TY - JOUR
T1 - Structure-based identification of small molecules against influenza A virus endonuclease
T2 - an in silico and in vitro approach
AU - K, Sai Disha
AU - Puranik, Rashmi
AU - N, Sudheesh
AU - K, Kavitha
AU - Fathima, Fajeelath
AU - K R, Anu
AU - Joseph, Alex
AU - J, Anitha
AU - Arunkumar, G.
AU - Mudgal, Piya Paul
PY - 2020/6/1
Y1 - 2020/6/1
N2 - Influenza viruses are known to cause acute respiratory illness, sometimes leading to high mortality rates. Though there are approved influenza antivirals available, their efficacy has reduced over time, due to the drug resistance crisis. There is a perpetual need for newer and better drugs. Drug screening based on the interaction dynamics with different viral target proteins has been a preferred approach in the antiviral drug discovery process. In this study, the FDA approved drug database was virtually screened with the help of Schrödinger software, to select small molecules exhibiting best interactions with the influenza A virus endonuclease protein. A detailed cytotoxicity profiling was carried out for the two selected compounds, cefepime and dolutegravir, followed by in vitro anti-influenza screening using plaque reduction assay. Cefepime showed no cytotoxicity up to 200 μM, while dolutegravir was non-toxic up to 100 μM in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. The compounds did not show any reduction in viral plaque numbers indicating no anti-influenza activity. An inefficiency in the translation of the molecular interactions into antiviral activity does not necessarily mean that the molecules were inactive. Nevertheless, testing the molecules for endonuclease inhibition per se can be considered a worthwhile approach.
AB - Influenza viruses are known to cause acute respiratory illness, sometimes leading to high mortality rates. Though there are approved influenza antivirals available, their efficacy has reduced over time, due to the drug resistance crisis. There is a perpetual need for newer and better drugs. Drug screening based on the interaction dynamics with different viral target proteins has been a preferred approach in the antiviral drug discovery process. In this study, the FDA approved drug database was virtually screened with the help of Schrödinger software, to select small molecules exhibiting best interactions with the influenza A virus endonuclease protein. A detailed cytotoxicity profiling was carried out for the two selected compounds, cefepime and dolutegravir, followed by in vitro anti-influenza screening using plaque reduction assay. Cefepime showed no cytotoxicity up to 200 μM, while dolutegravir was non-toxic up to 100 μM in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. The compounds did not show any reduction in viral plaque numbers indicating no anti-influenza activity. An inefficiency in the translation of the molecular interactions into antiviral activity does not necessarily mean that the molecules were inactive. Nevertheless, testing the molecules for endonuclease inhibition per se can be considered a worthwhile approach.
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U2 - 10.1093/femspd/ftaa032
DO - 10.1093/femspd/ftaa032
M3 - Article
C2 - 32614388
AN - SCOPUS:85088494792
SN - 2049-632X
VL - 78
JO - Pathogens and Disease
JF - Pathogens and Disease
IS - 4
ER -