scholarly journals Zika Virus Targeting by Screening Inhibitors against NS2B/NS3 Protease

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hani Choudhry ◽  
Faisal A. Alzahrani ◽  
Mohammed A. Hassan ◽  
Asma Alghamdi ◽  
Wesam H. Abdulaal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
Congenital Abnormalities ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Docking Studies ◽  
Autodock Vina ◽  
Drug Candidates ◽  
Fitness Score ◽  
Chemical Database ◽  
Ns3 Protease ◽  
Viral Enzyme

Zika flavivirus is suspected to cause Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults and microcephaly, along with other congenital abnormalities in infants. Presently, no vaccines or therapeutics are available. Here, we report novel compounds identified by high-throughput virtual screening of Maybridge chemical database and molecular docking studies. We selected viral enzyme NS2B/NS3 serine protease as the therapeutic target because of its important role in viral replication. We selected seven potential compounds as antiviral drug candidates because of their high GOLD fitness score, high AutoDock Vina score, or X-Score binding energy and analyzed the strength of molecular interactions between the active site amino acids and selected compounds. Our study also provides a foundation for similar studies for the search of novel therapeutics against Zika virus.

scholarly journals Designs, Synthesis, Docking Studies, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Berberine Derivatives Targeting Zika Virus

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Cuong Quoc Nguyen ◽  
Thi Hong Minh Nguyen ◽  
Thi Thu Thuy Nguyen ◽  
Thi Buu Hue Bui ◽  
Trong Tuan Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Binding Mode ◽  
Docking Studies ◽  
Biological Evaluation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Mode Analysis ◽  
Energy Calculation ◽  
Ns3 Protease

The World Health Organization has designated Zika virus (ZIKV) as a dangerous, mosquito-borne flaviviral pathogen that was recently found to be responsible for a dramatically increased number of microcephaly cases and other congenital abnormalities in fetuses and newborns. There is neither a vaccine to prevent nor a drug to treat ZIKA virus infections, at the present time. Berberine (BBR) is a promising drug approved by FDA against flaviviral dengue virus, and BBR derivatives are of great interest in antiviral drug development. In this study, we synthesized eight BBR derivatives by introducing benzyl groups at the C-13 position of BBR and converting to respective 8-oxoberberine derivatives, performed molecular docking analysis, and evaluated their anti-Zika virus activity utilizing a cell‐based phenotypic assay. Binding mode analysis, absolute binding free energy calculation, and structure-activity relationship studies of these compounds with ZIKV NS3 receptor were collected. Amongst these studied compounds, compound 4d with a structure of 13-(2,6-difluoro)-benzylberberine showed high binding affinity (docking score of −7.31 kcal/mol) towards ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease with critical binding formed within the active site. In the cell-based assay, compound 4d displayed the highest antiviral efficacy against ZIKV with a selective index (SI) of 15.3, with 3.7-fold greater than that of berberine. Together, our study suggests that the potential ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease inhibitor, compound 4d, is the best alternative to BBR and, further, extends an assuring platform for developing antiviral competitive inhibitors against ZIKV infection.

Recent Advances and Computational Approaches in Peptide Drug Discovery

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (31) ◽  
pp. 3358-3366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha S. Maurya ◽  
Sandeep Kushwaha ◽  
Ashutosh Mani
Keyword(s):  
Docking Studies ◽  
Computational Approaches ◽  
Simulation Tools ◽  
Drug Candidates ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Stability Of Complexes ◽  
Therapeutic Peptides ◽  
Target Binding ◽  
Druggable Targets

Background: Drug design and development is a vast field that requires huge investment along with a long duration for providing approval to suitable drug candidates. With the advancement in the field of genomics, the information about druggable targets is being updated at a fast rate which is helpful in finding a cure for various diseases. Methods: There are certain biochemicals as well as physiological advantages of using peptide-based therapeutics. Additionally, the limitations of peptide-based drugs can be overcome by modulating the properties of peptide molecules through various biomolecular engineering techniques. Recent advances in computational approaches have been helpful in studying the effect of peptide drugs on the biomolecular targets. Receptor – ligand-based molecular docking studies have made it easy to screen compatible inhibitors against a target.Furthermore, there are simulation tools available to evaluate stability of complexes at the molecular level. Machine learning methods have added a new edge by enabling accurate prediction of therapeutic peptides. Results: Peptide-based drugs are expected to take over many popular drugs in the near future due to their biosafety, lower off-target binding chances and multifunctional properties. Conclusion: This article summarises the latest developments in the field of peptide-based therapeutics related to their usage, tools, and databases.

Design, Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of Novel Antiinflammatory and Analgesic O-Benzyloxime Compounds Derived From Natural Eugenol

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1157-1166
Author(s):  
Rodrigo César da Silva ◽  
Fabiano Veiga ◽  
Fabiana Cardoso Vilela ◽  
André Victor Pereira ◽  
Thayssa Tavares da Silva Cunha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Formalin Test ◽  
Docking Studies ◽  
Paw Edema ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Structural Pattern ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Drug Candidates ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Analgesic Activities ◽  
Cox 1

Background: : A new series of O-benzyloximes derived from eugenol was synthesized and was evaluated for its antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties. Methods: : The target compounds were obtained in good global 25-28% yields over 6 steps, which led us to identify compounds (Z)-5,6-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one-O-(4- (methylthio)benzyloxime (8b), (Z)-5,6-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one-O-4- bromobenzyloxime (8d) and (Z)-5,6-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one-O-4- (methylsulfonyl)benzyloxime (8f) as promising bioactive prototypes. Results:: These compounds have significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, as evidenced by formalin-induced mice paw edema and carrageenan-induced mice paw edema tests. In the formalin test, compounds 8b and 8f evidenced both anti-inflammatory and direct analgesic activities and in the carrageenan-induced paw edema, with compounds 8c, 8d, and 8f showing the best inhibitory effects, exceeding the standard drugs indomethacin and celecoxib. Conclusion: : Molecular docking studies have provided additional evidence that the pharmacological profile of these compounds may be related to inhibition of COX enzymes, with slight preference for COX-1. These results led us to identify the new O-benzyloxime ethers 8b, 8d and 8f as orally bioactive prototypes, with a novel structural pattern capable of being explored in further studies aiming at their optimization and development as drug candidates.

scholarly journals Potential Dual Role of West Nile Virus NS2B in Orchestrating NS3 Enzymatic Activity in Viral Replication

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 216
Author(s):  
Alanna C. Tseng ◽  
Vivek R. Nerurkar ◽  
Kabi R. Neupane ◽  
Helmut Kae ◽  
Pakieli H. Kaufusi
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Enzymatic Activity ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Biochemical Assays ◽  
In Trans ◽  
Viral Polyprotein ◽  
Ns3 Protease

West Nile virus (WNV) nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) harbors the viral triphosphatase and helicase for viral RNA synthesis and, together with NS2B, constitutes the protease responsible for polyprotein processing. NS3 is a soluble protein, but it is localized to specialized compartments at the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), where its enzymatic functions are essential for virus replication. However, the mechanistic details behind the recruitment of NS3 from the cytoplasm to the RER have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we employed immunofluorescence and biochemical assays to demonstrate that NS3, when expressed individually and when cleaved from the viral polyprotein, is localized exclusively to the cytoplasm. Furthermore, NS3 appeared to be peripherally recruited to the RER and proteolytically active when NS2B was provided in trans. Thus, we provide evidence for a potential additional role for NS2B in not only serving as the cofactor for the NS3 protease, but also in recruiting NS3 from the cytoplasm to the RER for proper enzymatic activity. Results from our study suggest that targeting the interaction between NS2B and NS3 in disrupting the NS3 ER localization may be an attractive avenue for antiviral drug discovery.

scholarly journals Mass Spectrometry versus Conventional Techniques of Protein Detection: Zika Virus NS3 Protease Activity towards Cellular Proteins

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 3732
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Dabrowska ◽  
Aleksandra Milewska ◽  
Joanna Ner-Kluza ◽  
Piotr Suder ◽  
Krzysztof Pyrc
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Protein Detection ◽  
Extensive Discussion ◽  
Protein Targets ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Ns3 Protease ◽  
To Receive

Mass spectrometry (MS) used in proteomic approaches is able to detect hundreds of proteins in a single assay. Although undeniable high analytical power of MS, data acquired sometimes lead to confusing results, especially during a search of very selective, unique interactions in complex biological matrices. Here, we would like to show an example of such confusing data, providing an extensive discussion on the observed phenomenon. Our investigations focus on the interaction between the Zika virus NS3 protease, which is essential for virus replication. This enzyme is known for helping to remodel the microenvironment of the infected cells. Several reports show that this protease can process cellular substrates and thereby modify cellular pathways that are important for the virus. Herein, we explored some of the targets of NS3, clearly shown by proteomic techniques, as processed during infection. Unfortunately, we could not confirm the biological relevance of protein targets for viral infections detected by MS. Thus, although mass spectrometry is highly sensitive and useful in many instances, also being able to show directions where cell/virus interaction occurs, we believe that deep recognition of their biological role is essential to receive complete insight into the investigated process.

Flavonoids from Pterogyne nitens as Zika virus NS2B-NS3 protease inhibitors

2021 ◽  
Vol 109 ◽  
pp. 104719
Author(s):  
Caroline Sprengel Lima ◽  
Melina Mottin ◽  
Leticia Ribeiro de Assis ◽  
Nathalya Cristina de Moraes Roso Mesquita ◽  
Bruna Katiele de Paula Sousa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Ns3 Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Ns3 Protease

scholarly journals Viruses and Type 1 Diabetes: From Enteroviruses to the Virome

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1519
Author(s):  
Sonia R. Isaacs ◽  
Dylan B. Foskett ◽  
Anna J. Maxwell ◽  
Emily J. Ward ◽  
Clare L. Faulkner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Virus Detection ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Islet Autoimmunity ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Drug Candidates

For over a century, viruses have left a long trail of evidence implicating them as frequent suspects in the development of type 1 diabetes. Through vigorous interrogation of viral infections in individuals with islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes using serological and molecular virus detection methods, as well as mechanistic studies of virus-infected human pancreatic β-cells, the prime suspects have been narrowed down to predominantly human enteroviruses. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of evidence supporting the hypothesised role of enteroviruses in the development of islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes. We also discuss concerns over the historical focus and investigation bias toward enteroviruses and summarise current unbiased efforts aimed at characterising the complete population of viruses (the “virome”) contributing early in life to the development of islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes. Finally, we review the range of vaccine and antiviral drug candidates currently being evaluated in clinical trials for the prevention and potential treatment of type 1 diabetes.

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