scholarly journals A screening pipeline identifies a broad-spectrum inhibitor of bacterial AB toxins with cross protection against influenza A virus H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Wu ◽  
Nassim Mahtal ◽  
Lea Swistak ◽  
Sara Sagadiev ◽  
Mridu Acharya ◽  
...  

A challenge for the development of host-targeted anti-infectives against a large spectrum of AB-like toxin-producing bacteria encompasses the identification of chemical compounds corrupting toxin transport through both endolysosomal and retrograde pathways. Here, we performed a high-throughput screening of small chemical compounds blocking active Rac1 proteasomal degradation triggered by the Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor-1 (CNF1) toxin, followed by orthogonal screens against two AB toxins hijacking defined endolysosomal (Diphtheria toxin) or retrograde (Shiga-like toxin 1) pathways to intoxicate cells. This led to the identification of the molecule N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)-1-propyl-4-piperidinamine, referred to as C910. This compound induces the swelling of EEA1-positive early endosomes, in absence of PIKfyve kinase inhibition, and disturbs the trafficking of CNF1 and the B-subunit of Shiga toxin along the endolysosomal or retrograde pathways, respectively. Together, we show that C910 protects cells against 8 bacterial AB toxins including large clostridial glucosylating toxins from Clostridium difficile. Of interest, C910 also reduced viral infection in vitro including influenza A virus subtype H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, parenteral administration of C910 to the mice resulted in its accumulation in lung tissues and reduced lethal influenza infection.

Author(s):  
Hany Khalil ◽  
Tamer El Malah ◽  
Ahmed I. Abd El Maksoud ◽  
Ibrahim El Halfawy ◽  
Ahmed A. El Rashedy ◽  
...  

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 581-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Maroto ◽  
Yolanda Fernandez ◽  
Juan Ortin ◽  
Fernando Pelaez ◽  
M. Angerles Cabello

The NS1 protein is a nonstructural protein encoded by the influenza A virus. It is responsible for many alterations produced in the cellular metabolism upon infection by the virus and for modulation of virus virulence. The NS1 protein is able to perform a large variety of functions due to its ability to bind various types of RNA molecules, from both viral and nonviral origin, and to interact with several cell factors. With the aim of exploring whether the binding of NS1 protein to viral RNA (vRNA) could constitute a novel target for the search of anti-influenza drugs, a filter-binding assay measuring the specific interaction between the recombinant His-NS1 protein from influenza A virus and a radiolabeled model vRNA ( 32P-vNSZ) was adapted to a format suitable for screening and easy automation. Flashplate® technology (PerkinElmer, Waltham, MA), either in 96- or 384-well plates, was used. The Flashplate® wells were precoated with the recombinant His-NS1 protein, and the binding of His-NS1 to a 35S-vNSZ probe was measured. A pilot screening of a collection of 27,520 mixtures of synthetic chemical compounds was run for inhibitors of NS1 binding to vRNA. We found 3 compounds in which the inhibition of NS1 binding to vRNA, observed at submicromolar concentrations, was correlated with a reduction of the cytopathic effect during the infection of cell cultures with influenza virus. These results support the hypothesis that the binding of NS1 to vRNA could be a novel target for the development of anti-influenza drugs. ( Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2008:581-590)


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meenakshi Tiwary ◽  
Robert J. Rooney ◽  
Swantje Liedmann ◽  
Kim S. LeMessurier ◽  
Amali E. Samarasinghe

Eosinophils, previously considered terminally differentiated effector cells, have multifaceted functions in tissues. We previously found that allergic mice with eosinophil-rich inflammation were protected from severe influenza and discovered specialized antiviral effector functions for eosinophils including promoting cellular immunity during influenza. In this study, we hypothesized that eosinophil responses during the early phase of influenza contribute to host protection. Using in vitro and in vivo models, we found that eosinophils were rapidly and dynamically regulated upon influenza A virus (IAV) exposure to gain migratory capabilities to traffic to lymphoid organs after pulmonary infection. Eosinophils were capable of neutralizing virus upon contact and combinations of eosinophil granule proteins reduced virus infectivity through hemagglutinin inactivation. Bi-directional crosstalk between IAV-exposed epithelial cells and eosinophils occurred after IAV infection and cross-regulation promoted barrier responses to improve antiviral defenses in airway epithelial cells. Direct interactions between eosinophils and airway epithelial cells after IAV infection prevented virus-induced cytopathology in airway epithelial cells in vitro, and eosinophil recipient IAV-infected mice also maintained normal airway epithelial cell morphology. Our data suggest that eosinophils are important in the early phase of IAV infection providing immediate protection to the epithelial barrier until adaptive immune responses are deployed during influenza.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1301
Author(s):  
Ivonne Melano ◽  
Li-Lan Kuo ◽  
Yan-Chung Lo ◽  
Po-Wei Sung ◽  
Ni Tien ◽  
...  

Amino acids have been implicated with virus infection and replication. Here, we demonstrate the effects of two basic amino acids, arginine and lysine, and their ester derivatives on infection of two enveloped viruses, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza A virus. We found that lysine and its ester derivative can efficiently block infection of both viruses in vitro. Furthermore, the arginine ester derivative caused a significant boost in virus infection. Studies on their mechanism of action revealed that the compounds potentially disturb virus uncoating rather than virus attachment and endosomal acidification. Our findings suggest that lysine supplementation and the reduction of arginine-rich food intake can be considered as prophylactic and therapeutic regimens against these viruses while also providing a paradigm for the development of broad-spectrum antivirals.


Biochimie ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.A. Shaldzhyan ◽  
Y.A. Zabrodskaya ◽  
I.L. Baranovskaya ◽  
M.V. Sergeeva ◽  
A.N. Gorshkov ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 109-112
Author(s):  
Kira S. Koryabina ◽  
Mariya V. Sergeeva ◽  
Andrey B. Komissarov ◽  
Nataliya V. Eshchenko ◽  
Grigoriy A. Stepanov

BACKGROUND: The application of CRISPR/Cas9 is one of the most rapidly developing areas in biotechnology. This method was used to obtain clones of а human origin cell line with knockout of one or more genes of the IFITM family, representing host restriction factors for influenza infection. Amphotericin B has previously been shown to promote influenza infection by blocking IFITM3 function. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of amphotericin B on the sensitivity of IFITM knockout cells to influenza A virus infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: WI-38 VA-13 cells and mutant clones with IFITM3 knockout (F3 clone) or IFITM1, IFITM3 knockout (clone E12) were infected with influenza virus A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) in the presence or absence of amphotericin B. Forty-four hours after infection, the culture medium was taken to determine the infectious activity of the virus by titration in the MDCK cell culture, as well as the hemagglutinating activity of the virus. The infected cells were stained with fluorescently labeled antibodies against the viral NP protein, and the number of NP-positive cells was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The addition of amphotericin B increased the hemagglutinating and infectious activity of the virus in WI-38 VA-13cells, while the difference was insignificant for clones with IFITM gene knockout. A similar dependency was obtained for the percent of infected cells. CONCLUSIONS: Mutant cells with a knockout of one or several genes of the IFITM family were equally susceptible to influenza infection regardless of the addition of amphotericin B, which confirms the crucial importance of a defect in the IFITM3 protein in increasing the permissiveness of cells to influenza A virus.


2014 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuel Haasbach ◽  
Carmen Hartmayer ◽  
Alice Hettler ◽  
Alicja Sarnecka ◽  
Ulrich Wulle ◽  
...  

Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 3315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling Luo ◽  
Weili Han ◽  
Jinyan Du ◽  
Xia Yang ◽  
Mubing Duan ◽  
...  

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection is still a major global threat for humans, especially for the risk groups: young children and the elderly. The currently licensed antiviral drugs target viral factors and are prone to viral resistance. In recent years, a few endogenous small molecules from host, such as estradiol and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-derived lipid mediator protection D1 (PD1), were demonstrated to be capable of inhibiting IAV infection. Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), one of the main primary bile acids, is synthesized from cholesterol in the liver and classically functions in emulsification and absorption of dietary fats. Clinically, CDCA has been used in the treatment of patients with cholesterol gallstones for more than five decades. In this study, we showed that CDCA attenuated the replication of three subtypes of influenza A virus, including a highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, in A549 and MDCK cell cultures with IC50 ranging from 5.5 to 11.5 μM. Mechanistically, CDCA effectively restrained the nuclear export of viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complexes. In conclusion, as an endogenous physiological small molecule, CDCA can inhibit IAV replication in vitro, at least in part, by blocking vRNP nuclear export, and affords further studies for development as a potential antiviral agent against IAV infections.


2008 ◽  
Vol 89 (12) ◽  
pp. 2923-2932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgit G. Bradel-Tretheway ◽  
Z. Kelley ◽  
Shikha Chakraborty-Sett ◽  
Toru Takimoto ◽  
Baek Kim ◽  
...  

Influenza A virus (IAV) replicates in the upper respiratory tract of humans at 33 °C and in the intestinal tract of birds at close to 41 °C. The viral RNA polymerase complex comprises three subunits (PA, PB1 and PB2) and plays an important role in host adaptation. We therefore developed an in vitro system to examine the temperature sensitivity of IAV RNA polymerase complexes from different origins. Complexes were prepared from human lung epithelial cells (A549) using a novel adenoviral expression system. Affinity-purified complexes were generated that contained either all three subunits (PA/PB1/PB2) from the A/Viet/1203/04 H5N1 virus (H/H/H) or the A/WSN/33 H1N1 strain (W/W/W). We also prepared chimeric complexes in which the PB2 subunit was exchanged (H/H/W, W/W/H) or substituted with an avian PB2 from the A/chicken/Nanchang/3-120/01 H3N2 strain (W/W/N). All complexes were functional in transcription, cap-binding and endonucleolytic activity. Complexes containing the H5N1 or Nanchang PB2 protein retained transcriptional activity over a broad temperature range (30–42 °C). In contrast, complexes containing the WSN PB2 protein lost activity at elevated temperatures (39 °C or higher). The E627K mutation in the avian PB2 was not required for this effect. Finally, the avian PB2 subunit was shown to confer enhanced stability to the WSN 3P complex. These results show that PB2 plays an important role in regulating the temperature optimum for IAV RNA polymerase activity, possibly due to effects on the functional stability of the 3P complex.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronghe Zhu ◽  
Cuie Chen ◽  
Qiu Wang ◽  
Xixi Zhang ◽  
Chaosheng Lu ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Routine blood parameters, such as the lymphocyte (LYM) count, platelet (PLT) count, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), LYM*PLT and mean platelet volume-to-platelet ratio (MPV/PLT), are widely used to predict the prognosis of infectious diseases. We aimed to explore the value of these parameters in the early identification of influenza virus infection in children.Methods We conducted a single-center, retrospective, observational study of fever with influenza-like symptoms in pediatric outpatients from different age groups and evaluated the predictive value of various routine blood parameters measured within 48 hours of the onset of fever for influenza virus infection.Results The LYM count, PLT count, LMR and LYM*PLT were lower, and the NLR and MPV/PLT were higher in children with an influenza infection (PCR-confirmed and symptomatic). The LYM count, LMR and LYM*PLT in the influenza infection group were lower in the 1- to 6-year-old subgroup, and the LMR and LYM*PLT in the influenza infection group were lower in the >6-year-old subgroup. In the 1- to 6-year-old subgroup, the cutoff value of the LMR for predicting influenza A virus infection was 3.75, the sensitivity was 81.87%, the specificity was 84.31%, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.886; the cutoff value of the LMR for predicting influenza B virus infection was 3.71, the sensitivity was 73.58%, the specificity was 84.31%, and the AUC was 0.843. In the >6-year-old subgroup, the cutoff value of the LMR for predicting influenza A virus infection was 3.05, the sensitivity was 89.27%, the specificity was 89.61%, and the AUC was 0.949; the cutoff value of the LMR for predicting influenza B virus infection was 2.88, the sensitivity was 83.19%, the specificity was 92.21%, and the AUC was 0.924.Conclusions Routine blood tests are simple, inexpensive and easy to perform, and they are useful for the early identification of influenza virus infection in children. The LMR had the strongest predictive value for influenza virus infection in children older than 1 year, particularly influenza A virus infection.


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