Optimization of a cellular HBV infection model for use in high-throughput drug screening.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a partially double-stranded DNA virus that specifically targets hepatocytes. It is considered a major health issue due to its high prevalence and the life-threatening consequences of chronic infection, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite widespread vaccination against HBV, millions of people live with chronic HBV infection. Existing antiviral therapies fail to achieve full HBV elimination, so most patients with the disease require lifelong treatment. The search for new antiviral therapy strategies is hindered by the limited availability of in vitro HBV infection models that are able to support the full HBV life cycle. Therefore, the development and optimization of cellular models are crucial to the search for drugs effective against HBV. In this study, we optimized an in vitro HBV infection model consisting of two cell lines: HepAD38 cells, which are able to produce infectious HBV; and HepG2-NTCP cells, which are susceptible to HBV infection. We showed that prolonged production of HBV in the "donor" cells and HBV inoculation of the "acceptor" cells simultaneously with seeding improves the established procedure. This modified protocol was proven effective in experiments involving compounds with known activity against HBV, suggesting its utility for future high-throughput screening. Keywords: HBV; HBV in vitro models; HepG2-NTCP; HepAD38.

Synthesis, inhibitory activity and oral dosing formulation of AV5124, the structural analogue of influenza virus endonuclease inhibitor baloxavir.

BACKGROUND: The development and clinical implementation of the cap-dependent endonuclease (CEN) inhibitor baloxavir marboxil was a breakthrough in influenza therapy, but it was associated with the emergence of drug-resistant variants. OBJECTIVES: To design and synthesize structural analogues of CEN inhibitors and evaluate their safety, pharmacokinetics and antiviral potency in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The drug candidate AV5124 and its active metabolite AV5116 were synthesized based on pharmacophore modelling. Stability in plasma and microsomes, plasma protein binding, cytotoxicity and antiviral activities were assessed in vitro. Pharmacokinetics after IV or oral administration were analysed in CD-1 mice. Acute toxicity and protective efficacy against lethal A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza virus challenge were examined in BALB/c mice. RESULTS: Pharmacophore model-assisted, 3D molecular docking predicted key supramolecular interactions of the metal-binding group and bulky hydrophobic group of AV5116 with the CEN binding site (Protein Data Bank code: 6FS6) that are essential for high antiviral activity. AV5116 inhibited influenza virus polymerase complexes in cell-free assays and replication of oseltamivir-susceptible and -resistant influenza A and B viruses at nanomolar concentrations. Notably, AV5116 was equipotent or more potent than baloxavir acid (BXA) against WT (I38-WT) viruses and viruses with reduced BXA susceptibility carrying an I38T polymerase acidic (PA) substitution. AV5116 exhibited low cytotoxicity in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells and lacked mitochondrial toxicity, resulting in favourable selective indices. Treatment with 20 or 50 mg/kg AV5124 prevented death in 60% and 100% of animals, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, AV5124 and A5116 are promising inhibitors of the influenza virus CEN and warrant further development as potent anti-influenza agents.

Non-rigid Diarylmethyl Analogs of Baloxavir as Cap-Dependent Endonuclease Inhibitors of Influenza Viruses.

4-Substituted 2,4-dioxobutanoic acids inhibit influenza virus cap-dependent endonuclease (CEN) activity. Baloxavir marboxil, 4, is approved for treating influenza virus infections. We describe here the synthesis and biological evaluation of active compounds, 5a-5g, and their precursors (6a, 6b, 6d, and 6e) with flexible bulky hydrophobic groups instead of the rigid polyheterocyclic moieties. In silico docking confirmed the ability of 5a-5g to bind to the active site of influenza A CEN (PDB code: 6FS6) like baloxavir acid, 3. These novel compounds inhibited polymerase complex activity, inhibited virus replication in cells, prevented death in a lethal influenza A virus mouse challenge model, and dramatically lowered viral lung titers. 5a and 5e potently inhibited different influenza genera in vitro. Precursors 6a and 6d demonstrated impressive mouse oral bioavailability with 6a, providing effective in vivo protection. Thus, these novel compounds are potent CEN inhibitors with in vitro and in vivo activity comparable to baloxavir.