Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Victoria Gil Martinez, Ana Avedillo Salas, Sonia Santander Ballestin
Summary: This systematic review summarizes the efficacy and safety of five antivirals for COVID-19 treatment, with remdesivir and favipiravir found to be well tolerated and effective in accelerating clinical improvement, while lopinavir/ritonavir, ribavirin, and umifenovir did not show significant benefits in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vladimir N. Zhabinskii, Pavel Drasar, Vladimir A. Khripach
Summary: This study aims to review recent literature on the structures and bioactivities of fungal metabolites of ergosterol, with a focus on compounds that have shown potential pharmacological utility.
Article
Virology
Irina Leneva, Nadezhda Kartashova, Artem Poromov, Anastasiia Gracheva, Ekaterina Korchevaya, Ekaterina Glubokova, Olga Borisova, Anna Shtro, Svetlana Loginova, Veronika Shchukina, Ravil Khamitov, Evgeny Faizuloev
Summary: Umifenovir, an antiviral drug with broad spectrum activity, has shown inhibitory effects against different viruses including seasonal coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2. It could be a valuable asset in the fight against COVID-19, especially in the early stages of a viral pandemic.
Article
Microbiology
Ludek Eyer, Pavel Svoboda, Jan Balvan, Tomas Vicar, Matina Raudenska, Michal Stefanik, Jan Haviernik, Ivana Huvarova, Petra Strakova, Ivo Rudolf, Zdenek Hubalek, Katherine Seley-Radtke, Erik de Clercq, Daniel Ruzek
Summary: Fluorine-substituted nucleosides, with their unique structural and functional properties, show promising antiviral activity against emerging flaviviruses in vitro and in vivo, without significant cytotoxic effects, making them potential broad-spectrum antivirals for further research and drug development.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Luping Zhang, Dengyuan Zhou, Qiuyan Li, Shuo Zhu, Muhammad Imran, Hongyu Duan, Shengbo Cao, Shaoyong Ke, Jing Ye
Summary: Flaviviruses are major emerging arthropod-borne pathogens globally, and there is a desperate need for effective broad-spectrum drugs against existing and emerging flaviviruses. The study found that compounds AV1003, AV1004, and AV1017 are potent inhibitors of flavivirus propagation in cells, with AV1004 showing potential as a therapeutic drug against JEV infection. These DHEA derivatives could serve as lead scaffolds for the development of potential anti-flavivirus drugs.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Shenyou Nie, Jidong Zhao, Xiaowei Wu, Yuan Yao, Fangrui Wu, Yi-Lun Lin, Xin Li, Alexander R. Kneubehl, Megan B. Vogt, Rebecca Rico-Hesse, Yongcheng Song
Summary: A novel series of compounds have been discovered as potent inhibitors of the Zika virus protease, with the most effective ones also showing inhibitory effects on dengue and West Nile virus. The most potent compounds were able to strongly inhibit Zika virus replication in cells.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sze Mun Chan, Kong Soo Khoo, Shamala Devi Sekaran, Nam Weng Sit
Summary: The study evaluated 132 extracts from 21 medicinal plants for anti-chikungunya virus activity, identifying several plant extracts with potential to inhibit viral infection.
Article
Microbiology
Keesha Matz, Jackson Emanuel, Julie Callison, Don Gardner, Rebecca Rosenke, Reinaldo Mercado-Hernandez, Brandi N. Williamson, Heinz Feldmann, Andrea Marzi
Summary: Favipiravir and ribavirin have antiviral activity against Zika virus replication in vitro, with favipiravir providing protection in a dose-dependent manner in IFNAR(-/-) mice, while ribavirin showed no beneficial effect in this model. Combined treatment did not improve outcomes over ribavirin alone. Surprisingly, outcome of favipiravir treatment was sex-dependent, with female mice showing higher survival rates. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.
Article
Immunology
Zuzana Antosova, Nada Podzimkova, Jakub Tomala, Katerina Augustynkova, Katerina Sajnerova, Eva Nedvedova, Milada Sirova, Guy de Martynoff, David Bechard, Ulrich Moebius, Marek Kovar, Radek Spisek, Irena Adkins
Summary: SOT101, a potential clinical candidate for cancer treatment, activates NK cells and CD8(+) T cells and enhances their cytotoxicity against tumor cells. When used in combination with approved monoclonal antibodies, it increases the killing of tumor cells. In an animal model, the combination of SOT101 and Daratumumab showed the strongest anti-tumor effect, supporting further investigation of this combination in clinical studies.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Jim Zoladek, Sebastien Nisole
Summary: Mosquito-borne flaviviruses pose a global public health concern, and understanding how they evade the host immune system could help in developing countermeasures.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Terica R. Sinclair, Sanne K. van den Hengel, Brahzil G. Raza, Saskia A. Rutjes, Ana Maria de Roda Husman, Willie J. G. M. Peijnenburg, H. (Erik) D. W. Roesink, Wiebe M. de Vos
Summary: The surface charge is a crucial factor governing the antiviral activity of silver nanoparticles, with positively charged BPEI-coated AgNPs exhibiting the highest toxicity towards MS2 bacteriophages. The electrostatic interaction between the positively charged coating and the negatively charged virus surface plays a significant role in reducing the MS2, which could lead to more efficient dosing for antiviral applications.
Article
Microbiology
Marta Celegato, Mattia Sturlese, Vivian Vasconcelos Costa, Marta Trevisan, Angelica SamerLallo Dias, Ingredy Beatriz Souza Passos, Celso Martins Queiroz-Junior, Lorenzo Messa, Annagiulia Favaro, Stefano Moro, Mauro Martins Teixeira, Arianna Loregian, Beatrice Mercorelli
Summary: This study identifies two small molecules with pan-flavivirus antiviral potential through virtual screening of over 1 million compounds. The molecules inhibit the replication of dengue virus, Zika virus, and West Nile virus, and show efficacy in a mouse model of dengue.
Article
Immunology
Christian Binder, Felix Sellberg, Filip Cvetkovski, Stefan Berg, Erik Berglund, David Berglund
Summary: The study showed that siplizumab increased NK cell activation by binding to Fc gamma RIIIA, suggesting potential application in inhibiting NK cell activation. However, the inhibitory effects of CD2 blockade on natural cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cytotoxicity remain unclear.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Antonio G. Dias, Caroline Atyeo, Carolin Loos, Magelda Montoya, Vicky Roy, Sandra Bos, Parnal Narvekar, Tulika Singh, Leah C. Katzelnick, Guillermina Kuan, Douglas A. Lauffenburger, Angel Balmaseda, Galit Alter, Eva Harris
Summary: This study used a systems serology approach to analyze a pediatric cohort in Nicaragua and found that specific antibody immune responses may be associated with protection against dengue fever, which could be applied in the design and evaluation of vaccines.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Virology
Kyoko Saito, Kentaro Shimasaki, Masayoshi Fukasawa, Ryosuke Suzuki, Yuko Okemoto-Nakamura, Kaoru Katoh, Tomohiko Takasaki, Kentaro Hanada
Summary: This study established and characterized Vero cell lines carrying YFV replicons, and investigated the effects of various drugs on the persistent replication of the replicons. The results showed that several drugs could inhibit the replication of the replicons, providing evidence for the screening of antiviral drugs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nirmitee Mulgaonkar, Haoqi Wang, Samavath Mallawarachchi, Daniel Ruzek, Byron Martina, Sandun Fernando
Summary: This study identified potential molecules with antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 through virtual screening and investigated the interaction between imatinib and the spike glycoprotein. These findings are significant for the development of novel drugs targeting SARS-CoV-2.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ludek Eyer, Katherine Seley-Radtke, Daniel Ruzek
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a potentially fatal disease common in much of Europe and Asia. Currently, there is no specific therapy for TBE patients, but there are ongoing efforts to develop small molecules and monoclonal antibodies that can interfere with the TBE virus life cycle and potentially be used for post-exposure prophylaxis or early therapy. This review summarizes the latest directions and experimental approaches for combating TBE in humans.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Marta Zimna, Gabriela Brzuska, Jiri Salat, Pavel Svoboda, Klaudia Baranska, Boguslaw Szewczyk, Daniel Ruzek, Ewelina Krol
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes severe neurological infections. Dairy products from infected animals are a common cause. Vaccination of livestock could help reduce human infections. Researchers developed a potential TBEV vaccine based on virus-like particles (VLPs) produced in Leishmania tarentolae cells, which proved to be highly immunogenic and provided full protection from lethal TBE in mice.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Filippo Bianchini, Virginia Crivelli, Morgan E. Abernathy, Concetta Guerra, Martin Palus, Jonathan Muri, Harold Marcotte, Antonio Piralla, Mattia Pedotti, Raoul De Gasparo, Luca Simonelli, Milos Matkovic, Chiara Toscano, Maira Biggiogero, Veronica Calvaruso, Pavel Svoboda, Tomas Cervantes Rincon, Tommaso Fava, Lucie Podesvova, Akanksha A. Shanbhag, Andrea Celoria, Jacopo Sgrignani, Michal Stefanik, Vaclav Honig, Veronika Pranclova, Tereza Michalcikova, Jan Prochazka, Giuditta Guerrini, Dora Mehn, Annalisa Clabbattini, Hassan Abolhassani, David Jarrossay, Mariagrazia Uguccioni, Donata Medaglini, Qiang Pan-Hammarstroem, Luigi Calzolai, Daniel Fernandez, Fausto Baldanti, Alessandra Franzetti-Pellanda, Christian Garzoni, Radislav Sedlacek, Daniel Ruzek, Luca Varani, Andrea Cavalli, Christopher O. Barnes, Davide F. Robbiani
Summary: Using coldspot-guided antibody discovery, neutralizing antibodies to highly conserved viral epitopes were identified. Antibody fp.006 binds the fusion peptide and cross-reacts against coronaviruses. Antibody hr2.016 targets the stem helix and neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants. Antibody sd1.040 binds to subdomain 1 and synergizes with antibody rbd.042 for neutralization.
SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kristina Mravcova, Jeremy V. Camp, Zdenek Hubalek, Silvie Sikutova, Alexander G. C. Vaux, Jolyon M. Medlock, Ivo Rudolf
Summary: Tahyna virus (TAHV) is a neglected human pathogen with unknown public health importance in Central Europe, but it may pose a potential emerging disease threat in other parts of Europe due to extreme summer flooding events. TAHV is an orthobunyavirus isolated from mosquitoes and is associated with floodplain areas, hares as reservoir hosts, and Aedes vexans mosquitoes as the main vector. The disease caused by TAHV, known as Valtice fever, was detected in the 1960s and has been the subject of many studies, although the prevalence and clinical manifestations of TAHV infections are rarely reported.
ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Balazs Kakuk, Akos Dormo, Zsolt Csabai, Gabor Kemenesi, Jiri Holoubek, Daniel Ruzek, Istvan Prazsak, Virag eva Dani, Bela Denes, Gabor Torma, Ferenc Jakab, Gabor E. Toth, Fanni V. Foldes, Brigitta Zana, Zsofia Lanszki, Akos Harangozo, Adam Fulop, Gabor Gulyas, Mate Mizik, Andras Attila Kiss, Dora Tombacz, Zsolt Boldogkoi
Summary: The recent Monkeypox outbreak highlighted the importance of studying the basic biology of orthopoxviruses. However, there has been no investigation into the transcriptome of the causative agent using either short-read or long-read sequencing approaches. This Oxford Nanopore long-read RNA-Sequencing dataset fills this gap and allows for the comprehensive characterization of the monkeypox virus transcriptomic architecture and the potential annotation of novel host transcripts. Additionally, this study will provide insights into gene expression changes in both the virus and host cells during infection, leading to a deeper understanding of the alterations caused by viral infection at the transcriptome level.
Article
Microbiology
Gabriela Brzuska, Marta Zimna, Klaudia Baranska, Boguslaw Szewczyk, Petra Strakova, Daniel Ruzek, Ewelina Krol
Summary: The SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and became a global health threat. COVID-19 vaccines with S protein have been approved, but T-cell response and adjuvants play important roles in immune response. This study compared the effect of four different adjuvants on the immunogenicity of a mixture of RBD and N SARS-CoV-2 proteins, and found that specific and cross-reactive antibodies were induced by certain adjuvants, along with high cellular response and virus neutralization.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Daniel Ruzek
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Srishylam Penjarla, Paidi Yella Reddy, Santhosh Penta, Yogesh S. Sanghvi, Ludek Eyer, Michal Stefanik, Daniel Ruzek, Shyamapada Banerjee
Summary: An efficient synthetic approach leading to novel C-nucleosides containing oxadiazole or thiadiazole ring system is reported. This provides an ideal framework for the development of new antiviral and antitumor drugs. Two of the synthesized compounds showed mild anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, with a decrease in viral titers by <1 log10 PFU/ml compared with controls. Mechanism for the formation of 5-substituted 1,3,4-thiadiazole ring is proposed and a structure-activity relationship is established with these C-nucleosides.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Andrea Fortova, Andrey Barkhash, Martina Pychova, Lenka Krbkova, Martin Palus, Jiri Salat, Daniel Ruzek
Summary: This study investigated the association between selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in innate immunity genes and susceptibility to tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the Czech population. The results showed an association between SNPs in IFIT1 and DDX58 genes and TBE susceptibility, highlighting the role of innate immunity genes in TBE pathogenesis.
JOURNAL OF NEUROVIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kseniya A. Mariewskaya, Daniil A. Gvozdev, Alexey A. Chistov, Petra Strakova, Ivana Huvarova, Pavel Svoboda, Jan Kotoucek, Nikita M. Ivanov, Maxim S. Krasilnikov, Mikhail Y. Zhitlov, Alexandra M. Pak, Igor E. Mikhnovets, Timofei D. Nikitin, Vladimir A. Korshun, Vera A. Alferova, Josef Masek, Daniel Rfzek, Ludek Eyer, Alexey V. Ustinov
Summary: Novel perylenylethynylphenols show promising antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and FIPV by blocking viral entry and generating singlet oxygen under visible light. These compounds possess a unique combination of shape and singlet oxygen production, making them effective against enveloped viruses.
Review
Virology
Gabriele Chiffi, Denis Grandgirard, Stephen L. Leib, Ales Chrdle, Daniel Ruzek
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a common flavivirus in Europe and Asia, with increasing cases and an emerging public health problem. It can be transmitted through infected tick bites, as well as through infected milk consumption or aerosols.
REVIEWS IN MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Petra Strakova, Petr Bednar, Jan Kotoucek, Jiri Holoubek, Andrea Fortova, Pavel Svoboda, Michal Stefanik, Ivana Huvarova, Pavlina Simeckova, Josef Masek, Daniil A. Gvozdev, Igor E. Mikhnovets, Alexey A. Chistov, Timofei D. Nikitin, Maxim S. Krasilnikov, Alexey Ustinov, Vera A. Alferova, Vladimir A. Korshun, Daniel Ruzek, Ludek Eyer
Summary: In this study, we analyzed the structure-activity relationship of a series of perylene derivatives and found that they exhibit antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 by intercalating into the viral envelope and blocking viral-cell fusion. Furthermore, these compounds also showed photodynamic reactions, and their antiviral efficacy was significantly enhanced after irradiation with blue light.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Igor E. Mikhnovets, Jiri Holoubek, Irina S. Panina, Jan Kotoucek, Daniil A. Gvozdev, Stepan P. Chumakov, Maxim S. Krasilnikov, Mikhail Y. Zhitlov, Evgeny L. Gulyak, Alexey A. Chistov, Timofei D. Nikitin, Vladimir A. Korshun, Roman G. Efremov, Vera A. Alferova, Daniel Ruzek, Ludek Eyer, Alexey V. Ustinov
Summary: Amphipathic perylene derivatives are effective antiviral compounds that target the viral envelope and act as fusion inhibitors. They damage the viral envelope using lipophilic perylene and singlet oxygen generated by light. Short alkyl chains contribute to strong antiviral activity, while longer alkyl chains reduce activity due to increased lipophilicity and aggregation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
