benzofurans and Influenza--Human

We designed a series of substituted flavones and aurones as non-competitive H1N1 neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors and anti-influenza agents. The molecular docking studies showed that the designed flavones and aurones occupied 150-cavity and 430-cavity of H1N1-NA. We then synthesized these compounds and evaluated these for cytotoxicity, reduction in H1N1 virus yield, H1N1-NA inhibition and kinetics of inhibition. The virus yield reduction assay and H1N1-NA inhibition assay demonstrated that the compound 1f (4-methoxyflavone) had the lowest EC

Topics: Antiviral Agents; Benzofurans; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Design; Flavones; Humans; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza, Human; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Docking Simulation; Molecular Structure; Structure-Activity Relationship

The rate of mutability of pathogenic H1N1 influenza virus is a threat. The emergence of drug resistance to the current competitive inhibitors of neuraminidase, such as oseltamivir and zanamivir, attributes to a need for an alternative approach. The design and synthesis of new analogues with alternate approach are particularly important to identify the potential neuraminidase inhibitors which may not only have better anti-influenza activity but also can withstand challenge of resistance. Five series of scaffolds, namely aurones (1a-1e), pyrimidine analogues (2a-2b), cinnamic acid analogues (3a-3k), chalcones (4a-4h) and cinnamic acid linkages (5a-5c), were designed based on virtual screening against pandemic H1N1 virus. Molecular modelling studies revealed that the designed analogues occupied 430-loop cavity of neuraminidase. Docking of sialic acid in the active site preoccupied with the docked analogues, i.e. in 430-loop cavity, resulted in displacement of sialic acid from its native pose in the catalytic cavity. The favourable analogues were synthesized and evaluated for the cytotoxicity and cytopathic effect inhibition by pandemic H1N1 virus. All the designed analogues resulting in displacement of sialic acid suggested alternate binding mechanism. Overall results indicated that aurones can be measured best among all as potential neuraminidase inhibitor against pandemic H1N1 virus.

Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Benzofurans; Binding Sites; Chalcones; Cinnamates; Dogs; Drug Development; Humans; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza, Human; Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; Models, Molecular; Molecular Structure; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; Neuraminidase; Pandemics; Pyrimidines; Structure-Activity Relationship

The spiro compound 5,6-dimethyl-3H,3'H-spiro(benzofuran-2,1'-isobenzofuran)-3,3'-dione (KR-23502) has antiviral activity against influenza A and more potently B viruses. The aim of this study is to elucidate its mechanism of action. Subcellular localization and time-course expression of influenza B viral proteins, nucleoprotein (NP) and matrix protein 1 (M1), showed that KR-23502 reduced their amounts within 5 h post-infection. Early steps of virus life cycle, including virus entry, nuclear localization of NP and viral RNA-dependent RNA replication, were not affected by KR-23502. Instead it interrupted a later event corresponding to nuclear export of NP and M1 proteins. Delivery of viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP)-M1 complex has been known to be mediated by the viral nuclear export protein (NEP) through interaction with cellular chromosomal maintenance 1 (CRM1) protein. In this study, we experimentally demonstrated that the compound targets the nuclear export of vRNP. Moreover, a single mutation (aspartate to glycine) at amino acid position 54 in M1 [M1(D54G)] was detected after 18 passages in the presence of KR-23502 with a 2-fold increase in 50% effective concentration indicating that this compound has a relatively high genetic barrier to resistance. Interestingly, it was observed that proteasome-mediated degradation of M1(D54G) was attenuated by KR-23502. In conclusion, we suggest that KR-23502 shows its anti-influenza activity by downregulating NEP/CRM1-mediated nuclear export of influenza vRNP and M1. KR-23502 provides a core chemical skeleton for further structure-based design of novel antivirals against influenza viruses.

Topics: Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; Antiviral Agents; Benzofurans; Cell Nucleus; Humans; Influenza B virus; Influenza, Human; Mutation; Ribonucleoproteins; RNA, Viral; Viral Matrix Proteins; Viral Proteins; Virus Replication