ABSTRACT
The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was detected in isolates of pneumonia patients in January 2020. The virus cannot multiply extracellularly but requires access to the cells of a host organism. SARS-CoV-2 uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor, to which it docks with its spikes. ACE2 belongs to the renin angiotensin system (RAS), whose inhibitors have been used for years against high blood pressure. Renin is an endopeptidase that is predominantly formed in the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidney and cleaves the decapeptide angiotensin I (Ang I) from angiotensinogen. Through the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), another 2 C-terminal amino acids are removed from Ang I, so that finally the active octapeptide angiotensin II (Ang II) is formed. The biological effect of Ang II via the angiotensin II receptor subtype 1 (AT1-R) consists of vasoconstriction, fibrosis, proliferation, inflammation, and thrombosis formation. ACE2 is a peptidase that is a homolog of ACE. ACE2 is predominantly expressed by pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells in humans and has been detected in arterial and venous endothelial cells. In contrast to the dicarboxy-peptidase ACE, ACE2 is a monocarboxypeptidase that cleaves only one amino acid from the C-terminal end of the peptides. ACE2 can hydrolyze the nonapeptide Ang-(1-9) from the decapeptide Ang I and the heptapeptide Ang-(1-7) from the octapeptide Ang II. Ang-(1-7) acts predominantly antagonistically (vasodilatory, anti-fibrotic, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombogenetically) via the G protein-coupled Mas receptor to the AT1-R-mediated effects of Ang II. In the pathogenesis of COVID-19 infection, it is therefore assumed that there is an imbalance due to overstimulation of the AT1 receptor in conjunction with a weakening of the biological effects of the Mas receptor.Copyright © 2022 Dustri-Verlag Dr. K. Feistle.
ABSTRACT
Sulforaphane is an isothiocyanate metabolite of cruciferous plants, which obtain antioxidant, anticancer and anti-COVID-19 functions. However, due to its unstable structure, it is easy to de-composite, thus the utilization of sulforaphane is difficult. With the advancement of the preparation of sulforaphane, the purpose of inhibiting sulforaphane inactivation and improving its utilization is expected to be realized. The existing preparation technologies are mainly myrosinase enzymatic hydrolysis, microbial transformation and chemical synthesis. Myrosinase enzymatic hydrolysis mainly utilizes endogenous myrosinase, exogenous myrosinase and heterologously expressed myrosinase. Myrosinase enzymatic hydrolysis technology not only obtain the advantage of high preparation efficiency, but also obtain the disadvantage that the activity of myrosinase cannot be stabilized. Microbial transformation mainly utilizes the function of microorganisms to convert glucosinolates to sulforaphane, and obtain the advantages of easy control of reaction conditions and low cost. Chemical synthesis mainly includes de novo synthesis and semi-synthesis, and semi-synthesis is the most widely used method at present. Chemical synthesis obtains the advantages of easy control of reaction conditions, but chemical synthesis techniques have the problems of high risk and low yield. This research reviews the preparation technology of sulforaphane, aiming to provide a reference for the efficient utilization of sulforaphane and its product development.
ABSTRACT
Paper has been used in the field of hygiene for centuries. Tissue papers have low grammage, creped or non-creped surface, and consisting of one or more layers from virgin papers. Toilet paper, which has an important area of use, comes at the beginning of the tissue papers divided into various product groups. Its use has increased even more with the effect of the coronavirus pandemic. Increasing use of toilet paper causes clogging in sewers as solid waste. Because an important and large part of the sewage is composed of cellulosic structures. Therefore, the disintegration of toilet paper is an important issue. The main properties of toilet paper are characterized by grammage, thickness, polymerization degree, softness and wet tensile strength. This study, it was aimed to determine the relationship between the degree of polymerization, thickness, grammage, softness and wet tension strength of toilet papers, which accumulate in the sewer pipes and cause clogging, and their disintegration in tap water and pure water at environment of different pH levels. A great level and positive linear relationship was found between grammage and in disintegration pH9. It was determined a low level and positive relationship with wet tensile strength in disintegration tap water.
ABSTRACT
Intro: SARS-CoV-2 is a single-strand enveloped RNA virus belonging to the family Coronaviridae. It was first recognized in late 2019 as causing COVID-19, and later declared a pandemic. The development of this assay aided in the detection of positive cases early in the pandemic which in turn facilitated the isolation of infected individuals to minimize the spread. Method(s): The SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection by real time RT-PCR is a molecular in vitro diagnostic test that aids in the detection and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens. This test is based on nucleic acid extraction and amplification technology and uses oligonucleotide primers and dual-labeled hydrolysis probes. RNA is isolated and purified from specimens using the Abbott m2000sp. This technology uses magnetic particles to capture and purify the RNA. The bound RNA is eluted and transferred to a 96 deep-well plate and is ready for amplification. The master mix is prepared manually and is added to a PCR plate together with the extracted RNA. The RNA is reverse transcribed to cDNA and subsequently amplified in the Abbott m2000rt. In this process, the probe anneals to a specific target sequence located between the forward and reverse primers. During the extension step of the PCR cycle, the 5' nuclease activity of Taq polymerase degrades the probe, causing the reporter dye molecules to be cleaved from their respective probes, increasing the fluorescence intensity. Fluorescence intensity is monitored at each PCR cycle on the Abbott m2000rt instrument. Finding(s): The clinical evaluation was performed by testing patient samples in a blinded fashion. The performance of SARS-CoV-2 Assay was established using 60 clinical specimens. The positive and negative percent agreements were analyzed by comparing the SARS-CoV-2 Assay results to Seegene's AllplexTM 2019-nCoV which showed 100% concordance. Conclusion(s): This assay demonstrated accuracy and reproducibility for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.Copyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious and lethal disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 positive-strand RNA virus. Nonstructural protein 13 (Nsp13) is the highly conserved ATPase/helicase required for replication of the SARS-CoV-2 genome which allows for the infection and transmission of COVID-19. We biochemically characterized the purified recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13 helicase protein expressed using a eukaryotic cell-based system and characterized its catalytic functions, focusing on optimization of its reaction conditions and assessment of functional cooperativity among Nsp13 molecules during unwinding of duplex RNA substrates. These studies allowed us to carefully determine the optimal reaction conditions for binding and unwinding various nucleic acid substrates. Previously, ATP concentration was suggested to be an important factor for optimal helicase activity by recombinant SARS-CoV-1 Nsp13. Apart from a single study conducted using fixed concentrations of ATP, the importance of the essential divalent cation for Nsp13 helicase activity had not been examined. Given the importance of the divalent metal ion cofactor for ATP hydrolysis and helicase activity, we assessed if the molar ratio of ATP to Mg2+ was important for optimal SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13 RNA helicase activity. We determined that Nsp13 RNA helicase activity was dependent on ATP and Mg2+ concentrations with an optimum of 1 mM Mg2+ and 2 mM ATP. Next, we examined Nsp13 helicase activity as a function of equimolar ATP:Mg2+ ratio and determined that helicase activity decreased as the equimolar concentration increased, especially above 5 mM. We determined that Nsp13 catalytic functions are sensitive to Mg2+ concentration suggesting a regulatory mechanism for ATP hydrolysis, duplex unwinding, and protein remodeling, processes that are implicated in SARS-CoV-2 replication and proofreading to ensure RNA synthesis fidelity. Evidence is presented that excess Mg2+ impairs Nsp13 helicase activity by dual mechanisms involving both allostery and ionic strength. In addition, using single-turnover reaction conditions, Nsp13 unwound partial duplex RNA substrates of increasing doublestranded regions (16-30 base pairs) with similar kinetic efficiency, suggesting the enzyme unwinds processively in this range under optimal reaction conditions. Furthermore, we determined that Nsp13 displayed sigmoidal behavior for helicase activity as a function of enzyme concentration, suggesting that functional cooperativity and oligomerization are important for optimal activity. The observed functional cooperativity of Nsp13 protomers suggests the essential coronavirus RNA helicase has roles in RNA processing events beyond its currently understood involvement in the SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription complex (RTC), in which it was suggested that only one of the two Nsp13 subunits has a catalytic function, whereas the other has only a structural role in complex stability. Altogether, the intimate regulation of Nsp13 RNA helicase by divalent cation and protein oligomerization suggests drug targets for modulation of enzymatic activity that may prove useful for the development of novel anti-coronavirus therapeutic strategies. This work was supported by the Intramural Training Program, National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, and a Special COVID-19 Grant from the Office of the Scientific Director, NIA, NIH.Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus responsible for COVID-19, requires a set of virally encoded nonstructural proteins that compose a replication-transcription complex (RTC) to replicate its 30 kilobase genome. One such nonstructural protein within the RTC is Nsp13, a highly conserved molecular motor ATPase/helicase. Upon purification of the recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13 protein expressed using a eukaryotic cell-based system, we biochemically characterized the enzyme by examining its catalytic functions, nucleic acid substrate specificity, and putative protein-nucleic acid remodeling activity. We determined that Nsp13 preferentially interacts with single-stranded (ss) DNA compared to ssRNA during loading to unwind with greater efficiency a partial duplex helicase substrate. The binding affinity of Nsp13 to nucleic acid was confirmed through electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) by determining that Nsp13 binds to DNA substrates with significantly greater efficiency than RNA. These results demonstrate strand-specific interactions of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13 that dictate its ability to load and unwind structured nucleic acid substrates. We next determined that Nsp13 catalyzed unwinding of double-stranded (ds) RNA forked duplexes on substrates containing a backbone disruption (neutrally charged polyglycol linker (PGL)) was strongly inhibited when the PGL was positioned in the 5' ssRNA overhang, suggesting an unwinding mechanism in which Nsp13 is strictly sensitive to perturbation of the translocating strand sugar-phosphate backbone integrity. Furthermore, we demonstrated for the first time the ability of the coronavirus Nsp13 helicase to disrupt a high-affinity nucleic acid-protein interaction, i.e., a streptavidin tetramer bound to biotinylated RNA or DNA substrate, in a uni-directional manner and with a preferential displacement of the streptavidin complex from biotinylated ssDNA versus ssRNA. In contrast to the poorly hydrolysable ATP-gamma-S or non-hydrolysable AMP-PNP, ATP supports Nsp13-catalyzed disruption of the nucleic acidprotein complex, suggesting that nucleotide binding by Nsp13 is not sufficient for protein-RNA disruption and the chemical energy of nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis is required to fuel remodeling of protein bound to RNA or DNA. Our results build upon structural studies of the SARS-CoV-2 RTC in which it was suggested that Nsp13 pushes the RNA polymerase (Nsp12) backward on the template RNA strand. Experimental evidence from our studies demonstrate that Nsp13 helicase efficiently remodels a large high affinity protein-RNA complex in a manner dependent on its intrinsic ATP hydrolysis function. We proposed that this novel biochemical activity of Nsp13 is relevant to its role in SARS-CoV-2 RNA processing functions and replication. It was proposed that Nsp13 facilitates proofreading during coronavirus replication when a mismatched base is inadvertently incorporated into the SARS-CoV-2 genome during replication to reposition the RTC so that the proofreading nuclease complex (Nsp14-Nsp10) can gain access and remove the nascently synthesized nucleotide to ensure polymerase fidelity. Our findings implicate a direct catalytic role of Nsp13 in protein-RNA remodeling during coronavirus genome replication beyond its duplex strand separation or structural stabilization of the RTC, yielding new insight into the proofreading mechanism. This work was supported by the Intramural Training Program, National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, and a Special COVID-19 Grant from the Office of the Scientific Director, NIA, NIH.Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
ABSTRACT
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic outbreak and the unfortunate misuse of toxic chemical warfare agents (CWAs) highlight the importance of developing functional materials to protect against these chemical and pathogen threats. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which comprise a tunable class of crystalline porous materials built from inorganic nodes and organic linkers, have emerged as a class of heterogeneous catalysts capable of rapid detoxification of multiple classes of these harmful chemical or biological hazards. In particular, zirconium-based MOFs (Zr-MOFs) feature Lewis acidic nodes that serve as active sites for a wide range of catalytic reactions, including the hydrolysis of organophosphorus nerve agents within seconds in basic aqueous solutions. In addition, postsynthetic modification of Zr-MOFs enables the release of active species capable of reacting with and deactivating harmful pathogens. Despite this impressive performance, utilizing Zr-MOFs in powder form is not practical for application in masks or protective uniforms. To address this challenge, our team sought to develop MOF/fiber composite systems that could be adapted for use under realistic operating conditions to protect civilians, military personnel, and first responders from harmful pathogens and chemical warfare agents. Over the last several years, our group has designed and fabricated reactive and biocidal MOF/fiber composites that effectively capture and deactivate these toxic species. In this Account, we describe the evolution of these porous and reactive MOF/fiber composites and focus on key design challenges and considerations. First, we devised a scalable method for the integration of Zr-MOFs onto textile substrates using aqueous precursor solutions and without using pretreated textiles, highlighting the potential scalability of this method. Moving beyond standard textiles, we also developed a microbial synthesis strategy to prepare hierarchically porous MOF/bacterial cellulose nanofiber composite sponges that can both capture and detoxify nerve agents when exposed to contaminated gas flows. The mass loading of the MOF in the nanofibrous composite sponge is up to 90%, affording higher work capacities compared to those of textile-fiber-based composites with relatively lower MOF loadings. Next, we demonstrated that heterogeneous polymeric bases are suitable replacements for volatile liquid bases typically used in solution-phase reactions, and we showed that these composite systems are capable of effectively hydrolyzing nerve agents in the solid state by using only water that is present as humidity. Moreover, incorporating a reactive dye precursor into the composite affords a dual function sensing and detoxifying material that changes color from white to orange upon reaction with the byproduct following nerve agent hydrolysis, demonstrating the versatility of this platform for use in decontamination applications. We then created chlorine-loaded MOF/fiber composites that act as biocidal and reactive textiles that are capable of not only detoxifying sulfur-mustard-based chemical warfare agents and simulants but also deactivating both bacteria and the SARS-CoV-2 virus within minutes of exposure. Finally, we synthesized a mixed-metal Ti/Zr-MOF coating on cotton fibers to afford a photoactive biocidal cloth that shows fast and broad-spectrum biocidal performance against viruses and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria under visible light irradiation. Given the tunable, multifunctional nature of these MOF/fiber composites, we believe that this Account will offer new insights for the rational design and preparation of functional MOF/fiber composites and pave the way toward the development of next-generation reactive and protective textiles.
ABSTRACT
In Egypt, the production of second-generation bioethanol from agricultural waste is a thriving method to compensate the excessive usage as a consequence of the outspread of Covid-19. The profusion and renewability of lignocellulosic biomass urge its utilization as a promising feedstock for bioethanol production. However, functional delignification without affecting the cellulose matrices remains the major obstacle to achieving effective enzyme accessibility. This paper highlights a novel physio-chemical combination for corn stover (CS) pretreatment for bioethanol production. The optimum pretreatment condition was achieved using a mixture of 5% maleic acid (MA) and 3% citric acid (CA) for 30 min at an autoclave temperature of 110 °C leading to produce a pretreated CS (MAC) with 99% hemicellulose removal, 90% cellulose recovery, and 80% lignin removal. Characteristics analyses such as;SEM, FTIR, TGA, EDX, elemental, proximate, ultimate, higher heating value (HHV), and functionalization analyses were performed to emphasize the property and structure change of CS before and after the pretreatment. Then, MAC was hydrolyzed by cellulase enzyme and produced 13.5 g/L glucose yield which was fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and produced 10 g/L bioethanol. [Display omitted] [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Renewable Energy: An International Journal is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
ABSTRACT
Coronaviruses are a leading cause of emerging life-threatening diseases, as evidenced by the ongoing coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19). According to complete genome sequence analysis reports, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, has a sequence identity highly similar to the earlier severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The SARS-CoV-2 has the same mode of transmission, replication, and pathogenicity as SARS-CoV. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein's receptor-binding domain (RBD) binds to host angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). The ACE2 is overexpressed in various cells, most prominently epithelial cells of the lung (surface of type 1 and 2 pneumocytes), intestine, liver, kidney, and nervous system. As a result, these organs are more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers, which are used to treat cardiovascular diseases, intensify ACE2 expression, leading to an increase in the risk of COVID-19. ACE2 hydrolyzes angioten-sin-II (carboxypeptidase) to heptapeptide angiotensin (1-7) and releases a C-terminal amino acid. By blocking the interaction of spike protein with ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cell and inter-nalization can be avoided. The pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 could be reduced by preventing the RBD from attaching to ACE2-expressing cells. Therefore, inhibition or down-regulation of ACE2 in host cells represents a therapeutic strategy to fight against COVID-19. However, ACE2 plays an essential role in the physiological pathway, protecting against hypertension, heart failure, myocardial infarction, acute respiratory lung disease, and diabetes. Given the importance of ACE's homeostatic role, targeting of ACE2 should be realized with caution. Above all, focusing on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the ACE2 gene in the host cell is an excellent way to avoid viral mutation and resistance. The current review summarises the sequence analysis, structure of coronavirus, ACE2, spike protein-ACE2 complex, essential structural characteristics of the spike protein RBD, and ACE2 targeted approaches for anti-coronaviral drug design and development.Copyright © 2022 Bentham Science Publishers.
ABSTRACT
Here, we developed a copper sulfate (CuSO4)-initiated diphenylamine (DPA)-based colorimetric strategy coupled with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for rapid detection of two critical contagious pathogens, SARS-CoV-2 and Enterococcus faecium. To detect the DNA, acid hydrolysis of LAMP amplicons was executed, enabling the development of a blue color. In the LAMP amplicons, the bond between the purines and deoxyribose is extremely labile. It can be broken using 70% sulfuric acid followed by phosphate group elimination, which generates a highly active keto aldehyde group. CuSO4 plays an imperative role inducing DPA to rapidly react with the keto aldehyde group, producing an intense blue color within 5 min. Moreover, low quantities such as 103 copies μL-1 of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and 102 CFU mL-1 of E. faecium were successfully detected, revealing the advantages of the introduced method. To confirm practical applicability, multiplex detection of pathogens was performed using a foldable microdevice comprising reaction and detection zones. Various reactions such as DNA extraction, LAMP, and acid hydrolysis occurred in the reaction zone. Then, colorimetric reagents (DPA, CuSO4, and ethylene glycol) contained in the detection zone were mixed with the keto aldehyde group by simply folding the microdevice, which was heated at 65 °C for 5 min for colorimetric detection. An intense blue color was developed where the target DNA was present. These results indicate that the method proposed in this study is highly suitable for point-of-care applications, especially in resource-limited settings for the rapid detection of harmful pathogens. © 2023 American Chemical Society.
ABSTRACT
Scalable alternate end-game strategies for the synthesis of the anti-COVID drug molecule Nirmatrelvir (1, PF-07321332) have been described. The first involves a direct synthesis of 1 via amidation of the carboxylic acid 7 (suitably activated as a mixed anhydride with either pivaloyl chloride or T3P) with the amino-nitrile 10·HCl. T3P was found to be a more practical choice since the reagent promoted efficient and concomitant dehydration of the amide impurity 9 (derived from the amino-amide contaminant 8·HCl invariably present in 10·HCl) to 1. This observation allowed for the development of the second strategy, namely a continuous flow synthesis of 1 from 9 mediated by T3P. Under optimized conditions, this conversion could be achieved within 30 min in flow as opposed to 12–16 h in a traditional batch process. The final API had quality attributes comparable to those obtained in conventional flask processes.
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is highly contagious and has a severe morbidity. Providing care to patients with COVID-19 requires the development of new types of antiviral drugs. The aim of this work is to develop a prodrug for the treatment of coronavirus disease using the antibiotic Amicoumacin A (Ami), the mechanism of action of which is based on translation inhibition. Enzymatic hydrolysis of an inactivated prodrug by the SARS-CoV-2 main protease can lead to the release of the active Ami molecule and, as a consequence, the suppression of protein biosynthesis in infected cells. To test the proposed hypothesis, a five-stage synthesis of an inactivated analogue of Amicoumacin A was carried out. Its in vitro testing with the SARS-CoV-2 recombinant protease MPro showed a low percentage of hydrolysis. Further optimization of the peptide fragment of the inactivated analog recognized by the SARS-CoV-2 MPro protease may lead to an increase in proteolysis and the release of Amicoumacin A.
ABSTRACT
Here, we developed a copper sulfate (CuSO4)-initiated diphenylamine (DPA)-based colorimetric strategy coupled with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for rapid detection of two critical contagious pathogens, SARS-CoV-2 and Enterococcus faecium. To detect the DNA, acid hydrolysis of LAMP amplicons was executed, enabling the development of a blue color. In the LAMP amplicons, the bond between the purines and deoxyribose is extremely labile. It can be broken using 70% sulfuric acid followed by phosphate group elimination, which generates a highly active keto aldehyde group. CuSO4 plays an imperative role inducing DPA to rapidly react with the keto aldehyde group, producing an intense blue color within 5 min. Moreover, low quantities such as 103 copies μL-1 of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and 102 CFU mL-1 of E. faecium were successfully detected, revealing the advantages of the introduced method. To confirm practical applicability, multiplex detection of pathogens was performed using a foldable microdevice comprising reaction and detection zones. Various reactions such as DNA extraction, LAMP, and acid hydrolysis occurred in the reaction zone. Then, colorimetric reagents (DPA, CuSO4, and ethylene glycol) contained in the detection zone were mixed with the keto aldehyde group by simply folding the microdevice, which was heated at 65 °C for 5 min for colorimetric detection. An intense blue color was developed where the target DNA was present. These results indicate that the method proposed in this study is highly suitable for point-of-care applications, especially in resource-limited settings for the rapid detection of harmful pathogens. © 2023 American Chemical Society
ABSTRACT
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, a large number of disposable protective masks have been manufactured and used, and the abandonment of masks has caused enormous pollution. In this paper the chitosan (CS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and water were used as raw materials and the nanofiber membranes were prepared by electrostatic spinning. The CS/PVA fiber membranes were crosslinked by glutaraldehyde hydrochloric acid vapour. The fiber morphology, hydrolysis resistance, antibacterial properties, chemical structure, thermal stability and filtration performance of nanofiber membranes were characterized. Results shows that the antibacterial performance of the crosslinked composite nanofibers exceeds 97%, the thermal stability is improved, and the fiber morphology is not destroyed. The hybridized fiber membrane has high filtration performance, excellent antibacterial and hydrolysis resistance, which broadening the PVA fiber membrane application. It is expected to replace traditional protective materials and relieve environmental pressure.
ABSTRACT
A drawback of the current mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) COVID-19 vaccines is that they have to be stored at (ultra)low temperatures (2). Understanding the root cause of the instability of these vaccines may help to rationally improve mRNALNP product stability and thereby ease the temperature conditions for storage. In this presentation we discuss proposed structures of mRNALNPs, factors that impact mRNA-LNP stability and strategies to optimize mRNA-LNP product stability. Analysis of mRNA-LNP structures reveals that mRNA, the ionizable cationic lipid and water are present in the LNP core. The neutral helper lipids are mainly positioned in the outer, encapsulating, wall. mRNA hydrolysis is an important driver for mRNA-LNP instability. It is currently a matter of debate whether water in the LNP core can freely interact with the mRNA and to what extent the degradation prone sites of mRNA are protected through a coat of ionizable cationic lipids. To improve the stability of mRNALNP vaccines, optimization of the mRNA nucleotide composition should be prioritized. Secondly, a better understanding of the milieu the mRNA is exposed to in the core of LNPs may help to rationalize adjustments to the LNP structure to preserve mRNA integrity. Moreover, drying techniques, such as lyophilization, are promising options still to be explored. As vaccines turn out to be the major weapon against the COVID-19 viral attack, the urge to develop more stable formulations is still growing and alternative, not-mRNA based products, may come to the forefront in situations where the (ultra) cold chain cannot be guaranteed. (Table Presented).
ABSTRACT
Nirmatrelvir is an antiviral drug approved for the treatment of COVID-19. The available dosage form consists of tablets marketed under the brand name PAXLOVID®. Although knowledge of nirmatrelvir's intrinsic stability may be useful for any potential development of other pharmaceutical forms, no data regarding this matter is available to date. Preliminary forced degradation studies have shown that the molecule is stable under oxidative and photolytic conditions, while hydrolytic conditions, both acidic and basic, have proven deleterious. Indeed, the molecule presents a priori several functions that can undergo hydrolysis, i.e., three amide moieties and a nitrile function. However, considering the degradation products formed under forced conditions and which were detected and identified by LC-UV-HRMSn, the hydrolysis process leading to their formation is selective since it involved only 2 of the 4 hydrolysable functions of the molecule. Ab initio studies based on density functional theory (DFT) have helped better understand these reactivity differences in aqueous media. Some hydrolyzable functions of nirmatrelvir differ from others in terms of electrostatic potential and Fukui functions, and this seems to correlate with the forced degradation outcomes.
ABSTRACT
For decades, scientific efforts were focused on the improvement of the effectiveness of the therapeutic antibodies, mainly in order reduce the dosage and thus lower the side-effects and costs. P4A1, a potent SARS-CoV-2 virus neutralizing antibody was already engineered to contain Fc fragment mutations, that dramatically increased the blood circulation time. In this work, we aimed to further enhance this neutralizing antibody efficacy by creating a next-generation virus neutralizing agent based on the P4A1 and conjugated with a highly processive Bacillus amyloliquefaciens RNase (barnase). Barnase itself is known to act as a mild toxin that drives the cells to apoptosis, and we propose that its RNase activity may enhance the protective effect through the hydrolysis of viral RNA in infected cells, and thereby additionally preventing pathogen replication. The main challenge in the assembly of such molecule is the intrinsic barnase toxicity in mammalian cells, what precludes the possibility to express it as a fusion protein. Further, we had shown that barnase, being a small (12.5 kDa) protein, contains very few surface reactive moieties that are available for conventional chemical crosslinking strategies. Therefore, the antibody-barnase fusion protein was obtained by enzymatic conjugation via the sortase A enzyme. The reaction conditions for bacterially expressed barnase and HEK293 derived P4A1 modified to contain heavy chain C-terminal sortase motif were thoroughly optimized and the reaction yield approached 80%. The immunotoxin RBD binding EC50 was not found to differ from the unconjugated P4A1 antibody and barnase activity was found to be 33% of the one for unmodified enzyme. Thus, we obtained the promising immunotoxin with a good yield, which had retained its RNase activity for the further in vitro virus neutralization studies.
ABSTRACT
The pandemics of SARS-CoV 2 dramatically influenced the field of virology challenging for new antiviral drugs with alternative modes of actions. Translation machinery represents an attractive target for new antivirals. In this study, the antibiotic amicoumacin (Ami) was used for the development of a prodrug against SARS-CoV 2. Naturally, Ami is produced by probiotic Bacillus pumilus strains mediating their antimicrobial activity. Ami is a particularly potent translational inhibitor both in proand eukaryotes. We hypothesize that delivery of inactivated Ami prodrug to infected cells will result in the release of the active molecule by cleaving the precursor by the Mpro protease resulting in the inhibition of translation. However, Ami is rapidly hydrolyzed into inactive products under physiological conditions. A panel of Ami derivatives was synthesized to obtain stable Ami analogs. A panel of Ami analogs demonstrated increased stability in aqueous solutions while retaining antibiotic activity. The introduction of substituted amides and hydrazides increased the stability of the Ami molecule in aqueous solution, while the reasonable antibiotic activity was retained. Ami analogs provide a promising tool for translation machinery targeting and drug development.
ABSTRACT
Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a hepatic enzyme produced by the liver is affected by and influences a variety of inflammatory, infectious and metabolic dysfunction processes. Considering that COVID-19 is a multisystem disorder related to conditions influenced by BChE, the potential interrelation of the two is reviewed. BChE is altered in a variety of infectious diseases, and serves as a prognostic marker in both infections and in non-infectious diseases. Closely related to acetylcholinesterase (AChE), BChE plays a role in modulating inflammation via the cholinergic system. It forms part of the signaling pathway linking the immune system, nervous system and the endocrine system. COVID-19 progresses to a stage of unregulated inflammation in a subset of subjects. Cholinergic dysfunction could be potentially responsible for a march to cytokine storm. BChE could influence the course of COVID-19 by acting through the brain-immune-endocrine axis via cholinergic transmission, as well as affecting factors predicting adverse outcomes of COVID-19 (obesity, insulin resistance, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus). Interestingly, variant forms of the enzyme with impaired hydrolytic activity are reported in endogamous ethnic populations. It would be instructive to study the effect of COVID-19 in these natural human knock-out equivalents. Biomed Rev 2021;32: 37-46.
ABSTRACT
Background: There is a paucity of therapies for acute lung injury (ALI) induced by respiratory viruses. A previously demonstrated key mechanism of ALI, particularly in the setting of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infections, has been ascribed to decreased cell surface angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) leading to increased circulating levels of angiotensin II (Ang2). In turn, supraphysiological Ang2 levels trigger a cascade of events that culminates with endothelial injury in the systemic circulation via acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) activation. ASMase has been implicated in several models of ALI, but its specific involvement in Ang2-induced ALI is unknown. ASMase hydrolyzes sphingomyelin to pro-apoptotic, edemagenic ceramide, which can be metabolized to endothelial-protective sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Therefore, the ratio of ceramide/S1P can determine endothelial cell fate and lung vascular permeability. We hypothesized that ceramide levels are increased relative to S1P in mice with Ang2-induced ALI. Methods: Following a published protocol of Ang2-induced ALI (Wu et al, 2017), we delivered Ang2 via osmotic pumps (1 ug/kg/min, 7 days;Ang2-mice), using saline (sham) or untreated C57BL/6 mice as controls. We evaluated pulmonary function (FlexiVent);albumin, IgM (ELISA), and inflammatory cell abundance in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF);and lung parenchyma inflammation and fibrosis (Ashcroft score) on H/E-stained lungs. Sphingolipid levels in lungs and plasma were measured by tandem liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results: Inspiratory capacity, lung compliance, and body weight all decreased in Ang2-mice (by 13-14%, p<0.05 each) compared to sham. Lung pressure-volume loops exhibited a right-shift in Ang2- vs. sham or untreated mice. There was no significant change in BALF albumin, IgM, or inflammatory cells, or in lung histology inflammation or fibrosis scores in Ang2-mice. Compared to sham, S1P levels were significantly increased in plasma and unlavaged lung in Ang2-mice, decreasing ceramide/S1P ratios (from 3.1 to 2.0, and 26 to 20, respectively, p<0.05 each). Conclusions: Sustained subacute systemic elevations of Ang2 increased lung stiffness, but did not cause severe ALI in mice. Lung and circulatory elevations of S1P but not ceramide may have protected against lung edema and inflammatory injury. Although the cause of increased lung stiffness in this model remains to be elucidated, it is notable that chronic (months) supraphysiological elevations of either Ang2 or S1P have been associated with lung fibrosis. In conclusion, a second-hit injury may be necessary to augment the susceptibility of murine lung to Ang2-induced endothelial damage and inflammation relevant to coronavirus.