In-silico discovery of common molecular signatures for which SARS-CoV-2 infections and lung diseases stimulate each other, and drug repurposing.

COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is a global health issue. It is yet a severe risk factor to the patients, who are also suffering from one or more chronic diseases including different lung diseases. In this study, we explored common molecular signatures for which SARS-CoV-2 infections and different lung diseases stimulate each other, and associated candidate drug molecules. We identified both SARS-CoV-2 infections and different lung diseases (Asthma, Tuberculosis, Cystic Fibrosis, Pneumonia, Emphysema, Bronchitis, IPF, ILD, and COPD) causing top-ranked 11 shared genes (STAT1, TLR4, CXCL10, CCL2, JUN, DDX58, IRF7, ICAM1, MX2, IRF9 and ISG15) as the hub of the shared differentially expressed genes (hub-sDEGs). The gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses of hub-sDEGs revealed some crucial common pathogenetic processes of SARS-CoV-2 infections and different lung diseases. The regulatory network analysis of hub-sDEGs detected top-ranked 6 TFs proteins and 6 micro RNAs as the key transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory factors of hub-sDEGs, respectively. Then we proposed hub-sDEGs guided top-ranked three repurposable drug molecules (Entrectinib, Imatinib, and Nilotinib), for the treatment against COVID-19 with different lung diseases. This recommendation is based on the results obtained from molecular docking analysis using the AutoDock Vina and GLIDE module of Schrödinger. The selected drug molecules were optimized through density functional theory (DFT) and observing their good chemical stability. Finally, we explored the binding stability of the highest-ranked receptor protein RELA with top-ordered three drugs (Entrectinib, Imatinib, and Nilotinib) through 100 ns molecular dynamic (MD) simulations with YASARA and Desmond module of Schrödinger and observed their consistent performance. Therefore, the findings of this study might be useful resources for the diagnosis and therapies of COVID-19 patients who are also suffering from one or more lung diseases.

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Petiveria alliacea L. Phytochemicals: A Computational Study on Inhibiting SARS-CoV-2's Main Protease (Mpro).

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, also known as the COVID-19 pandemic, is still a critical risk factor for both human life and the global economy. Although, several promising therapies have been introduced in the literature to inhibit SARS-CoV-2, most of them are synthetic drugs that may have some adverse effects on the human body. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to carry out an in-silico investigation into the medicinal properties of Petiveria alliacea L. (P. alliacea L.)-mediated phytocompounds for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections since phytochemicals have fewer adverse effects compared to synthetic drugs. To explore potential phytocompounds from P. alliacea L. as candidate drug molecules, we selected the infection-causing main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 as the receptor protein. The molecular docking analysis of these receptor proteins with the different phytocompounds of P. alliacea L. was performed using AutoDock Vina. Then, we selected the three top-ranked phytocompounds (myricitrin, engeletin, and astilbin) as the candidate drug molecules based on their highest binding affinity scores of -8.9, -8.7 and -8.3 (Kcal/mol), respectively. Then, a 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study was performed for their complexes with Mpro using YASARA software, computed RMSD, RMSF, PCA, DCCM, MM/PBSA, and free energy landscape (FEL), and found their almost stable binding performance. In addition, biological activity, ADME/T, DFT, and drug-likeness analyses exhibited the suitable pharmacokinetics properties of the selected phytocompounds. Therefore, the results of this study might be a useful resource for formulating a safe treatment plan for SARS-CoV-2 infections after experimental validation in wet-lab and clinical trials.

Discovery of Bacterial Key Genes from 16S rRNA-Seq Profiles That Are Associated with the Complications of SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Provide Therapeutic Indications.

SARS-CoV-2 infections, commonly referred to as COVID-19, remain a critical risk to both human life and global economies. Particularly, COVID-19 patients with weak immunity may suffer from different complications due to the bacterial co-infections/super-infections/secondary infections. Therefore, different variants of alternative antibacterial therapeutic agents are required to inhibit those infection-causing drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. This study attempted to explore these bacterial pathogens and their inhibitors by using integrated statistical and bioinformatics approaches. By analyzing bacterial 16S rRNA sequence profiles, at first, we detected five bacterial genera and taxa (Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Prevotella Clostridium, Atopobium, and Peptostreptococcus) based on differentially abundant bacteria between SARS-CoV-2 infection and control samples that are significantly enriched in 23 metabolic pathways. A total of 183 bacterial genes were found in the enriched pathways. Then, the top-ranked 10 bacterial genes (accB, ftsB, glyQ, hldD, lpxC, lptD, mlaA, ppsA, ppc, and tamB) were selected as the pathogenic bacterial key genes (bKGs) by their protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Then, we detected bKG-guided top-ranked eight drug molecules (Bemcentinib, Ledipasvir, Velpatasvir, Tirilazad, Acetyldigitoxin, Entreatinib, Digitoxin, and Elbasvir) by molecular docking. Finally, the binding stability of the top-ranked three drug molecules (Bemcentinib, Ledipasvir, and Velpatasvir) against three receptors (hldD, mlaA, and lptD) was investigated by computing their binding free energies with molecular dynamic (MD) simulation-based MM-PBSA techniques, respectively, and was found to be stable. Therefore, the findings of this study could be useful resources for developing a proper treatment plan against bacterial co-/super-/secondary-infection in SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Molecular-Level Interactions in Binary Mixtures of 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Ethylsulfate and Propane-1,2-diol: The Interplay between Intermolecular and Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding.

In this study, volumetric properties of an ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate ([C2mim]C2H5SO4), propane-1,2-diol, and their binary mixtures were studied by measurements of density and viscosity. The excess molar volume (VmE), dynamic viscosity deviation (Δη), and excess molar Gibbs free energy of activation for viscous flow (ΔGm*) were calculated and fitted with the Redlich-Kister (RK) type polynomial equation. The results suggested that intermolecular interactions are weaker in the mixture compared to the pure components and the interactions decrease with increasing mole fraction of [C2mim]C2H5SO4. The thermodynamic activation parameters were also calculated from the Eyring equation, and their variations with mole fraction of [C2mim]C2H5SO4 were correlated to the molecular-level interactions. The near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic measurements were carried out in the temperature range from 293.15 to 333.15 K. The raw NIR data were analyzed further by two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy and principal component analysis. When [C2mim]C2H5SO4 was introduced to the propane-1,2-diol system, the stronger intermolecular hydrogen bonds were destroyed. Propane-1,2-diol and [C2mim]C2H5SO4 produce some weaker hydrogen bonds, but the effect of breaking hydrogen bonds predominates. On the basis of volumetric and NIR spectroscopic investigations, molecular-level interactions are predicted. The interplay between intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonding decides unique molecular-level interactions and dictates enhanced thermodynamic properties of the binary mixtures to make them tunable for a multitude of applications.

Dolastatin 11 conformations, analogues and pharmacophore.

Twenty analogues of the natural antitumor agent dolastatin 11, including majusculamide C, were synthesized and tested for cytotoxicity against human cancer cells and stimulation of actin polymerization. Only analogues containing the 30-membered ring were active. Molecular modeling and NMR evidence showed the low-energy conformations. The amide bonds are all trans except for the one between the Tyr and Val units, which is cis. Since an analogue restricted to negative 2-3-4-5 angles stimulated actin polymerization but was inactive in cells, the binding conformation (most likely the lowest-energy conformation in water) has a negative 2-3-4-5 angle, whereas a conformation with a positive 2-3-4-5 angle (most likely the lowest energy conformation in chloroform) goes through cell walls. The highly active R alcohol from borohydride reduction of dolastatin 11 is a candidate for conversion to prodrugs.