Inhibitors of Key Targets of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Immunology and Immunotherapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 18140

Special Issue Editor

Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
Interests: cheminformatics; bioinformatics; drug design; SARS-CoV-2 M-pro inhibitors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Although vaccines are expected to be crucial in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, new therapeutic treatments are needed. In the US and Europe, only one drug, remdesivir, has been approved for the treatment of COVID-19 that requires hospitalization. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), main protease (M-pro), and papain-like protease (PL-pro) are key targets for blocking the lifecycle of coronaviruses and developing new antiviral therapies.

This Special Issue will collect research articles and reviews on compounds or extracts that inhibit, or are expected to inhibit, RdRp, M-pro, PL-pro, or other relevant targets of SARS-CoV-2 or other coronaviruses. Repurposed drugs, i.e., drugs approved for other indications, are remarkably interesting because they could reduce the time needed for drug development, but articles on the design or molecular modifications of new biologically active compounds are also welcome to this Special Issue. Computational studies or studies containing a biological evaluation are welcome. Computational studies, such as studies that include virtual screening, docking or machine learning, must include details on the validation of the methodology used. Thus, the use of some type of internal validation that can demonstrate that the methodology used is capable of identifying known SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors is strongly recommended. In addition, a group of inactive compounds or decoy molecules should be used as a negative control.

Since the SARS-CoV-2 genome is continuously mutating, and these mutations could reduce the effectiveness of inhibitors, molecules that could inhibit current but also future versions of SARS-CoV-2 or other coronaviruses will be of great interest.

Dr. Santiago Garcia-Vallve
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • drug design
  • M-pro inhibitors
  • RdRp inhibitors
  • PL-pro inhibitors
  • pan-coronavirus inhibitors

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 4797 KiB  
Article
Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (Mpro) Identified from the Library of FDA-Approved Drugs Using Molecular Docking Studies
by Dipesh Kumar Verma, Srajan Kapoor, Satyajeet Das and Krishan Gopal Thakur
Biomedicines 2023, 11(1), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11010085 - 29 Dec 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1995
Abstract
The Corona Virus Infectious Disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak originated at Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It has already spread rapidly and caused more than 6.5 million deaths worldwide. Its causal agent is a beta-coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. Many efforts have already been made to develop [...] Read more.
The Corona Virus Infectious Disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak originated at Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It has already spread rapidly and caused more than 6.5 million deaths worldwide. Its causal agent is a beta-coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. Many efforts have already been made to develop new vaccines and drugs against these viruses, but over time, it has changed its molecular nature and evolved into more lethal variants, such as Delta and Omicron. These will lead us to target its more-conserved proteins. The sequences’ BLAST and crystal structure of the main protease Mpro suggest a high sequence and structural conservation. Mpro is responsible for the proteolytic maturation of the polyprotein essential for the viral replication and transcription, which makes it an important drug target. Discovery of new drug molecules may take years before getting to the clinics. So, considering urgency, we performed molecular docking studies using FDA-approved drugs to identify molecules that could potentially bind to the substrate-binding site and inhibit SARS-CoV-2’s main protease (Mpro). We used the Glide module in the Schrödinger software suite to perform molecular docking studies, followed by MM-GBSA-based energy calculations to score the hit molecules. Molecular docking and manual analysis suggest that several drugs may bind and potentially inhibit Mpro. We also performed molecular simulations studies for selected compounds to evaluate protein–drug interactions. Considering bioavailability, lesser toxicity, and route of administration, some of the top-ranked drugs, including lumefantrine (antimalarial), dipyridamole (coronary vasodilator), dihydroergotamine (used for treating migraine), hexoprenaline (anti asthmatic), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and pantethine (vitamin B5) may be taken forward for further in vitro and in vivo experiments to investigate their therapeutic potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inhibitors of Key Targets of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1341 KiB  
Article
Protective Role of Combined Polyphenols and Micronutrients against Influenza A Virus and SARS-CoV-2 Infection In Vitro
by Marta De Angelis, David Della-Morte, Gabriele Buttinelli, Angela Di Martino, Francesca Pacifici, Paola Checconi, Luigina Ambrosio, Paola Stefanelli, Anna Teresa Palamara, Enrico Garaci, Camillo Ricordi and Lucia Nencioni
Biomedicines 2021, 9(11), 1721; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9111721 - 19 Nov 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3972
Abstract
Polyphenols have been widely studied for their antiviral effect against respiratory virus infections. Among these, resveratrol (RV) has been demonstrated to inhibit influenza virus replication and more recently, it has been tested together with pterostilbene against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [...] Read more.
Polyphenols have been widely studied for their antiviral effect against respiratory virus infections. Among these, resveratrol (RV) has been demonstrated to inhibit influenza virus replication and more recently, it has been tested together with pterostilbene against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In the present work, we evaluated the antiviral activity of polydatin, an RV precursor, and a mixture of polyphenols and other micronutrients, named A5+, against influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 infections. To this end, we infected Vero E6 cells and analyzed the replication of both respiratory viruses in terms of viral proteins synthesis and viral titration. We demonstrated that A5+ showed a higher efficacy in inhibiting both influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 infections compared to polydatin treatment alone. Indeed, post infection treatment significantly decreased viral proteins expression and viral release, probably by interfering with any step of virus replicative cycle. Intriguingly, A5+ treatment strongly reduced IL-6 cytokine production in influenza virus-infected cells, suggesting its potential anti-inflammatory properties during the infection. Overall, these results demonstrate the synergic and innovative antiviral efficacy of A5+ mixture, although further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying its inhibitory effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inhibitors of Key Targets of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2003 KiB  
Article
SARS-CoV-2 RdRp Inhibitors Selected from a Cell-Based SARS-CoV-2 RdRp Activity Assay System
by Jung Sun Min, Sunoh Kwon and Young-Hee Jin
Biomedicines 2021, 9(8), 996; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9080996 - 11 Aug 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4612
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), urgently needs effective prophylactic and therapeutic drugs. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), essential for replicating and transcribing a viral RNA genome, is highly conserved in coronaviruses; thus, it is a potential target [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), urgently needs effective prophylactic and therapeutic drugs. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), essential for replicating and transcribing a viral RNA genome, is highly conserved in coronaviruses; thus, it is a potential target for inhibiting coronavirus infection. In this study, we generated the cell-based SARS-CoV-2 RdRp activity assay system by modifying a previously reported cell-based MERS-CoV RdRp activity assay system to screen for SARS-CoV-2 RdRp inhibitors. The assay system consisted of an expression plasmid encoding SARS-CoV-2 RdRp and an RdRp activity reporter plasmid. RdRp activity in the cells could be conveniently detected by luminescence after transfection. We confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 RdRp replicated double-stranded RNA using immunofluorescence staining and the inhibition of RdRp activity by remdesivir and lycorine using this system. Moreover, the Z-factor of this system was calculated to be 0.798, suggesting the reproducibility and reliability of the high-throughput screening system. Finally, we screened nucleoside and nucleotide analogs and identified adefovir dipivoxil, emtricitabine, telbivudine, entecavir hydrate, moroxydine and rifampin as novel SARS-CoV-2 RdRp inhibitors and therapeutic candidates for COVID-19 This system provides an effective high-throughput screening system platform for developing potential prophylactic and therapeutic drugs for COVID-19 and emerging coronavirus infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inhibitors of Key Targets of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 1049 KiB  
Review
Molecular Insights of SARS-CoV-2 Antivirals Administration: A Balance between Safety Profiles and Impact on Cardiovascular Phenotypes
by Francesco Nappi, Adelaide Iervolino and Sanjeet Singh Avtaar Singh
Biomedicines 2022, 10(2), 437; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10020437 - 14 Feb 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2746
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a complex clinical challenge, caused by a novel coronavirus, partially similar to previously known coronaviruses but with a different pattern of contagiousness, complications, and mortality. Since its global spread, several therapeutic agents have been developed to address [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a complex clinical challenge, caused by a novel coronavirus, partially similar to previously known coronaviruses but with a different pattern of contagiousness, complications, and mortality. Since its global spread, several therapeutic agents have been developed to address the heterogeneous disease treatment, in terms of severity, hospital or outpatient management, and pre-existing clinical conditions. To better understand the rationale of new or old repurposed medications, the structure and host–virus interaction molecular bases are presented. The recommended agents by EDSA guidelines comprise of corticosteroids, JAK-targeting monoclonal antibodies, IL-6 inhibitors, and antivirals, some of them showing narrow indications due to the lack of large population trials and statistical power. The aim of this review is to present FDA-approved or authorized for emergency use antivirals, namely remdesivir, molnupinavir, and the combination nirmatrelvir-ritonavir and their impact on the cardiovascular system. We reviewed the literature for metanalyses, randomized clinical trials, and case reports and found positive associations between remdesivir and ritonavir administration at therapeutic doses and changes in cardiac conduction, relatable to their previously known pro-arrhythmogenic effects and important ritonavir interactions with cardioactive medications including antiplatelets, anti-arrhythmic agents, and lipid-lowering drugs, possibly interfering with pre-existing therapeutic regimens. Nonetheless, safety profiles of antivirals are largely questioned and addressed by health agencies, in consideration of COVID-19 cardiac and pro-thrombotic complications generally experienced by predisposed subjects. Our advice is to continuously adhere to the strict indications of FDA documents, monitor the possible side effects of antivirals, and increase physicians’ awareness on the co-administration of antivirals and cardiovascular-relevant medications. This review dissects the global and local tendency to structure patient-based treatment plans, for a glance towards practical application of precision medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inhibitors of Key Targets of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2013 KiB  
Review
Genetic Predisposition and Inflammatory Inhibitors in COVID-19: Where Do We Stand?
by Marios Sagris, Panagiotis Theofilis, Alexios S. Antonopoulos, Evangelos Oikonomou, Kostas Tsioufis and Dimitris Tousoulis
Biomedicines 2022, 10(2), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10020242 - 24 Jan 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3689
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the resulting coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) have led to a global pandemic associated with high fatality rates. COVID-19 primarily manifests in the respiratory system as an acute respiratory distress syndrome following viral entry through the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 [...] Read more.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the resulting coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) have led to a global pandemic associated with high fatality rates. COVID-19 primarily manifests in the respiratory system as an acute respiratory distress syndrome following viral entry through the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) that is present in pulmonary epithelial cells. Central in COVID-19 is the burst of cytokines, known as a “cytokine storm”, and the subsequent widespread endothelial activation, leading to cardiovascular complications such as myocarditis, arrhythmias, and adverse vascular events, among others. Genetic alterations may play an additive, detrimental role in the clinical course of patients with COVID-19, since gene alterations concerning ACE2, major histocompatibility complex class I, and toll-like receptors may predispose patients to a worse clinical outcome. Since the role of inflammation is quintessential in COVID-19, pharmacologic inhibition of various signaling pathways such as the interleukin-1 and -6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon gamma, Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription, and granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor may ameliorate the prognosis following timely administration. Finally, frequently used, non-specific anti-inflammatory agents such as corticosteroids, statins, colchicine, and macrolides represent additional therapeutic considerations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inhibitors of Key Targets of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop