Inhibition of influenza A virus replication by a marine derived quinolone alkaloid targeting virus nucleoprotein.

Owing to the emergence of drug resistance and high morbidity and mortality, the need for novel anti-influenza A virus (IAV) drugs with divergent targets is highly sought after. Herein, a novel quinolone alkaloid (QLA) derived from marine fungus was discovered with broad-spectrum anti-IAV activities with low toxicity. Distinct from current anti-IAV drugs, QLA may block virus replication and viral RNA (vRNA) export from the nucleus by targeting virus nucleoprotein (NP). QLA can block the binding of chromosome region maintenance 1 to nuclear export signal 3 of NP to inhibit the nuclear export of NP and vRNP. QLA may also affect vRNP assembly by interfering with the binding of NP to RNA rather than NP oligomerization. Arg305 and Phe488-Gly490 may be required for the interaction between QLA and NP, and the binding pocket around these amino acids may be a promising target for anti-IAV drugs. Importantly, oral administration of QLA can protect the mice against IAV-induced death and weight loss, superior to the effects of the clinical drug oseltamivir. In summary, the marine derived compound QLA has the potential to be developed into a novel anti-IAV agent targeting virus NP protein in the future.

Chemoreactive-Inspired Discovery of Influenza A Virus Dual Inhibitor to Block Hemagglutinin-Mediated Adsorption and Membrane Fusion.

Owing to the emergence of drug resistance and high morbidity and mortality, the need for novel anti-influenza A virus (IAV) drugs with divergent targets is highly sought after. Herein, we reveal the discovery of an anti-IAV agent as a dual inhibitor to block hemagglutinin-mediated adsorption and membrane fusion using a chemoreactive ortho-quinone methide (o-QM) equivalent. Based on the o-QM equivalent nonenzymatically multipotent behavior, we created a series of clavatol-derived pseudo-natural products and found that penindolone (PND), a new diclavatol indole adduct, exhibited potent and broad-spectrum anti-IAV activities with low risk of inducing drug resistance. Distinct from current anti-IAV drugs, PND possesses a novel scaffold and is the first IAV inhibitor targeting both HA1 and HA2 subunits of virus hemagglutinin to dually block the IAV adsorption and membrane fusion process. More importantly, intranasal and oral administration of PND can protect mice against IAV-induced death and weight loss, superior to the effects of the clinical drug oseltamivir. Thus, the use of chemoreactive intermediates could expand our understanding of chemical diversity and aid in the development of anti-IAV drugs with novel targets.

Inhibition effects of patchouli alcohol against influenza a virus through targeting cellular PI3K/Akt and ERK/MAPK signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: Patchouli alcohol (PA) is a tricyclic sesquiterpene extracted from Pogostemonis Herba, which is a traditional Chinese medicine used for therapy of inflammatory diseases. Recent studies have shown that PA has various pharmacological activities, including anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects. METHODS: In this study, the anti-influenza virus (IAV) activities and mechanisms were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. The inhibitory effects of PA against IAV in vitro were evaluated by plaque assay and immunofluorescence assay. The neuraminidase inhibition assay, hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, and western blot assay were used to explore the anti-viral mechanisms. The anti-IAV activities in vivo were determined by mice pneumonia model and HE staining. RESULTS: The results showed that PA significantly inhibited different IAV strains multiplication in vitro, and may block IAV infection through inactivating virus particles directly and interfering with some early stages after virus adsorption. Cellular PI3K/Akt and ERK/MAPK signaling pathways may be involved in the anti-IAV actions of PA. Intranasal administration of PA markedly improved mice survival and attenuated pneumonia symptoms in IAV infected mice, comparable to the effects of Oseltamivir. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, Patchouli alcohol has the potential to be developed into a novel anti-IAV agent in the future.