Role of GS-5734 (Remdesivir) in inhibiting SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV: The expected role of GS-5734 (Remdesivir) in COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) - VYTR hypothesis.

Author(s):  
Vityala Yethindra

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped RNA viruses related to the family Coronaviridae, the order Nirdovales, and observed in humans and other mammals. In December 2019, many pneumonia cases reported by patients with unknown causes, mainly associated with seafood and wet animal market in Wuhan, China, and where clinically resembled viral pneumonia. At present, there is no existence of antiviral drugs for the treatment of CoV infections. The results of our study are GS-5734 strongly inhibits SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV in HAE cells, GS-5734 inhibits CoVs at early stages in replication by inhibiting viral RNA synthesis, the absence of ExoN-mediated proofreading in viruses sensitive to treatment with GS-5734. Protease inhibitors can show improved outcomes in some coronaviruses, but mostly 99% of protease inhibitors bind to proteins present in the human body, and only 1% attacks on existed viruses. The expected role of GS-5734 (Remdesivir) in the 2019-nCoV - VYTR hypothesis explained. As broad-spectrum drugs are capable of inhibiting CoV infections, GS-5734 is a broad-spectrum drug and may show inhibition on CoV infections and 2019-nCoV. GS-5734 will show desired results regarding antiviral activity against 2019-nCoV as it showed potent antiviral activity in other CoVs. More clinical trials and experiments needed to prove that GS-5734 (Remdesivir) is a potential and effective drug to treat 2019-nCoV.

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rana Abdelnabi ◽  
Ana Theresa Silveira de Morais ◽  
Pieter Leyssen ◽  
Isabelle Imbert ◽  
Stéphanie Beaucourt ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Favipiravir (T-705) is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent that has been approved in Japan for the treatment of influenza virus infections. T-705 also inhibits the replication of various RNA viruses, including chikungunya virus (CHIKV). We demonstrated earlier that the K291R mutation in the F1 motif of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of CHIKV is responsible for low-level resistance to T-705. Interestingly, this lysine is highly conserved in the RdRp of positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA) viruses. To obtain insights into the unique broad-spectrum antiviral activity of T-705, we explored the role of this lysine using another +ssRNA virus, namely, coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3). Introduction of the corresponding K-to-R substitution in the CVB3 RdRp (K159R) resulted in a nonviable virus. Replication competence of the K159R variant was restored by spontaneous acquisition of an A239G substitution in the RdRp. A mutagenesis analysis at position K159 identified the K159M variant as the only other viable variant which had also acquired the A239G substitution. The K159 substitutions markedly decreased the processivity of the purified viral RdRp, which was restored by the introduction of the A239G mutation. The K159R A239G and K159M A239G variants proved, surprisingly, more susceptible than the wild-type virus to T-705 and exhibited lower fidelity in polymerase assays. Furthermore, the K159R A239G variant was found to be highly attenuated in mice. We thus demonstrate that the conserved lysine in the F1 motif of the RdRp of +ssRNA viruses is involved in the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of T-705 and that it is a key amino acid for the proper functioning of the enzyme. IMPORTANCE In this study, we report the key role of a highly conserved lysine residue of the viral polymerase in the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of favipiravir (T-705) against positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. Substitutions of this conserved lysine have a major negative impact on the functionality of the RdRp. Furthermore, we show that this lysine is involved in the fidelity of the RdRp and that the RdRp fidelity influences the sensitivity of the virus for the antiviral efficacy of T-705. Consequently, these results provide insights into the mechanism of the antiviral activity of T-705 and may lay the basis for the design of novel chemical scaffolds that may be endowed with a more potent broad-spectrum antiviral activity than that of T-705.


2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Voglova ◽  
J. Bezakova ◽  
Iveta Herichova

AbstractMicro RNAs (miRNAs) represent a newly discovered class of regulatory molecules in the human body. miRNA is a short double stranded RNA sequence interfering with mRNA, causing in most cases, inhibition of translation. Synthesis of miRNAs shows an increasing developmental pattern and postnatally miRNAs are synthesized in all cells possessing transcriptional machinery. miRNAs usually target several mRNAs and therefore conclusive evidences proving their functions are not always ease to be acquired. In spite of this difficulty, functions of miRNAs were firmly established in the development, the cardiovascular and neural diseases, and cancer. Many miRNAs have been reported to be associated with physiological state of cells and/or tissues. This finding becomes fundamental, especially when consider that these miRNAs can be released from cell into intracellular space or circulation. Correlation between miRNA production in tissues and its contribution to multisource miRNA pool in the circulation is in a focus of biomarker-oriented researchers. Recently, circulating miRNAs have been suggested to be applicable as biomarkers in several types of cancer, cardiovascular injury, and diabetes. Role of miRNAs in the organism intercellular signaling is still under the broad investigation. Several miRNA mimics, intended for treatment of disease, are being currently tested in the clinical trials.


2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 3586-3594 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N. Barr ◽  
Gail W. Wertz

ABSTRACT Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) is the prototype of the Bunyaviridae family of tri-partite negative-sense RNA viruses. The three BUNV segments possess 3′ and 5′ nontranslated regions (NTRs) that signal two RNA synthesis activities: (i) transcription to generate mRNAs and (ii) replication to generate antigenomes that are replicated to yield further genomes. While the genome acts as a template for synthesis of both transcription and replication products, the antigenome allows synthesis of only replication products, with mRNAs being undetectable. Here, we investigate the basis for the fundamentally different signaling abilities of genomic and antigenomic strands. We show that the identity of only nucleotide position 9 within the genomic 3′ NTR is critical for the different RNA synthesis characteristics of genomic and antigenomic strands, thus identifying this nucleotide as an essential component of the transcription promoter. This nucleotide is distinctive, as it interrupts an unbroken run of conserved complementary nucleotides within the 3′ and 5′ NTRs of all three segments. Our results show that the conserved mismatched arrangement of this nucleotide plays no detectable role in signaling transcription. Instead, we show that the transcription-signaling ability of this position is entirely dependent on its nucleotide identity. We further show that while a U residue at 3′ position 9 is strongly preferred for transcription activity in the context of the genomic promoter, it does not signal transcription in the context of the antigenomic promoter. Therefore, our results show that the identity of 3′ position 9 is crucial for signaling BUNV transcription; however, it is not the sole determinant.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanwei Zhang ◽  
Yong-An Zhang ◽  
Jiagang Tu

Snakehead vesiculovirus (SHVV), a kind of fish rhabdovirus isolated from diseased hybrid snakehead fish, has caused great economic losses in snakehead fish culture in China. The large (L) protein, together with its cofactor phosphoprotein (P), forms a P/L polymerase complex and catalyzes the transcription and replication of viral genomic RNA. In this study, the cellular heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) was identified as an interacting partner of SHVV L protein. The Hsp90 activity was required for the stability of SHVV L because Hsp90 dysfunction by using its inhibitor destabilized SHVV L and thereby suppressed SHVV replication via reducing viral RNA synthesis. SHVV L expressed alone was detected mainly in the insoluble fraction and the insoluble L was degraded by Hsp90 dysfunction through the proteasomal pathway, while the presence of SHVV P promoted the solubility of SHVV L and the soluble L was degraded by Hsp90 dysfunction through the autophagy pathway. Collectively, our data suggest that Hsp90 contributes to the maturation of SHVV L and ensure the effective replication of SHVV, which exhibits an important anti-SHVV target. This study will help understand the role of Hsp90 in stabilizing the L protein and regulating the replication of negative-stranded RNA viruses. Importance It has long been proposed that cellular proteins are involved in viral RNA synthesis via interacting with the viral polymerase protein. This study focused on identifying cellular proteins interacting with the SHVV L protein, studying the effects of their interactions on SHVV replication, and revealing the underlying mechanisms. We identified Hsp90 as an interacting partner of SHVV L and found that Hsp90 activity was required for SHVV replication. Hsp90 functioned in maintaining the stability of SHVV L. Inhibition of Hsp90 activity with its inhibitor degraded SHVV L through different pathways based on the solubility of SHVV L due to the presence or absence of SHVV P. Our data provide important insights into the role of Hsp90 in SHVV polymerase maturation, which will help understand the polymerase function of negative-stranded RNA viruses.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunsup Lee ◽  
Shailesh Budhathoki ◽  
Hyeok Soon Choi ◽  
Kwang-ji Oh ◽  
Geum-Young Lee ◽  
...  

AbstractThe current pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pose a critical public health threat worldwide. Coronaviruses (subfamily Orthocoronavirinae, family Coronaviridae, order Nidovirales) are a group of enveloped positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. Six pathogenic human coronaviruses, likely zoonotic viruses, cause the common cold in humans. A new emerging coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, become a crucial etiology for the Coronavirus-induced disease 19 (COVID-19). However, effective therapeutics and vaccines against multiple coronaviruses remain unavailable. This study aimed to investigate an antiviral molecule, single chain variable fragment (scFv), against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses. 3D8, a recombinant scFv, exhibits broad-spectrum antiviral activity against DNA and RNA viruses owing to its nucleic acid-hydrolyzing property. Here, we report that 3D8 scFv inhibited the replication of SARS-CoV-2, human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43), and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). Our results revealed the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of 3D8 scFv against SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 cells. Immunoblot and plaque assays showed the absence of coronavirus nucleoproteins and infectious particles in 3D8 scFv-treated cells, respectively. In addition, we observed the antiviral effects of 3D8 against HCoV-OC43 and PEDV. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the broad-spectrum antiviral agent of 3D8 scFv; thus, it could be considered a potential antiviral countermeasure against SARS-CoV-2 and zoonotic coronaviruses.Key points (Main message)3D8, a nucleic acid-hydrolyzing scFv, exhibits potent prophylactic and therapeutic antiviral effects on SARS-CoV-2.3D8 exhibits broad-spectrum antiviral activity against multiple coronaviruses: hCoV OC43 and PEDV.3D8 potentially degrades viral RNA.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Mary N. Sheppard

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) have undergone a large change in epidemiology due to prenatal screening and improved outcomes with surgery and percutaneous procedures. In patients with complex CHD there is an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and up to 11% of all SCDs in the young occur in people with CHD. It is essential for clinicians to be aware of the risk factors, and for all patients to be followed up in specialised centres. When an SCD occurs, it is important that an autopsy is done and for the pathologist to have an in-depth knowledge of the particular defect and the corrective surgical techniques employed, as well as any complications due to these procedures. Both pathologist and cardiologist should work closely together to explain the cause of death to the family. A terminal cardiac arrhythmia explains many of the SCD cases, often with underlying cardiac fibrosis due to previous procedures. SCD may also be the first presentation of CHD, so great care is required when examining such cases and referral for a detailed expert opinion is recommended in all CHD-SCD cases.


Author(s):  
Akpeli V. Nordor ◽  
Geoffrey H. Siwo

All RNA viruses deliver their genomes into target host cells through processes distinct from normal trafficking of cellular RNA transcripts. The delivery of viral RNA into most cells hence triggers innate antiviral defenses that recognize viral RNA as foreign. In turn, viruses have evolved mechanisms to subvert these defenses, allowing them to thrive in target cells. Therefore, drugs activating defense to exogenous RNA could serve as broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. Here we show that transcriptional signatures associated with cellular responses to the delivery of a non-viral exogenous RNA sequence into human cells predict small molecules with broad-spectrum antiviral activity. In particular, transcriptional responses to the delivery of Cas9 mRNA into human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) highly matches those triggered by small molecules with broad-spectrum antiviral activity such as emetine, homoharringtonine, pyrvinium pamoate and anisomycin, indicating that these drugs are potentially active against other RNA viruses. Furthermore, these drugs have been approved for other indications and could thereby be repurposed to novel viruses. We propose that the antiviral activity of these drugs to SARS-CoV-2 should therefore be determined as they have been shown as active against other coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV. Indeed, two of these drugs- emetine and homoharringtonine- were independently shown to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 as this article was in preparation. These drugs could also be explored as potential adjuvants to COVID-19 vaccines in development due to their potential effect on the innate antiviral defenses that could bolster adaptive immunity when delivered alongside vaccine antigens.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Götte ◽  
Calvin J. Gordon ◽  
Hery W. Lee ◽  
Egor P. Tchesnokov ◽  
Jason K. Perry ◽  
...  

Remdesivir (RDV) is a direct antiviral agent that is approved in several countries for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). RDV exhibits broad-spectrum antiviral activity against positive-sense RNA viruses, e.g., SARS-CoV-2 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and non-segmented negative-sense RNA viruses, e.g., Nipah virus (NiV), while several segmented negative-sense RNA viruses such as influenza (Flu) virus or Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) are not sensitive to the drug. The reasons for this apparent pattern are unknown. Here, we expressed and purified representative RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp) and studied three biochemical parameters that have been associated with the inhibitory effects of RDV-triphosphate (TP): (i) selective incorporation of the nucleotide substrate RDV-TP, (ii) the effect of the incorporated RDV-monophosphate (MP) on primer extension, and (iii) the effect of RDV-MP in the template during incorporation of the complementary UTP. The results of this study revealed a strong correlation between antiviral effects and efficient incorporation of RDV-TP. Delayed chain-termination is heterogeneous and usually inefficient at higher NTP concentrations. In contrast, template-dependent inhibition of UTP incorporation opposite the embedded RDV-MP is seen with all polymerases. Molecular modeling suggests a steric conflict between the 1′-cyano group of RDV-MP and conserved residues of RdRp motif F. We conclude that future efforts in the development of nucleotide analogues with a broader spectrum of antiviral activities should focus on improving rates of incorporation while capitalizing on the inhibitory effects of a bulky 1′-modification.


Author(s):  
Akpeli V. Nordor ◽  
Geoffrey H. Siwo

All RNA viruses deliver their genomes into target host cells through processes distinct from normal trafficking of cellular RNA transcripts. The delivery of viral RNA into most cells hence triggers innate antiviral defenses that recognize viral RNA as foreign. In turn, viruses have evolved mechanisms to subvert these defenses, allowing them to thrive in target cells. Therefore, drugs activating defense to foreign or exogenous RNA could serve as broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. Here we show that transcriptional signatures associated with cellular responses to the delivery of a non-viral exogenous RNA sequence into human cells predicts small molecules with broad-spectrum antiviral activity. In particular, transcriptional responses to the delivery of cas9 mRNA into human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) highly matches those triggered by small molecules with broad-spectrum antiviral activity such as emetine, homoharringtonine, pyrvinium pamoate and anisomycin, indicating that these drugs are potentially active against other RNA viruses. Furthermore, these drugs have been approved for other indications and could thereby be repurposed to novel viruses. We propose that the antiviral activity of these drugs to SARS-CoV-2 should therefore be determined as they have been shown as active against other coronaviruses including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. These drugs could also be explored as potential adjuvants to COVID-19 vaccines in development due to their potential effect on the innate antiviral defenses that could bolster adaptive immunity when delivered alongside vaccine antigens.


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