Key result
Compound 17 potently inhibited Coxsackievirus B3 replication in vitro with an EC50 of 0.7 µM by targeting a novel, conserved interprotomer pocket in the viral capsid.
Why the study?
Rhino- and enteroviruses are important human pathogens against which no antivirals are available.
Effect estimate: EC50 0.7 µM
The identification of a novel druggable interprotomer pocket in entero- and rhinoviruses opens new avenues for designing broad-spectrum antivirals.
No immediate clinical impact; leaves open a conserved VP1-VP3 pocket for novel antiviral development.
Rhino- and enteroviruses are important human pathogens, against which no antivirals are available. The best-studied inhibitors are "capsid binders" that fit in a hydrophobic pocket of the viral capsid. Employing a new class of entero-/rhinovirus inhibitors and by means of cryo-electron microscopy (EM), followed by resistance selection and reverse genetics, we discovered a hitherto unknown druggable pocket that is formed by viral proteins VP1 and VP3 and that is conserved across entero-/rhinovirus species. We propose that these inhibitors stabilize a key region of the virion, thereby preventing the conformational expansion needed for viral RNA release. A medicinal chemistry effort resulted in the identification of analogues targeting this pocket with broad-spectrum activity against Coxsackieviruses B (CVBs) and compounds with activity against enteroviruses (EV) of groups C and D, and even rhinoviruses (RV). Our findings provide novel insights in the biology of the entry of entero-/rhinoviruses and open new avenues for the design of broad-spectrum antivirals against these pathogens.
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Abdelnabi et al. (2019) studied Rhino- and enterovirus infection. Compound 17 and analogues vs. Untreated control / inactive analogue was evaluated on 50% effective concentration (EC50) for inhibition of Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) replication (EC50 0.7 µM). Compound 17 potently inhibited Coxsackievirus B3 replication in vitro with an EC50 of 0.7 µM by targeting a novel, conserved interprotomer pocket in the viral capsid.
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