Cell culture and in vivo analyses of cytopathic hepatitis C virus mutants

HCV-JFH1 yields subclones that develop cytopathic plaques (Sekine-Osajima Y, et al., Virology 2008; 371:71). Here, we investigated viral amino acid substitutions in cytopathic mutant HCV-JFH1 clones and their characteristics in vitro and in vivo. The mutant viruses with individual C2441S, P2938S or R2985P signature substitutions, and with all three substitutions, showed significantly higher intracellular replication efficiencies and greater cytopathic effects than the parental JFH1 in vitro. The mutant HCV-inoculated mice showed significantly higher serum HCV RNA and higher level of expression of ER stress-related proteins in early period of infection. At 8 weeks post inoculation, these signature mutations had reverted to the wild type sequences. HCV-induced cytopathogenicity is associated with the level of intracellular viral replication and is determined by certain amino acid substitutions in HCV-NS5A and NS5B regions. The cytopathic HCV clones exhibit high replication competence in vivo but may be eliminated during the early stages of infection.     

Molecular Docking and Virtual Screening of an Influenza Virus Inhibitor That Disrupts Protein–Protein Interactions

Influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus, but few drugs are available for its treatment. Consequently, researchers have been engaged in efforts to discover new antiviral mechanisms that can lay the foundation for novel anti-influenza drugs. The viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is an enzyme that plays an indispensable role in the viral infection process, which is directly linked to the survival of the virus. Methods of inhibiting PB1–PB2 (basic polymerase 1–basic polymerase 2) interactions, which are a key part of RdRp enzyme activity, are integral in the design of novel antiviral drugs, a specific PB1–PB2 interactions inhibitor has not been reported. We have screened Enamine’s database and conducted a parallel screening of multiple docking schemes, followed by simulations of molecular dynamics to determine the structure of a stable ligand—PB1 complex. We also calculated the free energy of binding between the screened compounds and PB1 protein. Ultimately, we screened and identified a potential PB1–PB2 inhibitor using the ADMET prediction model.     

Activity and the metabolic activation pathway of the potent and selective hepatitis C virus pronucleotide inhibitor PSI-353661

PSI-353661, a phosphoramidate prodrug of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-2′-C-methylguanosine-5′-monophosphate, is a highly active inhibitor of genotype 1a, 1b, and 2a HCV RNA replication in the replicon assay and of genotype 1a and 2a infectious virus replication. PSI-353661 is active against replicons harboring the NS5B S282T or S96T/N142T amino acid alterations that confer decreased susceptibility to nucleoside/tide analogs as well as mutations that confer resistance to non-nucleoside inhibitors of NS5B. Replicon clearance studies show that PSI-353661 was able to clear cells of HCV replicon RNA and prevent a rebound in replicon RNA. PSI-353661 showed no toxicity toward bone marrow stem cells or mitochondrial toxicity. The metabolism to the active 5′-triphosphate involves hydrolysis of the carboxyl ester by cathepsin A (Cat A) and carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) followed by a putative nucleophilic attack on the phosphorus by the carboxyl group resulting in the elimination of phenol and the alaninyl phosphate metabolite, PSI-353131. Histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 1 (Hint 1) then removes the amino acid moiety, which is followed by hydrolysis of the methoxyl group at the O⁶-position of the guanine base by adenosine deaminase-like protein 1 (ADAL1) to give 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-2′-C-methylguanosine-5′-monophosphate. The monophosphate is phosphorylated to the diphosphate by guanylate kinase. Nucleoside diphosphate kinase is the primary enzyme involved in phosphorylation of the diphosphate to the active triphosphate, PSI-352666. PSI-352666 is equally active against wild-type NS5B and NS5B containing the S282T amino acid alteration.     

Primer-independent initiation of RNA synthesis by SeMV recombinant RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

Sesbania mosaic virus (SeMV), a single-strand positive-sense RNA plant virus, belongs to the genus Sobemoviruses. Mechanism of replication in Sobemoviruses is poorly understood. In the present study, SeMV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) was overexpressed and purified as a thioredoxin-tagged protein. The recombinant SeMV RdRp could synthesize RNA from genomic or subgenomic RNA templates, even in the absence of the protein primer, VPg. Analysis of the product indicated that it was double-stranded and that the mode of initiation was de novo. Mutational analysis of the 3′ UTR of subgenomic RNA revealed that a stem-loop structure at the 3′ end was important. Further, analysis of this stem-loop showed that the SeMV RdRp was capable of recognizing stem-loop structures of various lengths and forms. These results demonstrate that the SeMV RdRp is capable of primer-independent RNA synthesis in vitro.     

Analysis of Putative Interactions Between Potyviral Replication Proteins and Plant Retinoblastoma Proteins

Sequence comparisons suggest that the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NIb) of potyviruses and bymoviruses, as well as the viral polymerase of potexviruses may contain a putative retinoblastoma protein (pRb) binding motif. The possibility that the potyviral NIb may function in the nucleus through interactions with plant pRb-related (RBR) proteins, and the modifications of the cell cycle was investigated by a combination of mutagenesis of the NIb and yeast two-hybrid system (YTHS). Mutation of a highly conserved glutamic acid residue in the putative pRb-binding motif of the NIb had no detectable phenotypic effect on replication of Potato virus A (PVA). Furthermore, the NIb proteins from Potato virus V and PVA failed to interact with maize or tobacco RBR proteins in yeast. Although the conservation of the motif for pRb interaction in plant RNA viruses is intriguing, these proteins from plant RNA viruses appear not to interact with plant RBR proteins.     

Anti-norovirus therapeutics: a patent review (2010-2015)

Introduction: Human noroviruses are the primary causative agents of acute gastroenteritis and are a pressing public health burden worldwide. There are currently no vaccines or small molecule therapeutics available for the treatment or prophylaxis of norovirus infections. An improved understanding of norovirus biology, as well as the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the disease, has provided the impetus for a range of intense exploratory drug discovery efforts targeting viral and host factors.

Areas covered: An overview of norovirus inhibitors disclosed in the patent literature (2010-present) and Clinicaltrials.gov is presented. The review is further enriched and supplemented by recent literature reports.

Expert opinion: Seminal discoveries made in recent years, including a better understanding of the pathobiology and life cycle of norovirus, the identification and targeting of multiple viral and host factors, the advent of a replicon system and a small animal model for the preclinical evaluation of lead compounds, and the availability of high resolution X-ray crystal structures that can be utilized in structure-based drug design and lead optimization campaigns, collectively suggest that a small molecule therapeutic and prophylactic for norovirus infection is likely to emerge in the not too distant future.     

Replication priority of hepatitis C virus genotype 2a in a Chinese cohort

HCV genotypes have been documented in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to determine the replication priority of different HCV genotypes in a Chinese HCV positive cohort. Serum samples from 491 apparently healthy Chinese blood donors testing positive for HCV antibodies and naive to antiviral drug therapy were tested. Genotyping analysis showed that genotypes 1b and 2a were predominant and accounted for 77.6% of the HCV infections. Among the genotype groups, individuals infected with genotype 2a had an HCV RNA viral load (10⁸ copies/mL) about 200-fold (lg, 2.3) greater than those infected with other genotypes (10⁴–10⁵ copies/mL) indicating a replication priority of genotype 2a. However, there was no correlation between HCV genotype and antibody response suggesting that the amplification advantage of genotype 2a results from a favorable interaction with the host cellular environment. In conclusion, HCV genotypes 1b and 2a are the predominant genotypes in China and genotype 2a possesses a significant replication priority compared with the other genotypes. This suggests the existence of host cellular factors that may act as drug-targets for entirely clearing HCV infection in the future.Abbreviations: EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; GPT, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase; HCV, hepatitis C virus; NS3, NS4 and NS5, non-structure protein 3, 4 and 5; RdRp, RNA dependent RNA polymerase; SVR, sustained virological response     

Ten years of dengue drug discovery: Progress and prospects

To combat neglected diseases, the Novartis Institute of Tropical Diseases (NITD) was founded in 2002 through private–public funding from Novartis and the Singapore Economic Development Board. One of NITD’s missions is to develop antivirals for dengue virus (DENV), the most prevalent mosquito-borne viral pathogen. Neither vaccine nor antiviral is currently available for DENV. Here we review the progress in dengue drug discovery made at NITD as well as the major discoveries made by academia and other companies. Four strategies have been pursued to identify inhibitors of DENV through targeting both viral and host proteins: (i) HTS (high-throughput screening) using virus replication assays; (ii) HTS using viral enzyme assays; (iii) structure-based in silico docking and rational design; (iv) repurposing hepatitis C virus inhibitors for DENV. Along the developmental process from hit finding to clinical candidate, many inhibitors did not advance beyond the stage of hit-to-lead optimization, due to their poor selectivity, physiochemical or pharmacokinetic properties. Only a few compounds showed efficacy in the AG129 DENV mouse model. Two nucleoside analogs, NITD-008 and Balapiravir, entered preclinical animal safety study and clinic trial, but both were terminated due to toxicity and lack of potency, respectively. Celgosivir, a host alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, is currently under clinical trial; its clinical efficacy remains to be determined. The knowledge accumulated during the past decade has provided a better rationale for ongoing dengue drug discovery. Though challenging, we are optimistic that this continuous, concerted effort will lead to an effective dengue therapy.