scholarly journals Overcoming nonstructural protein 15-nidoviral uridylate-specific endoribonuclease (nsp15/NendoU) activity of SARS-CoV-2

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. FDD42
Author(s):  
Suranga L Senanayake
Keyword(s):  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Antiviral Agents ◽  
Nucleoside Analogs ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Lethal Mutagenesis ◽  
Double Hit ◽  
Potential Inhibitors

COVID-19 has become the gravest global public health crisis since the Spanish Flu of 1918. Combination antiviral therapy with repurposed broad-spectrum antiviral agents holds a highly promising immediate treatment strategy, especially given uncertainties of vaccine efficacy and developmental timeline. Here, we describe a novel hypothetical approach: combining available broad-spectrum antiviral agents such as nucleoside analogs with potential inhibitors of NendoU, for example nsp15 RNA substrate mimetics. While only hypothesis-generating, this approach may constitute a ‘double-hit’ whereby two CoV-unique protein elements of the replicase–transcriptase complex are inhibited simultaneously; this may be an Achilles' heel and precipitate lethal mutagenesis in a coronavirus. It remains to be seen whether structurally optimized RNA substrate mimetics in combination with clinically approved and repurposed backbone antivirals can synergistically inhibit this endonuclease in vitro, thus fulfilling the ‘double-hit hypothesis’.

scholarly journals Broad-spectrum virucidal activity of bacterial secreted lipases against flaviviruses, SARS-CoV-2 and other enveloped viruses

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Yu ◽  
Liming Zhang ◽  
Liangqin Tong ◽  
Nana Zhang ◽  
Han Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Lipase Activity ◽  
Antiviral Agents ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Viral Envelope ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Virucidal Activity ◽  
Extracellular Milieu

AbstractViruses are the major aetiological agents of acute and chronic severe human diseases that place a tremendous burden on global public health and economy; however, for most viruses, effective prophylactics and therapeutics are lacking, in particular, broad-spectrum antiviral agents. Herein, we identified 2 secreted bacterial lipases from a Chromobacterium bacterium, named Chromobacterium antiviral effector-1 (CbAE-1) and CbAE-2, with a broad-spectrum virucidal activity against dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV). The CbAEs potently blocked viral infection in the extracellular milieu through their lipase activity. Mechanistic studies showed that this lipase activity directly disrupted the viral envelope structure, thus inactivating infectivity. A mutation of CbAE-1 in its lipase motif fully abrogated the virucidal ability. Furthermore, CbAE-2 presented low toxicity in vivo and in vitro, highlighting its potential as a broad-spectrum antiviral drug.

scholarly journals Analysis of Ribonucleotide 5′-Triphosphate Analogs as Potential Inhibitors of Zika Virus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase by Using Nonradioactive Polymerase Assays

2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaofei Lu ◽  
Gregory R. Bluemling ◽  
Paul Collop ◽  
Michael Hager ◽  
Damien Kuiper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
Antiviral Compounds ◽  
Double Stranded Dna ◽  
Virus Rna ◽  
Potential Inhibitors

ABSTRACT Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging human pathogen that is spreading rapidly through the Americas and has been linked to the development of microcephaly and to a dramatically increased number of Guillain-Barré syndrome cases. Currently, no vaccine or therapeutic options for the prevention or treatment of ZIKV infections exist. In the study described in this report, we expressed, purified, and characterized full-length nonstructural protein 5 (NS5) and the NS5 polymerase domain (NS5pol) of ZIKV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Using purified NS5, we developed an in vitro nonradioactive primer extension assay employing a fluorescently labeled primer-template pair. Both purified NS5 and NS5pol can carry out in vitro RNA-dependent RNA synthesis in this assay. Our results show that Mn2+ is required for enzymatic activity, while Mg2+ is not. We found that ZIKV NS5 can utilize single-stranded DNA but not double-stranded DNA as a template or a primer to synthesize RNA. The assay was used to compare the efficiency of incorporation of analog 5′-triphosphates by the ZIKV polymerase and to calculate their discrimination versus that of natural ribonucleotide triphosphates (rNTPs). The 50% inhibitory concentrations for analog rNTPs were determined in an alternative nonradioactive coupled-enzyme assay. We determined that, in general, 2′-C-methyl- and 2′-C-ethynyl-substituted analog 5′-triphosphates were efficiently incorporated by the ZIKV polymerase and were also efficient chain terminators. Derivatives of these molecules may serve as potential antiviral compounds to be developed to combat ZIKV infection. This report provides the first characterization of ZIKV polymerase and demonstrates the utility of in vitro polymerase assays in the identification of potential ZIKV inhibitors.

scholarly journals Nucleoside Analogs with Selective Antiviral Activity against Dengue Fever and Japanese Encephalitis Viruses

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keivan Zandi ◽  
Leda Bassit ◽  
Franck Amblard ◽  
Bryan D. Cox ◽  
Pouya Hassandarvish ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Japanese Encephalitis ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Antiviral Agents ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Nucleoside Analogs ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Direct Acting Antiviral ◽  
East And Southeast Asia ◽  
Direct Acting ◽  
Global Public Health Problem

ABSTRACTDengue virus (DENV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) are important arthropod-borne viruses from theFlaviviridaefamily. DENV is a global public health problem with significant social and economic impacts, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. JEV is a neurotropic arbovirus endemic to east and southeast Asia. There are no U.S. FDA-approved antiviral drugs available to treat or to prevent DENV and JEV infections, leaving nearly one-third of the world’s population at risk for infection. Therefore, it is crucial to discover potent antiviral agents against these viruses. Nucleoside analogs, as a class, are widely used for the treatment of viral infections. In this study, we discovered nucleoside analogs that possess potent and selective anti-JEV and anti-DENV activities across all serotypes in cell-based assay systems. Both viruses were susceptible to sugar-substituted 2′-C-methyl analogs with either cytosine or 7-deaza-7-fluoro-adenine nucleobases. Mouse studies confirmed the anti-DENV activity of these nucleoside analogs. Molecular models were assembled for DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2) and JEV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase replication complexes bound to nucleotide inhibitors. These models show similarities between JEV and DENV-2, which recognize the same nucleotide inhibitors. Collectively, our findings provide promising compounds and a structural rationale for the development of direct-acting antiviral agents with dual activity against JEV and DENV infections.

scholarly journals Application of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cellular and Organoid Models for COVID-19 Research

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumei Luo ◽  
Mimi Zhang ◽  
Yapei Chen ◽  
Yaoyong Chen ◽  
Detu Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Infection Mechanisms ◽  
Induced Pluripotent ◽  
The Brain

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its rapid international spread has caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemics, which is a global public health crisis. Thus, there is an urgent need to establish biological models to study the pathology of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which not only involves respiratory failure, but also includes dysregulation of other organs and systems, including the brain, heart, liver, intestines, pancreas, kidneys, eyes, and so on. Cellular and organoid models derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are ideal tools for in vitro simulation of viral life cycles and drug screening to prevent the reemergence of coronavirus. These iPSC-derived models could recapitulate the functions and physiology of various human cell types and assemble the complex microenvironments similar with those in the human organs; therefore, they can improve the study efficiency of viral infection mechanisms, mimic the natural host-virus interaction, and be suited for long-term experiments. In this review, we focus on the application of in vitro iPSC-derived cellular and organoid models in COVID-19 studies.

scholarly journals Nonstructural protein 7 and 8 complexes of SARS-CoV-2

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changhui Zhang ◽  
Li Li ◽  
Jun He ◽  
Cheng Chen ◽  
Dan Su
Keyword(s):  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Genome Replication ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Host Proteins ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Viral Genome Replication ◽  
Replicase Complex ◽  
Viral Replicase

Abstract The pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) across the world has led to millions of infection cases and caused a global public health crisis. Current research suggests that SARS-CoV-2 is a highly contagious coronavirus that spreads rapidly through communities. To understand the mechanisms of viral replication, it is imperative to observe coronavirus viral replicase, a huge protein complex comprising up to 16 viral nonstructural and associated host proteins, which is the most promising antiviral target for inhibiting viral genome replication and transcription. Recently, several components of the viral replicase complex in SARS-CoV-2 have been solved to provide a basis for the design of new antiviral therapeutics. Here, we report the crystal structure of the SARS-CoV2 nsp7-8 tetramer, which comprises two copies of each protein representing nsp7’s full-length and the C-terminus of nsp8 owing to N-terminus proteolysis during the process of crystallization. We also identified a long helical extension and highly flexible N-terminal domain of nsp8, which is preferred for interacting with single-stranded nucleic acids.

scholarly journals 1592. In Vitro Activity of Ceftolozane/Tazobactam (C/T) Against Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Circulating in Chile

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S581-S581
Author(s):  
Lina M Rivas ◽  
Jose R W Martínez ◽  
Maria Spencer ◽  
Lorena Porte ◽  
Francisco Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Clinical Strains ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Complex Figure ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Background The widespread dissemination of carbapenem-resistant (CR) P. aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae has created a major global public health crisis. C/T is a recently approved therapeutic which consists of the combination of a novel cephalosporin (ceftolozane) and tazobactam (a β-lactamase inhibitor). C/T has shown good activity against a wide range of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram negatives, being particularly interesting as an alternative for MDR P. aeruginosa. We aimed to determine the activity of C/T against clinical strains of Enterobacteriaceae and P. aeruginosa recovered in 4 large clinical centers from Chile. Methods We analyzed 434 isolates of Enterobacteriaceae (347 E. coli, 66 K. pneumoniae, 21 Enterobacter cloacae complex) and 57 P. aeruginosa collected during 2017 from 4 tertiary care institutions in Santiago, Chile. Identification was performed as per each local clinical microbiology lab. Susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution using customized Sensititre plates (Trek). Carba-NP was performed to screen for carbapenemase production. Susceptibilities were analyzed as per 2019 CLSI breakpoints. Results The MIC50/90 for C/T against Enterobacteriaceae and P. aeruginosa were 1/4 μg/mL and 2/16 μg/mL, respectively. In Enterobacteriaceae, susceptibility to C/T reached 92% in E. coli (Figure 1A), 91% in E. cloacae complex (Figure 1B) and 70% in K. pneumoniae (Figure 1C). Remarkably, C/T remained active against 58% (33/57) of CR Enterobacteriaceae (Figure 2A). Among Carba-NP-negative CR isolates (46%, 26/57), susceptibility to C/T was 54% (Figure 3 A–C). In P. aeruginosa, the overall susceptibility to C/T was 81% (Figure 1D), maintaining activity against 69% (25/36) of CR strains (Figure 2B). Importantly, susceptibility to C/T in CR P. aeruginosa isolates with a negative Carba-NP (67%, 24/36) was 83% (20/24) (Figure 3D). Conclusion In this multicenter study, we observed that C/T was highly active against clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and P. aeruginosa. Of note, C/T remained active against a large proportion of CR clinical strains. Moreover, the activity of C/T was particularly high against CR P. aeruginosa isolates with a negative Carba-NP. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Strigolactone Analogs Are Promising Antiviral Agents for the Treatment of Human Cytomegalovirus Infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 703
Author(s):  
Matteo Biolatti ◽  
Marco Blangetti ◽  
Giulia D’Arrigo ◽  
Francesca Spyrakis ◽  
Paola Cappello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antiviral Activity ◽  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Antiviral Agents ◽  
Nucleoside Analogs ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Late Protein ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Infected Cells

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a widespread pathogen and is associated with severe diseases in immunocompromised individuals. Moreover, HCMV infection is the most frequent cause of congenital malformation in developed countries. Although nucleoside analogs have been successfully employed against HCMV, their use is hampered by the occurrence of serious side effects. There is thus an urgent clinical need for less toxic, but highly effective, antiviral drugs. Strigolactones (SLs) are a novel class of plant hormones with a multifaceted activity. While their role in plant-related fields has been extensively explored, their effects on human cells and their potential applications in medicine are far from being fully exploited. In particular, their antiviral activity has never been investigated. In the present study, a panel of SL analogs has been assessed for antiviral activity against HCMV. We demonstrate that TH-EGO and EDOT-EGO significantly inhibit HCMV replication in vitro, impairing late protein expression. Moreover, we show that the SL-dependent induction of apoptosis in HCMV-infected cells is a contributing mechanism to SL antiviral properties. Overall, our results indicate that SLs may be a promising alternative to nucleoside analogs for the treatment of HCMV infections.

scholarly journals Mutations in Coronavirus Nonstructural Protein 10 Decrease Virus Replication Fidelity

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (12) ◽  
pp. 6418-6426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Everett Clinton Smith ◽  
James Brett Case ◽  
Hervé Blanc ◽  
Ofer Isakov ◽  
Noam Shomron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Replication ◽  
Viral Protein ◽  
Hepatitis Virus ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Nucleoside Analogs ◽  
Murine Hepatitis Virus ◽  
Replication Fidelity ◽  
Peak Titer ◽  
Substitution Mutations

ABSTRACTCoronaviruses (CoVs) are unique in encoding a 3′→5′ exoribonuclease within nonstructural protein 14 (nsp14-ExoN) that is required for high-fidelity replication, likely via proofreading. nsp14 associates with the CoV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (nsp12-RdRp), and nsp14-ExoN activity is enhanced by binding nsp10, a small nonenzymatic protein. However, it is not known whether nsp10 functions in the regulation of CoV replication fidelity. To test this, we engineered single and double alanine substitution mutations into the genome of murine hepatitis virus (MHV-A59) containing ExoN activity [ExoN(+)] at positions within nsp10 known to disrupt the nsp10-nsp14 interactionin vitro. We show that an nsp10 mutant, R80A/E82A-ExoN(+), was five to ten times more sensitive to treatment with the RNA mutagen 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) than wild-type (WT)-ExoN(+), suggestive of decreased replication fidelity. This decreased-fidelity phenotype was confirmed using two additional nucleoside analogs, 5-azacytidine and ribavirin. R80A/E82A-ExoN(+) reached a peak titer similar to and demonstrated RNA synthesis kinetics comparable to those seen with WT-ExoN(+). No change in 5-FU sensitivity was observed for R80A/E82A-ExoN(−) relative to MHV-ExoN(−), indicating that the decreased-fidelity phenotype of R80A/E82A-ExoN(−) is linked to the presence of ExoN activity. Our results demonstrate that nsp10 is important for CoV replication fidelity and support the hypothesis that nsp10 functions to regulate nsp14-ExoN activity during virus replication.IMPORTANCEThe adaptive capacity of CoVs, as well as all other RNA viruses, is partially attributed to the presence of extensive population genetic diversity. However, decreased fidelity is detrimental to CoV replication and virulence; mutant CoVs with decreased replication fidelity are attenuated and more sensitive to inhibition by RNA mutagens. Thus, identifying the viral protein determinants of CoV fidelity is important for understanding CoV replication, pathogenesis, and virulence. In this report, we show that nsp10, a small, nonenzymatic viral protein, contributes to CoV replication fidelity. Our data support the hypothesis that CoVs have evolved multiple proteins, in addition to nsp14-ExoN, that are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the largest known RNA genomes.

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