Post-Infection Entry Mechanism of Ricin A Chain-Pokeweed Antiviral Proteins (RTA-PAPs) Chimeras is Mediated by Viroporins

The limitations of virus-specific antiviral drugs became apparent during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The search for broad range antiviral proteins of a new kind to answer current and future pandemics has become an even more pressing matter. Here, the author further describes the expected anti-SARS-CoV-2 mechanisms of a novel broad range antiviral chimeric protein constructed between ricin A chain and pokeweed antiviral proteins. The latest in protein-ligand docking software were used to determine binding affinity of RTA-PAPs to SARS-CoV-2 frameshift stimulation element and elucidate the preferential post-infection entry mechanisms of RTA-PAPs into virus infected cells over non-infected ones, by doing a comparative analysis between in vitro and in silico results on numerous viruses. The results obtained strongly suggest that the post-infection preferential entry of RTA-PAPs into infected cells is mediated by the presence of viroporins integrated into the host cell membrane. The discovery of this mechanism revealed RTA-PAPs, and proteins like them, to be a new class of broad range antivirals that target with high specificity viroporin producing viruses, and with gain of functions in antiviral activities, post-infection.

Novel Binding Mechanisms of Fusion Broad Range Anti-Infective Protein Ricin A Chain Mutant-Pokeweed Antiviral Protein 1 (RTAM-PAP1) against SARS-CoV-2 Key Proteins in Silico

The deadly pandemic named COVID-19, caused by a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in 2019 and is still spreading globally at a dangerous pace. As of today, there are no proven vaccines, therapies, or even strategies to fight off this virus. Here, we describe the in silico docking results of a novel broad range anti-infective fusion protein RTAM-PAP1 against the various key proteins of SARS-CoV-2 using the latest protein-ligand docking software. RTAM-PAP1 was compared against the SARS-CoV-2 B38 antibody, ricin A chain, a pokeweed antiviral protein from leaves, and the lectin griffithsin using the special CoDockPP COVID-19 version. These experiments revealed novel binding mechanisms of RTAM-PAP1 with a high affinity to numerous SARS-CoV-2 key proteins. RTAM-PAP1 was further characterized in a preliminary toxicity study in mice and was found to be a potential therapeutic candidate. These findings might lead to the discovery of novel SARS-CoV-2 targets and therapeutic protein structures with outstanding functions.

Novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 mechanisms of fusion broad range anti- infective protein ricin A chain mutant-pokeweed antiviral protein 1 (RTAM-PAP1) in silico

A deadly pandemic named COVID-19 caused by a new coronavirus SARS- CoV-2 has emerged in 2019 and is still spreading globally at a dangerous pace. As of today, there are no proven vaccines, therapies or even strategies to fight off this virus. Here, we describe the in silico results of a novel broad range anti-infective fusion protein RTAM-PAP1 against the various key pro- teins of SARS-CoV-2 using the latest protein-ligand docking software. RTAM-PAP1 was compared against the SARS-CoV-2 B38 antibody, ricin A chain, pokeweed antiviral protein from leaves and the lectin griffithsin using CoDockPP special COVID-19 version. These experiments revealed novel binding mechanisms of RTAM-PAP1 with high affinity to numerous targets with anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects. RTAM-PAP1 was further characterized in a preliminary toxicity study in mice and was found to likely be a potent anti- SARS-CoV-2 agent. These findings might lead to the discovery of novel SARS-CoV-2 targets and therapeutic protein structures.

Novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 mechanisms of fusion broad range anti- infective protein ricin A chain mutant-pokeweed antiviral protein 1 (RTAM-PAP1) in silico

A deadly pandemic named COVID-19 caused by a new coronavirus SARS- CoV-2 has emerged in 2019 and is still spreading globally at a dangerous pace. As of today, there are no proven vaccines, therapies or even strategies to fight off this virus. Here, we describe the in silico results of a novel broad range anti-infective fusion protein RTAM-PAP1 against the various key pro- teins of SARS-CoV-2 using the latest protein-ligand docking software. RTAM-PAP1 was compared against the SARS-CoV-2 B38 antibody, ricin A chain, pokeweed antiviral protein from leaves and the lectin griffithsin using CoDockPP special COVID-19 version. These experiments revealed novel binding mechanisms of RTAM-PAP1 with high affinity to numerous targets with anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects. RTAM-PAP1 was further characterized in a preliminary toxicity study in mice and was found to likely be a potent anti- SARS-CoV-2 agent. These findings might lead to the discovery of novel SARS-CoV-2 targets and therapeutic protein structures.