in patients with a central nervous system infection, specifically, those in a comatose state, to help reduce eye disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital(Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 758 Hefei Road, Qingdao, 266035, Shandong, China
- Department of Neurology, Rizhao Central Hospital, 66 Wanghai Road, Rizhao, 276800, Shandong, China
| | - Lei Fang
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Central Hospital, No.127, Siliu South Road, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital(Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 758 Hefei Road, Qingdao, 266035, Shandong, China
- Department of Ultrasonic, Rizhao Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 35 Wanghai Road, Rizhao, 276800, Shandong, China
| | - Yongqing Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital(Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 758 Hefei Road, Qingdao, 266035, Shandong, China
| | - Bing Liang
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital(Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 758 Hefei Road, Qingdao, 266035, Shandong, China
| | - Chuanzhu Yan
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital(Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 758 Hefei Road, Qingdao, 266035, Shandong, China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital(Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 758 Hefei Road, Qingdao, 266035, Shandong, China.
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Deng J, Wu Z, Liu J, Ji Q, Ju C. The Role of Latency-Associated Transcripts in the Latent Infection of Pseudorabies Virus. Viruses 2022; 14:v14071379. [PMID: 35891360 PMCID: PMC9320458 DOI: 10.3390/v14071379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudorabies virus (PRV) can cause neurological, respiratory, and reproductive diseases in pigs and establish lifelong latent infection in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Latent infection is a typical feature of PRV, which brings great difficulties to the prevention, control, and eradication of pseudorabies. The integral mechanism of latent infection is still unclear. Latency-associated transcripts (LAT) gene is the only transcriptional region during latent infection of PRV which plays the key role in regulating viral latent infection and inhibiting apoptosis. Here, we review the characteristics of PRV latent infection and the transcriptional characteristics of the LAT gene. We also analyzed the function of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) produced by the LAT gene and its importance in latent infection. Furthermore, we provided possible strategies to solve the problem of latent infection of virulent PRV strains in the host. In short, the detailed mechanism of PRV latent infection needs to be further studied and elucidated.
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