Development of Small-Molecule MERS-CoV Inhibitors

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) with potential to cause global pandemics remains a threat to the public health, security, and economy. In this review, we focus on advances in the research and development of small-molecule MERS-CoV inhibitors targeting different stages of the MERS-CoV life cycle, aiming to prevent or treat MERS-CoV infection.


Introduction
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has posed a serious threat to public health worldwide because it can cause severe respiratory disease in humans with high mortality (about 36%) [1]. As of 27 November 2018, a total of 2266 human MERS-CoV infections with 804 deaths had been reported from 27 countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America to the World Health Organization (WHO), with 83% reported by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Figure 1) (https://www.who.int/emergencies/mers-cov/en/). Phylogenetic and sequencing data strongly suggest that MERS-CoV belongs to the C-lineage of the genus betacoronavirus, the first known lineage C betacoronavirus associated with human infections [2]. The clinical features of MERS-CoV infection range from asymptomatic infection to rapidly progressive acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and extrapulmonary organ dysfunction [3][4][5]. At present, no effective vaccine or therapeutics are available for the prevention or treatment of MERS-CoV infection [6][7][8]. However, many basic and clinical studies on anti-MERS-CoV agents have been completed or are ongoing. In this review, we focus on current progress in the research and development of small-molecule MERS-CoV inhibitors, either peptides or compounds, targeting different stages of the MERS-CoV life cycle, aiming to prevent or treat MERS-CoV infection. Phylogenetic and sequencing data strongly suggest that MERS-CoV belongs to the C-lineage of the genus betacoronavirus, the first known lineage C betacoronavirus associated with human infections [2]. The clinical features of MERS-CoV infection range from asymptomatic infection to rapidly progressive acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and extrapulmonary organ dysfunction [3][4][5]. At present, no effective vaccine or therapeutics are available for the prevention or treatment of MERS-CoV infection [6][7][8]. However, many basic and clinical studies on anti-MERS-CoV agents have been completed or are ongoing. In this review, we focus on current progress in the research and development of small-molecule MERS-CoV inhibitors, either peptides or compounds, targeting different stages of the MERS-CoV life cycle, aiming to prevent or treat MERS-CoV infection.

MERS-CoV Life Cycle and Potential Targets for the Development of Small-Molecule Inhibitors Against MERS-CoV Infection
MERS-CoV enters host cells through two pathways. The first involves plasma membrane fusion, which relies on spike (S) protein activation by secreted or surface proteases, such as the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and the human airway trypsin-like protease (HAT). The second involves endosomal membrane fusion, in which spike protein activation is facilitated by the pH-dependent endosomal protease cathepsin L (CTSL) [9,10]. The spike protein plays a key role in MERS-CoV attachment to host cells and virus-cell membrane fusion [11]. It contains 1353 amino acids within the viral envelope in trimeric state [12]. Spike protein consists of S1 and S2 subunits. The S1 subunit contains the receptor binding domain (RBD), while the S2 subunit contains the fusion peptide (FP), a long heptad repeat 1 domain (HR1) and a short heptad repeat 2 domain (HR2) [13,14]. MERS-CoV enters the host cell by binding the viral particle via the RBD in spike protein to the cellular receptor dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) on the surface of the host cell [12,15]. Then, S2 changes its conformation and inserts its FP into the plasma membrane, or the endosomal membrane if the virion is in the endosome. The HR2 binds to the HR1 to form a six-helix bundle (6-HB) fusion core, which brings viral and cell membranes into close apposition for fusion [14,16,17]. During this process, RBD, DPP4, HR1, HR2, and the related proteases, e.g., HAT and TMPRSS2, can all serve as targets for the development of MERS-CoV fusion/entry inhibitors.

MERS-CoV Life Cycle and Potential Targets for the Development of Small-Molecule Inhibitors Against MERS-CoV Infection
MERS-CoV enters host cells through two pathways. The first involves plasma membrane fusion, which relies on spike (S) protein activation by secreted or surface proteases, such as the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and the human airway trypsin-like protease (HAT). The second involves endosomal membrane fusion, in which spike protein activation is facilitated by the pH-dependent endosomal protease cathepsin L (CTSL) [9,10]. The spike protein plays a key role in MERS-CoV attachment to host cells and virus-cell membrane fusion [11]. It contains 1353 amino acids within the viral envelope in trimeric state [12]. Spike protein consists of S1 and S2 subunits. The S1 subunit contains the receptor binding domain (RBD), while the S2 subunit contains the fusion peptide (FP), a long heptad repeat 1 domain (HR1) and a short heptad repeat 2 domain (HR2) [13,14]. MERS-CoV enters the host cell by binding the viral particle via the RBD in spike protein to the cellular receptor dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) on the surface of the host cell [12,15]. Then, S2 changes its conformation and inserts its FP into the plasma membrane, or the endosomal membrane if the virion is in the endosome. The HR2 binds to the HR1 to form a six-helix bundle (6-HB) fusion core, which brings viral and cell membranes into close apposition for fusion [14,16,17]. During this process, RBD, DPP4, HR1, HR2, and the related proteases, e.g., HAT and TMPRSS2, can all serve as targets for the development of MERS-CoV fusion/entry inhibitors.
After MERS-CoV entry into the host's cells, the positive RNA genome is translated in the cytoplasm. The genome can be translated into two polyproteins: ppla and pplb, which are cleaved into 16 nonstructural proteins by PL pro (papain-like protease) and 3CL pro (3-chymotrypsin-like protease). Hence, the proteases that are critically important for MERS-CoV replication can also be considered as targets for developing MERS-CoV replication inhibitors. However, information about the enzymes required for producing more genome copies and subgenomic mRNA for virus replication is limited. Then, the RNA genome and structural proteins are packaged into viral particles in host cells, and the progeny virus particles are finally released from host cells ( Figure 2). Although these steps can also be used as targets for the development of MERS-CoV maturation-and-release inhibitors, no such inhibitors have been reported so far. subgenomic mRNA for virus replication is limited. Then, the RNA genome and structural proteins are packaged into viral particles in host cells, and the progeny virus particles are finally released from host cells ( Figure 2). Although these steps can also be used as targets for the development of MERS-CoV maturation-and-release inhibitors, no such inhibitors have been reported so far.

MERS-CoV Entry Inhibitors
MERS-CoV S protein plays a key role in mediating virus entry into host target cells. This process includes binding to host receptors, viral fusion, and final entry into host cells. MERS-CoV pseudovirus expressing S protein, which allows for single-cycle infection in cells expressing receptor DPP4, can be used for screening MERS-CoV fusion/entry inhibitors.

MERS-CoV Entry Inhibitors
MERS-CoV S protein plays a key role in mediating virus entry into host target cells. This process includes binding to host receptors, viral fusion, and final entry into host cells. MERS-CoV pseudovirus expressing S protein, which allows for single-cycle infection in cells expressing receptor DPP4, can be used for screening MERS-CoV fusion/entry inhibitors.
HR2P, spanning residues 1251-1286 in the HR2 domain, with low or no toxic effect in vitro, can effectively inhibit MERS-CoV replication by interacting with the HR1 domain to block spike protein-mediated cell-cell fusion and MERS-CoV pseudovirus entry (Table 1; Figure 3) [16]. To increase its stability, solubility, and anti-MERS-CoV activity, Lu et al. introduced a Glu, Lys, or Arg residue into HR2P, generating a new peptide, HR2P-M2 (Table 1). HR2P-M2 was indeed found to be more stable and soluble than HR2P. It blocked fusion core formation between HR1 and HR2 peptides by binding to the viral S protein HR1 domain and inhibiting S protein-mediated membrane fusion with an EC 50 of 0.55 µM ( Figure 4) [16,23]. HR2P-M2 is highly effective in inhibiting MERS-CoV infection in both Calu-3 and Vero cells with an EC 50 of about 0.6 µM. Intranasal application of HR2P-M2 could significantly reduce the titers of MERS-CoV in the lung of Ad5-hDPP4 (adenovirus serotype-5-human dipeptidyl peptidase 4)-transduced mice [16,18]. Furthermore, intranasal administration of HR2P-M2 before viral challenge fully protected hDPP4-transgenic mice from MERS-CoV infection, whereas all untreated mice died 8 days after viral challenge [24]. Furthermore, by combining HR2P-M2 with interferon β, protection was enhanced for Ad5-hDPP4-transduced mice against infection by MERS-CoV strains with or without mutations in the HR1 region of the S protein, with >1000-fold reduction of viral titers in lung [18].

MERS-CoV Entry Inhibitors
MERS-CoV S protein plays a key role in mediating virus entry into host target cells. This process includes binding to host receptors, viral fusion, and final entry into host cells. MERS-CoV pseudovirus expressing S protein, which allows for single-cycle infection in cells expressing receptor DPP4, can be used for screening MERS-CoV fusion/entry inhibitors. significantly reduce the titers of MERS-CoV in the lung of Ad5-hDPP4 (adenovirus serotype-5human dipeptidyl peptidase 4)-transduced mice [16,18]. Furthermore, intranasal administration of HR2P-M2 before viral challenge fully protected hDPP4-transgenic mice from MERS-CoV infection, whereas all untreated mice died 8 days after viral challenge [24]. Furthermore, by combining HR2P-M2 with interferon β, protection was enhanced for Ad5-hDPP4-transduced mice against infection by MERS-CoV strains with or without mutations in the HR1 region of the S protein, with >1000-fold reduction of viral titers in lung [18].
A small-molecule HIV entry inhibitor targeting gp41 ADS-J1 ( Figure 5(1)) at the concentration of 20 µM could inhibit >90% of MERS-CoV pseudovirus infection in NBL-7 and Huh-7 cells. ADS-J1 could interrupt the interactions between the HR1 and HR2 of MERS-CoV to form the six-helix bundle, thus inhibiting the entry of pseudotyped MERS-CoV with an EC 50 of 0.6 µM in the DPP4-expressing cell line and with a CC 50 of 26.9 µM in NBL-7 and Huh-7 cells by MTT assay (Table 2) [27].
The elucidation of MERS-CoV interaction with its host cell is critical to the development of antiviral interventions. In order to gain entry into host cells, MERS-CoV not only uses DPP4 as a functional virus receptor, but also utilizes certain cellular proteases, such as TMPRSS2 and members of the cathepsin family, as activators of the S glycoprotein [9]. TMPRSS2 is expressed in epithelial cells of the human respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts [28][29][30][31]. The respective enzymes from host cells are also excellent targets for the identification of small-molecule MERS-CoV inhibitors. The serine protease inhibitor camostat mesylate (camostat) could completely block syncytium formation, but only partially block virus entry into TMPRSS2-expressing Vero cells ( Figure 5(2)) [31].

MERS-CoV Inhibitors Targeting Papain-Like Protease
Papain-like protease is a cysteine protease that uses the thiol group of cysteine as a nucleophile to attack the carbonyl group of the scissile peptide bond [38,39]. The genome of MERS-CoV encodes two polyproteins, ppla and pplb, which are processed by papain-like protease (PLpro) and 3C-like protease (3CLpro) [40]. MERS-CoV has only one papain-like protease, as does SARS-CoV, while other coronaviruses have two enzymes [41,42]. MERS-PLpro is a part of the nonstructural protein nsp3, which includes three domains-namely, ubiquitin-like domain (UBL), a catalytic triad consisting of C1594-H1761-D1776, and the ubiquitin-binding domain (UBD) at the zinc finger-according to the homology model [40,43]. MERS-PLpro is a multifunctional enzyme with deISGylating and deubiquitinating (DUB) activities [43], but it can also block the interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) pathway [43,44].
Disulfiram, a drug used in alcohol aversion therapy, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1951 ( Figure 5(10)). It can inhibit the activity of some enzymes, such as urease [45], methyltransferase [46], and kinase [45], all by reacting with cysteine residues, suggesting broad-spectrum characteristics [47]. Notably, disulfiram also acts as an allosteric inhibitor of MERS-CoV papain-like protease [47]. Multiple inhibition assays also support a kinetic mechanism by which disulfiram, together with 6TG (6-thioguanine) and/or MPA (mycophenolic acid), can synergistically inhibit MERS-CoV papain-like protease [47]. Hence, the recombination of three clinically available drugs could feasibly be used to treat MERS-CoV infection.

MERS-CoV Inhibitors Targeting 3C-Like Protease
The active site of MERS-3CLpro can be divided into subsites S1-S6 [48]. Subsite S1 consists of vital catalytic residue Cys145 with His41 to process polyproteins at 11 conserved Gln sites, followed by small amino acids like Ala, Ser, or Gly [49]. Another crucial component of the S1 subsite is the oxyanion hole formed by the interaction of a carboxylate anion of conserved Gln with Gly143, Ser144, and Cys145, which stabilizes the transition state during proteolysis [50,51]. Glu166 at the entrance of the pocket interacts via H-bond with the Nɛ2 of the conserved Gln [50]. The S2 and S4 subsites contain hydrophobic and bulky side chains such as Val, Leu, or Phe. Subsites S5 and S6 are near the surface of the active site and have little participation in substrate binding [48].
Polyproteins pp1a and pp1b are processed by 3CLpro (11 cleavage sites) and PLpro (3 cleavage sites), resulting in 16 mature nonstructural proteins, including RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and helicase, which play important roles in the transcription and replication of coronaviruses [40,52]. Therefore, both proteases are essential for viral replication, making them attractive targets for drug development [52].
The analogues of hits of neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors on MERS-CoV 3CLpro have been synthesized and showed average-to-good inhibition of MERS-3CLpro. The better one is the compound

MERS-CoV Inhibitors Targeting Papain-Like Protease
Papain-like protease is a cysteine protease that uses the thiol group of cysteine as a nucleophile to attack the carbonyl group of the scissile peptide bond [38,39]. The genome of MERS-CoV encodes two polyproteins, ppla and pplb, which are processed by papain-like protease (PL pro ) and 3C-like protease (3CL pro ) [40]. MERS-CoV has only one papain-like protease, as does SARS-CoV, while other coronaviruses have two enzymes [41,42]. MERS-PL pro is a part of the nonstructural protein nsp3, which includes three domains-namely, ubiquitin-like domain (UBL), a catalytic triad consisting of C1594-H1761-D1776, and the ubiquitin-binding domain (UBD) at the zinc finger-according to the homology model [40,43]. MERS-PL pro is a multifunctional enzyme with deISGylating and deubiquitinating (DUB) activities [43], but it can also block the interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) pathway [43,44].
Disulfiram, a drug used in alcohol aversion therapy, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1951 ( Figure 5(10)). It can inhibit the activity of some enzymes, such as urease [45], methyltransferase [46], and kinase [45], all by reacting with cysteine residues, suggesting broad-spectrum characteristics [47]. Notably, disulfiram also acts as an allosteric inhibitor of MERS-CoV papain-like protease [47]. Multiple inhibition assays also support a kinetic mechanism by which disulfiram, together with 6TG (6-thioguanine) and/or MPA (mycophenolic acid), can synergistically inhibit MERS-CoV papain-like protease [47]. Hence, the recombination of three clinically available drugs could feasibly be used to treat MERS-CoV infection.

MERS-CoV Inhibitors Targeting 3C-Like Protease
The active site of MERS-3CL pro can be divided into subsites S1-S6 [48]. Subsite S1 consists of vital catalytic residue Cys145 with His41 to process polyproteins at 11 conserved Gln sites, followed by small amino acids like Ala, Ser, or Gly [49]. Another crucial component of the S1 subsite is the oxyanion hole formed by the interaction of a carboxylate anion of conserved Gln with Gly143, Ser144, and Cys145, which stabilizes the transition state during proteolysis [50,51]. Glu166 at the entrance of the pocket interacts via H-bond with the Nε2 of the conserved Gln [50]. The S2 and S4 subsites contain hydrophobic and bulky side chains such as Val, Leu, or Phe. Subsites S5 and S6 are near the surface of the active site and have little participation in substrate binding [48].   Polyproteins pp1a and pp1b are processed by 3CL pro (11 cleavage sites) and PL pro (3 cleavage sites), resulting in 16 mature nonstructural proteins, including RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and helicase, which play important roles in the transcription and replication of coronaviruses [40,52]. Therefore, both proteases are essential for viral replication, making them attractive targets for drug development [52].
The analogues of hits of neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors on MERS-CoV 3CL pro have been synthesized and showed average-to-good inhibition of MERS-3CL pro . The better one is the compound 3k with an EC 50 of 5.8 µM (Table 2; Figure 5(11)) [48]. Another two are compounds 3h (Figure 5(12)) and 3i (Figure 5(13)) with EC 50 values of 7.3 and 7.4 µM, repsectively (Table 2) [48]. Furthermore, researchers have concluded that pharmacophores phenyl at R3 and carboxylate, either at R1 or R4, are essential for the antiviral activity [48]. Since the modification of rings A and B is well tolerated, these rings can be further altered to enhance the activity of the compounds. The SARS-CoV 3CL pro inhibitor CE-5 can block the function of the MERS-CoV 3CL pro (Figure 5(14)) [53]. Treatment with CE-5 inhibited the activity of MERS-CoV 3CL pro to 30% of that of DMSO-treated cells at a maximum dose of 50 µM [53]. The endpoint evaluation of CE-5 indicated an EC 50 of~12.5 µM in cell culture (Table 2) [53].
GC813 as well as its synthesizing extended compounds 10a and 10c exhibit inhibition for MERS-CoV with EC 50 values of 0.5 µM, 0.5 µM, and 0.8 µM in cell culture (Table 2; Figure 5

Other Small-Molecule Inhibitors with Defined or Undefined Mechanisms of Action
Silvestrol, an eIF4A inhibitor, can inhibit MERS-CoV infection with an EC 50 of 1.3 nM, as shown by plaque assay in MRC-5 cells and CC 50 of 400 nM by MTT assay in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (Table 2; Figure 5(23)) [57]. Silvestrol has broad-spectrum antiviral activity via the inhibition of the expression of CoV structural and nonstructural proteins (N, nsp8) and the formation of viral replication/transcription complexes [57].
The combination of interferon-α2b and ribavirin can effectively reduce MERS-CoV replication in vitro and in vivo (Table 2; Figure 5(24)) [6]. Rhesus macaques treated with IFN-α2b and ribavirin 8 h after MERS-CoV infection showed improved clinical parameters with no or very mild radiographic evidence of pneumonia compared with untreated macaques [6]. Moreover, treated macaques showed lower levels of systemic (serum) and local (lung) proinflammatory markers in addition to fewer viral genome copies, distinct gene expression, and less severe histopathological changes in the lungs [6].
Resveratrol was found to significantly inhibit MERS-CoV infection as well as prolong cellular survival after virus infection ( Figure 5. (27)) [66]. It was found that resveratrol could reduce RNA levels and infection titers in Vero cells [66]. Although resveratrol has minimal cytotoxicity, even at the high concentration of 250 µM, it can be ignored when compared to the much more severe toxicity of MERS-CoV infection [66].
A series of FDA-approved compounds were screened against MERS-CoV (Table 2) by cell-based ELISA assay ( Figure 5(28-56)) [7]. Pharmaceuticals that inhibit MERS-CoV include neurotransmitter inhibitors, estrogen receptor antagonists, kinase signaling inhibitors, inhibitors of lipid or sterol metabolism, protein processing inhibitors, inhibitors of DNA synthesis/repair, as well as inhibitors of ion transport, cytoskeleton (specifically tubulin), and apoptosis [7]. Antiparasitics and antibacterials are two classes of pharmaceuticals, the functions of which are not obviously linked to coronaviruses, or viruses in general, but nonetheless show antiviral activity against MERS-CoV.
Nocodazole, targeting the cytoskeleton, specifically interferes with microtubule polymerization. It is an antimitotic drug developed for the treatment of cancer, but it was found to show high activity against MERS-CoV ( Figure 5(57)) [67,68]. Monensin and salinomycin sodium, two of the nine ion channel inhibitors, have inhibitory activity against MERS-CoV, indicating that MERS-CoV may be susceptible to ionophore activities ( Figure 5 (58), (59)). Chlorpromazine and chloroquine appear to target host factors, rather than viral proteins specifically, and the treatment of viral infections in patients aimed at host factors could reconfigure overt manifestations of viral pathogenesis into a less virulent subclinical infection and lower adverse disease outcome ( Figure 5(60), (29)) [34,69].
ESI-09 can reduce virus yield by inhibiting cAMP signaling in a cell type-independent manner ( Figure 5(62)) [61]. The concentration of MERS-CoV inhibition by ESI-09 was found with an EC 50 of 5 to 10 µM and a CC 50 > 50 µM for both Calu-3 and Vero E6 cells by using the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-based cytotoxicity assay [62]. In addition, the undetectable cytopathic effect (CPE) and minimal expression of viral antigen indicated that Calu-3 cells treated with ESI-09 were almost fully protected [61].
K22 is a spectrum inhibitor which can inhibit MERS-CoV replication by reducing the formation of double membrane vesicles (DMVs) and by the near-complete inhibition of RNA synthesis ( Figure 5(64)) [25,71].

Strategies for Developing Small-Molecule MERS-CoV Inhibitors
The luciferase-based biosensor assay is a cell-based screening assay for selecting MERS-CoV-specific or broad-spectrum coronavirus PL pro and 3CL pro inhibitors [53]. HEK293T cells were transfected by two artificial plasmids: protease expression plasmids and biosensor expression plasmids [53]. Protease expression plasmids contain the sequence of MERS-CoV PL pro , the nonstructural proteins nsp4 and nsp5, as well as the N-terminal 6 region. Biosensor expression plasmids contain a circularly permuted Photuris pennsylvanica luciferase and the amino sequence of cleavage site of PL pro or 3CL pro [53]. After cell transfection and coexpression of a MERS-CoV protease domain with a cleavage-activated luciferase substrate, transfected live cells allow for both endpoint evaluation and live cell imaging profiles of protease activity [53]. This novel method can be performed in a biosafety level 2 research laboratory to evaluate the ability to inhibit the CoV protease activity of existing and new drugs [53].
Pseudovirus-based screening assays have been developed for identifying antiviral compounds in the MERS-CoV life cycle without using infectious viruses. The MERS-CoV pseudovirus allows for single-cycle infection of a variety of cells expressing DPP4, and results are consistent with those from a live MERS-CoV-based inhibition assay. More importantly, the pseudovirus assay can be carried out in a BSL-2, rather than a BSL-3 facility [9]. VSV-and HIV-luciferase pseudotyped with the MERS-CoV S protein are two more approaches [27].
Structure-Guided Design and Optimization of Small Molecules is a strategy that involves embodying a piperidine moiety as a design element to attain optimal pharmacological activity and protein kinase property [52]. This strategy permits the resultant hybrid inhibitor to participate in favorable binding interactions with the S3 and S4 subsites of 3CL pro by attaching the piperidine moiety to a dipeptidyl component [52].
Ubiquitin-like domain 2 (Ubl2) is immediately adjacent to the N-terminus of the PL pro domain in coronavirus polyproteins. In the past, the role of Ubl2 in PL pro has remained undefined. However, evidence indicates that removing the Ubl2 domain from MERS PL pro has no effect on its ability to process the viral polyprotein or act as an interferon antagonist, which involves deubiquitinating and deISGylating cellular proteins [73].
Analyzing the transcriptome of hosts infected with MERS-CoV can provide insight into how MERS-CoV infection influences and interacts with host cells. Josset et al. [74] infected a lung epithelial cell line, Calu3, with MERS-CoV and analyzed the transcriptome to identify inhibitory compounds resident in host factors that could be exploited as antiviral therapeutics. This approach can be used to identify host factors beneficial for virus propagation, thus establishing appropriate targets for existing or new antiviral inhibitors.

Conclusions
As a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus, MERS-CoV utilizes host cellular components to accomplish various physiological processes, including viral entry, genomic replication, and the assembly and budding of virions, thereby resulting in pathological damage to the host. Therefore, various stages of virus life cycle could be potential targets for developing small-molecule antiviral inhibitors. Inhibitors blocking MERS-CoV entry into host cells, viral protease inhibitors, and inhibitors targeting host cells and many other small-molecule inhibitors with defined or undefined mechanisms of action are summarized in this review.
Any compounds that interfere with virus infection may be harmful to host cells. Therefore, the establishment of a safety profile is essential. Furthermore, an antiviral inhibitor should effectively inhibit the growth of the virus because a small amount of virion replication can lead to resistant mutations. The advantages of small-molecule inhibitors include low price, stability, and the convenience of oral administration. Three main approaches are currently used to develop MERS-CoV small-molecule inhibitors. The first is the de novo synthesis of inhibitors targeting the unique structure in the proteins of MERS-CoV appearing in its infection process. The second approach involves screening inhibitors against MERS-CoV infection from an existing drug database by various chemical synthesis strategies. The third approach involves changing the chemical group of a fully developed drug to enhance its pharmacological activity against MERS-CoV. More novel strategies in improving the efficacy of screening small-molecule inhibitors are anticipated to reduce the threat of future MERS-CoV infections.

Conflicts of Interest:
The authors declare no conflict of interest.