scholarly journals Potential Therapeutic Agents for Feline Calicivirus Infection

Viruses ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tulio M. Fumian ◽  
Daniel Enosi Tuipulotu ◽  
Natalie E. Netzler ◽  
Jennifer H. Lun ◽  
Alice G. Russo ◽  
...  

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a major cause of upper respiratory tract disease in cats, with widespread distribution in the feline population. Recently, virulent systemic diseases caused by FCV infection has been associated with mortality rates up to 50%. Currently, there are no direct-acting antivirals approved for the treatment of FCV infection. Here, we tested 15 compounds from different antiviral classes against FCV using in vitro protein and cell culture assays. After the expression of FCV protease-polymerase protein, we established two in vitro assays to assess the inhibitory activity of compounds directly against the FCV protease or polymerase. Using this recombinant enzyme, we identified quercetagetin and PPNDS as inhibitors of FCV polymerase activity (IC50 values of 2.8 μM and 2.7 μM, respectively). We also demonstrate the inhibition of FCV protease activity by GC376 (IC50 of 18 µM). Using cell culture assays, PPNDS, quercetagetin and GC376 did not display antivirals effects, however, we identified nitazoxanide and 2′-C-methylcytidine (2CMC) as potent inhibitors of FCV replication, with EC50 values in the low micromolar range (0.6 μM and 2.5 μM, respectively). In conclusion, we established two in vitro assays that will accelerate the research for FCV antivirals and can be used for the high-throughput screening of direct-acting antivirals.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haicheng Liu ◽  
Yushi Futamura ◽  
Honghai Wu ◽  
Aki Ishiyama ◽  
Taotao Zhang ◽  
...  

Background: Malaria is one of the most devastating parasitic diseases, yet the discovery of antimalarial agents remains profoundly challenging. Very few new antimalarials have been developed in the past 50 years, while the emergence of drug-resistance continues to appear. Objective: This study focuses on the discovery, design, synthesis, and antimalarial evaluation of 3-cinnamamido-N-substituted benzamides. Method: In this study, a screening of our compound library was carried out against the multidrug-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain. Derivatives of the hit were designed, synthesized and tested against P. falciparum 3D7 and the in vivo antimalarial activity of the most active compounds was evaluated using the method of Peters’ 4-day suppressive test. Results: The retrieved hit compound 1 containing a 3-cinnamamido-N-substituted benzamide skeleton showed moderate antimalarial activity (IC50 = 1.20 µM) for the first time. A series of derivatives were then synthesized through a simple four-step workflow, and half of them exhibited slightly better antimalarial effect than the precursor 1 during the subsequent in vitro assays. Additionally, compounds 11, 23, 30 and 31 displayed potent activity with IC50 values of approximately 0.1 µM, and weak cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. However, in vivo antimalarial activity is not effective which might be ascribed to the poor solubility of these compounds. Conclusion: In this study, phenotypic screen of our compound library resulted in the first report of 3-cinnamamide framework with antimalarial activity and 40 derivatives were then designed and synthesized. Subsequent structure-activity studies showed that compounds 11, 23, 30 and 31 exhibited the most potent and selective activity against P. falciparum 3D7 strain with IC50 values around 0.1 µM. Our work herein sets another example of phenotypic screen-based drug discovery, leading to potentially promising candidates of novel antimalarial agents once given further optimization.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shogo Ozawa ◽  
Toshitaka Miura ◽  
Jun Terashima ◽  
Wataru Habano ◽  
Seiichi Ishida

Background: In order to avoid drug-induced liver injury (DILI), in vitro assays, which enable the assessment of both metabolic activation and immune reaction processes that ultimately result in DILI, are needed. Objective: In this study, the recent progress in the application of in vitro assays using cell culture systems is reviewed for potential DILI-causing drugs/xenobiotics and a mechanistic study on DILI, as well as for the limitations of in vitro cell culture systems for DILI research. Methods: Information related to DILI was collected through a literature search of the PubMed database. Results: The initial biological event for the onset of DILI is the formation of cellular protein adducts after drugs have been metabolically activated by drug metabolizing enzymes. The damaged peptides derived from protein adducts lead to the activation of CD4+ helper T lymphocytes and recognition by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which destroy hepatocytes through immunological reactions. Because DILI is a major cause of drug attrition and drug withdrawal, numerous in vitro systems consisting of hepatocytes and immune/inflammatory cells, or spheroids of human primary hepatocytes containing non-parenchymal cells have been developed. These cellular-based systems have identified DILIinducing drugs with approximately 50% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Conclusion: Different co-culture systems consisting of human hepatocyte-derived cells and other immune/inflammatory cells have enabled the identification of DILI-causing drugs and of the actual mechanisms of action.


Author(s):  
Olga V. Naidenko ◽  
David Q. Andrews ◽  
Alexis M. Temkin ◽  
Tasha Stoiber ◽  
Uloma Igara Uche ◽  
...  

The development of high-throughput screening methodologies may decrease the need for laboratory animals for toxicity testing. Here, we investigate the potential of assessing immunotoxicity with high-throughput screening data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ToxCast program. As case studies, we analyzed the most common chemicals added to food as well as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) shown to migrate to food from packaging materials or processing equipment. The antioxidant preservative tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) showed activity both in ToxCast assays and in classical immunological assays, suggesting that it may affect the immune response in people. From the PFAS group, we identified eight substances that can migrate from food contact materials and have ToxCast data. In epidemiological and toxicological studies, PFAS suppress the immune system and decrease the response to vaccination. However, most PFAS show weak or no activity in immune-related ToxCast assays. This lack of concordance between toxicological and high-throughput data for common PFAS indicates the current limitations of in vitro screening for analyzing immunotoxicity. High-throughput in vitro assays show promise for providing mechanistic data relevant for immune risk assessment. In contrast, the lack of immune-specific activity in the existing high-throughput assays cannot validate the safety of a chemical for the immune system.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3213
Author(s):  
Alon Ben David ◽  
Eran Diamant ◽  
Eyal Dor ◽  
Ada Barnea ◽  
Niva Natan ◽  
...  

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic. The first step of viral infection is cell attachment, which is mediated by the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD), part of the virus spike protein, to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Therefore, drug repurposing to discover RBD-ACE2 binding inhibitors may provide a rapid and safe approach for COVID-19 therapy. Here, we describe the development of an in vitro RBD-ACE2 binding assay and its application to identify inhibitors of the interaction of the SARS-CoV-2 RBD to ACE2 by the high-throughput screening of two compound libraries (LOPAC®1280 and DiscoveryProbeTM). Three compounds, heparin sodium, aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA), and ellagic acid, were found to exert an effective binding inhibition, with IC50 values ranging from 0.6 to 5.5 µg/mL. A plaque reduction assay in Vero E6 cells infected with a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate virus confirmed the inhibition efficacy of heparin sodium and ATA. Molecular docking analysis located potential binding sites of these compounds in the RBD. In light of these findings, the screening system described herein can be applied to other drug libraries to discover potent SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors.


2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. McGinnity ◽  
R. J. Riley

The pharmaceutical industry is committed to market safer drugs with fewer side effects, predictable pharmacokinetic properties and quantifiable drug-drug interactions. There is an increasing need to develop robust, enhanced-throughput in vitro assays, which accurately extrapolate to humans. The major drug metabolizing human hepatic cytochrome P450s (CYPs; CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6 and 3A4) have been co-expressed functionally in Escherichia coli with human NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and validated as surrogates to their counterparts in human liver microsomes (HLM) with respect to their kinetic and inhibition properties. Using these recombinant enzymes, fully automated in vitro assays to assess CYP inhibition and determine the enzymology of drug oxidation have been developed and validated. IC50 values determined for a series of test compounds in HLM and recombinant CYPs were similar (r2 = 0.9, P < 0.001). There was a good correlation between the sum of individual CYP intrinsic clearance (Clint) and HLM CIint (r2 = 0.8, P< 0.001) for ten prototypic substrates for which clearance was CYP-dependent. Several in vitro incubation milieu (e.g. CYPs, HLM, human hepatocytes) are routinely used and the level of non-specific binding was investigated with respect to effects on Km and Ki determinations. There were clear correlations between binding and lipophilicity (logD7.4) for a selection of bases (r2 = 0.98, P < 0.001) and acids (r2 = 0.79, P < 0.001) that may allow prediction of this property. Our laboratory has shown that recombinant enzymes are suitable for ‘frontline’ predictive human metabolism studies in early drug discovery.


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Matsumoto ◽  
Su Nwe San ◽  
Masachika Fujiyoshi ◽  
Ayano Kawauchi ◽  
Natsumi Chiba ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-131
Author(s):  
Steven X. Hu ◽  
Chase A. Mazur ◽  
Kenneth L. Feenstra

Background: There has been a lack of information about the inhibition of bovine medicines on bovine hepatic CYP450 at their commercial doses and dosing routes. Objective: The aim of this work was to assess the inhibition of 43 bovine medicines on bovine hepatic CYP450 using a combination of in vitro assay and Cmax values from pharmacokinetic studies with their commercial doses and dosing routes in the literature. Methods: Those drugs were first evaluated through a single point inhibitory assay at 3 μM in bovine liver microsomes for six specific CYP450 metabolisms, phenacetin o-deethylation, coumarin 7- hydroxylation, tolbutamide 4-hydroxylation, bufuralol 1-hydroxylation, chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation and midazolam 1’-hydroxylation. When the inhibition was greater than 20% in the assay, IC50 values were then determined. The potential in vivo bovine hepatic CYP450 inhibition by those drugs was assessed using a combination of the IC50 values and in vivo Cmax values from pharmacokinetic studies at their commercial doses and administration routes in the literature. Results: Fifteen bovine medicines or metabolites showed in vitro inhibition on one or more bovine hepatic CYP450 metabolisms with different IC50 values. Desfuroylceftiour (active metabolite of ceftiofur), nitroxinil and flunixin have the potential to inhibit one of the bovine hepatic CYP450 isoforms in vivo at their commercial doses and administration routes. The rest of the bovine medicines had low risks of in vivo bovine hepatic CYP450 inhibition. Conclusion: This combination of in vitro assay and in vivo Cmax data provides a good approach to assess the inhibition of bovine medicines on bovine hepatic CYP450.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 896
Author(s):  
Laura Albentosa-González ◽  
Nereida Jimenez de Oya ◽  
Armando Arias ◽  
Pilar Clemente-Casares ◽  
Miguel Ángel Martin-Acebes ◽  
...  

Arthropod-borne flaviviruses, such as Zika virus (ZIKV), Usutu virus (USUV), and West Nile virus (WNV), are a growing cause of human illness and death around the world. Presently, no licensed antivirals to control them are available and, therefore, search for broad-spectrum antivirals, including host-directed compounds, is essential. The PI3K/Akt pathway controls essential cellular functions involved in cell metabolism and proliferation. Moreover, Akt has been found to participate in modulating replication in different viruses including the flaviviruses. In this work we studied the interaction of flavivirus NS5 polymerases with the cellular kinase Akt. In vitro NS5 phosphorylation experiments with Akt showed that flavivirus NS5 polymerases are phosphorylated and co-immunoprecipitate by Akt. Polymerase activity assays of Ala- and Glu-generated mutants for the Akt-phosphorylated residues also indicate that Glu mutants of ZIKV and USUV NS5s present a reduced primer-extension activity that was not observed in WNV mutants. Furthermore, treatment with Akt inhibitors (MK-2206, honokiol and ipatasertib) reduced USUV and ZIKV titers in cell culture but, except for honokiol, not WNV. All these findings suggest an important role for Akt in flavivirus replication although with specific differences among viruses and encourage further investigations to examine the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway as an antiviral potential target.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2040
Author(s):  
Matteo Bordicchia ◽  
Tulio Machado Fumian ◽  
Kate Van Brussel ◽  
Alice G. Russo ◽  
Maura Carrai ◽  
...  

Feline calicivirus (FCV) causes upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) and sporadic outbreaks of virulent systemic disease (FCV-VSD). The basis for the increased pathogenicity of FCV-VSD viruses is incompletely understood, and antivirals for FCV-VSD have yet to be developed. We investigated the clinicoepidemiology and viral features of three FCV-VSD outbreaks in Australia and evaluated the in vitro efficacy of nitazoxanide (NTZ), 2′-C-methylcytidine (2CMC) and NITD-008 against FCV-VSD viruses. Overall mortality among 23 cases of FCV-VSD was 39%. Metagenomic sequencing identified five genetically distinct FCV lineages within the three outbreaks, all seemingly evolving in situ in Australia. Notably, no mutations that clearly distinguished FCV-URTD from FCV-VSD phenotypes were identified. One FCV-URTD strain likely originated from a recombination event. Analysis of seven amino-acid residues from the hypervariable E region of the capsid in the cultured viruses did not support the contention that properties of these residues can reliably differentiate between the two pathotypes. On plaque reduction assays, dose–response inhibition of FCV-VSD was obtained with all antivirals at low micromolar concentrations; NTZ EC50, 0.4–0.6 µM, TI = 21; 2CMC EC50, 2.7–5.3 µM, TI > 18; NITD-008, 0.5 to 0.9 µM, TI > 111. Investigation of these antivirals for the treatment of FCV-VSD is warranted.


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