Discovery of Potent SARS-CoV-2 Inhibitors from Approved Antiviral Drugs via Docking and Virtual Screening. 2021

Samir Chtita, and Assia Belhassan, and Adnane Aouidate, and Salah Belaidi, and Mohammed Bouachrine, and Tahar Lakhlifi
Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials, Faculty of sciences Ben M'Sik, Hassan II University of Casablanca, B.P. 7955 Sidi Othmane, Casablanca, Morocco.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to threaten patients, societies and healthcare systems around the world. There is an urgent need to search for possible medications. This article intends to use virtual screening and molecular docking methods to find potential inhibitors from existing drugs that can respond to COVID-19. To take part in the current research investigation and to define a potential target drug that may protect the world from the pandemic of corona disease, a virtual screening study of 129 approved drugs was carried out which showed that their metabolic characteristics, dosages used, potential efficacy and side effects are clear as they have been approved for treating existing infections. Especially 12 drugs against chronic hepatitis B virus, 37 against chronic hepatitis C virus, 37 against human immunodeficiency virus, 14 anti-herpesvirus, 11 anti-influenza, and 18 other drugs currently on the market were considered for this study. These drugs were then evaluated using virtual screening and molecular docking studies on the active site of the (SARS-CoV-2) main protease (6lu7). Once the efficacy of the drug is determined, it can be approved for its in vitro and in vivo activity against the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which can be beneficial for the rapid clinical treatment of patients. These drugs were considered potentially effective against SARS-CoV-2 and those with high molecular docking scores were proposed as novel candidates for repurposing. The N3 inhibitor cocrystallized with protease (6lu7) and the anti-HIV protease inhibitor Lopinavir were used as standards for comparison. The results suggest the effectiveness of Beclabuvir, Nilotinib, Tirilazad, Trametinib and Glecaprevir as potent drugs against SARS-CoV-2 since they tightly bind to its main protease. These promising drugs can inhibit the replication of the virus; hence, the repurposing of these compounds is suggested for the treatment of COVID-19. No toxicity measurements are required for these drugs since they were previously tested prior to their approval by the FDA. However, the assessment of these potential inhibitors as clinical drugs requires further in vivo tests of these drugs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009980 Influenza A virus The type species of the genus ALPHAINFLUENZAVIRUS that causes influenza and other diseases in humans and animals. Antigenic variation occurs frequently between strains, allowing classification into subtypes and variants. Transmission is usually by aerosol (human and most non-aquatic hosts) or waterborne (ducks). Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Alphainfluenzavirus influenzae,Avian Orthomyxovirus Type A,FLUAV,Fowl Plague Virus,Human Influenza A Virus,Influenza Virus Type A,Influenza Viruses Type A,Myxovirus influenzae-A hominis,Myxovirus influenzae-A suis,Myxovirus pestis galli,Orthomyxovirus Type A,Orthomyxovirus Type A, Avian,Orthomyxovirus Type A, Human,Orthomyxovirus Type A, Porcine,Pestis galli Myxovirus,Fowl Plague Viruses,Influenza A viruses,Myxovirus influenzae A hominis,Myxovirus influenzae A suis,Myxovirus, Pestis galli,Myxoviruses, Pestis galli,Pestis galli Myxoviruses,Plague Virus, Fowl,Virus, Fowl Plague
D011728 Pyridones Pyridine derivatives with one or more keto groups on the ring. Pyridinones
D011744 Pyrimidinones Heterocyclic compounds known as 2-pyrimidones (or 2-hydroxypyrimidines) and 4-pyrimidones (or 4-hydroxypyrimidines) with the general formula C4H4N2O. Pyrimidinone,Pyrimidone,Pyrimidones
D004353 Drug Evaluation, Preclinical Preclinical testing of drugs in experimental animals or in vitro for their biological and toxic effects and potential clinical applications. Drug Screening,Evaluation Studies, Drug, Pre-Clinical,Drug Evaluation Studies, Preclinical,Drug Evaluations, Preclinical,Evaluation Studies, Drug, Preclinical,Evaluation, Preclinical Drug,Evaluations, Preclinical Drug,Medicinal Plants Testing, Preclinical,Preclinical Drug Evaluation,Preclinical Drug Evaluations,Drug Screenings,Screening, Drug,Screenings, Drug
D000086402 SARS-CoV-2 A species of BETACORONAVIRUS causing atypical respiratory disease (COVID-19) in humans. The organism was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China. The natural host is the Chinese intermediate horseshoe bat, RHINOLOPHUS affinis. 2019 Novel Coronavirus,COVID-19 Virus,COVID19 Virus,Coronavirus Disease 2019 Virus,SARS Coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2 Virus,Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2,Wuhan Coronavirus,Wuhan Seafood Market Pneumonia Virus,2019-nCoV,2019 Novel Coronaviruses,COVID 19 Virus,COVID-19 Viruses,COVID19 Viruses,Coronavirus 2, SARS,Coronavirus, 2019 Novel,Coronavirus, Wuhan,Novel Coronavirus, 2019,SARS CoV 2 Virus,SARS-CoV-2 Viruses,Virus, COVID-19,Virus, COVID19,Virus, SARS-CoV-2,Viruses, COVID19
D000086782 Coronavirus 3C Proteases 3C proteases that occur in species of CORONAVIRIDAE. 3C Proteases, Coronavirus,3C-Like Proteinase, Coronavirus,Chymotrypsin-Like Main Protease, Coronavirus,Coronavirus 3C Proteinases,Coronavirus 3CLpro Proteases,Coronavirus 3CLpro Proteinase,M(pro) Protein, Coronavirus,Main Proteinase, Coronavirus,Mpro Protein, Coronavirus,3C Like Proteinase, Coronavirus,3C Proteinases, Coronavirus,3CLpro Proteases, Coronavirus,3CLpro Proteinase, Coronavirus,Chymotrypsin Like Main Protease, Coronavirus,Coronavirus 3C-Like Proteinase,Coronavirus Main Proteinase,Coronavirus Mpro Protein,Proteinase, Coronavirus 3CLpro,Proteinases, Coronavirus 3C
D000998 Antiviral Agents Agents used in the prophylaxis or therapy of VIRUS DISEASES. Some of the ways they may act include preventing viral replication by inhibiting viral DNA polymerase; binding to specific cell-surface receptors and inhibiting viral penetration or uncoating; inhibiting viral protein synthesis; or blocking late stages of virus assembly. Antiviral,Antiviral Agent,Antiviral Drug,Antivirals,Antiviral Drugs,Agent, Antiviral,Agents, Antiviral,Drug, Antiviral,Drugs, Antiviral
D001665 Binding Sites The parts of a macromolecule that directly participate in its specific combination with another molecule. Combining Site,Binding Site,Combining Sites,Site, Binding,Site, Combining,Sites, Binding,Sites, Combining
D016174 Hepacivirus A genus of FLAVIVIRIDAE causing parenterally-transmitted HEPATITIS C which is associated with transfusions and drug abuse. Hepatitis C virus is the type species. Hepatitis C virus,Hepatitis C-Like Viruses,Hepaciviruses,Hepatitis C Like Viruses,Hepatitis C viruses,Hepatitis C-Like Virus
D058492 Drug Repositioning The deliberate and methodical practice of finding new applications for existing drugs. Drug Repurposing,Drug Rescue,Repositioning, Drug,Repurposing, Drug,Rescue, Drug

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