Correction: Udosen et al. Meta-Analysis and Multivariate GWAS Analyses in 80,950 Individuals of African Ancestry Identify Novel Variants Associated with Blood Pressure Traits. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 2164.

In the original publication [...].

In Silico Comparison of Bioactive Compounds Characterized from Azadirachta indica with an FDA-Approved Drug against Schistosomal Agents: New Insight into Schistosomiasis Treatment.

The burden of human schistosomiasis, a known but neglected tropical disease in Sub-Saharan Africa, has been worrisome in recent years. It is becoming increasingly difficult to tackle schistosomiasis with praziquantel, a drug known to be effective against all Schistosoma species, due to reports of reduced efficacy and resistance. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the antischistosomal potential of phytochemicals from Azadirachta indica against proteins that have been implicated as druggable targets for the treatment of schistosomiasis using computational techniques. In this study, sixty-three (63) previously isolated and characterized phytochemicals from A. indica were identified from the literature and retrieved from the PubChem database. In silico screening was conducted to assess the inhibitory potential of these phytochemicals against three receptors (Schistosoma mansoni Thioredoxin glutathione reductase, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, and Arginase) that may serve as therapeutic targets for schistosomiasis treatment. Molecular docking, ADMET prediction, ligand interaction, MMGBSA, and molecular dynamics simulation of the hit compounds were conducted using the Schrodinger molecular drug discovery suite. The results show that Andrographolide possesses a satisfactory pharmacokinetic profile, does not violate the Lipinski rule of five, binds with favourable affinity with the receptors, and interacts with key amino acids at the active site. Importantly, its interaction with dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, an enzyme responsible for the catalysis of the de novo pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthetic pathway rate-limiting step, shows a glide score and MMGBSA of -10.19 and -45.75 Kcal/mol, respectively. In addition, the MD simulation shows its stability at the active site of the receptor. Overall, this study revealed that Andrographolide from Azadirachta indica could serve as a potential lead compound for the development of an anti-schistosomal drug.

Benzimidazole compound abrogates SARS-COV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD)/ACE2 interaction In vitro.

The development of clinically actionable pharmaceuticals against coronavirus disease (COVID-19); an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is very important for ending the pandemic. Coronavirus spike glycoprotein (GP)-Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) and its interaction with host receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is one of the most structurally understood but therapeutically untapped aspect of COVID-19 pathogenesis. Binding interface based on previous x-ray structure of RBD/ACE2 were virtually screened to identify fragments with high-binding score from 12,000 chemical building blocks. The hit compound was subjected to fingerprint-based similarity search to identify compounds within the FDA-approved drug library containing the same core scaffold. Identified compounds were then re-docked into of RBD/ACE2. The best ranked compound was validated for RBD/ACE2 inhibition using commercial kit. Molecular dynamics simulation was conducted to provide further insight into the mechanism of inhibition. From the original 12000 chemical building blocks, benzimidazole (BAZ) scaffold was identified. Fingerprint-based similarity search of the FDA-approved drug library for BAZ-containing compounds identified 12 drugs with the benzimidazole-like substructure. When these compounds were re-docked into GP/ACE2 interface, the consensus docking identified bazedoxifene as the hit. In vitro RBD/ACE2 inhibition kinetics showed micromolar IC50 value (1.237 µM) in the presence of bazedoxifene. Molecular dynamics simulation of RBD/ACE2 in the presence BAZ resulted in loss of contact and specific hydrogen-bond interaction required for RBD/ACE2 stability. Taken together, these findings identified benzimidazole scaffold as a building block for developing novel RBD/ACE2 complex inhibitor and provided mechanistic basis for the use of bazedoxifene as a repurposable drug for the treatment of COVID-19 acting at RBD/ACE2 interface.

Meta-Analysis and Multivariate GWAS Analyses in 77,850 Individuals of African Ancestry Identify Novel Variants Associated with Blood Pressure Traits.

High blood pressure (HBP) has been implicated as a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in several populations, including individuals of African ancestry. Despite the elevated burden of HBP-induced cardiovascular diseases in Africa and other populations of African descent, limited genetic studies have been carried out to explore the genetic mechanism driving this phenomenon. We performed genome-wide association univariate and multivariate analyses of both systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) traits in 77, 850 individuals of African ancestry. We used summary statistics data from six independent cohorts, including the African Partnership for Chronic Disease Research (APCDR), the UK Biobank, and the Million Veteran Program (MVP). FUMA was used to annotate, prioritize, visualize, and interpret our findings to gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the genetics of BP traits. Finally, we undertook a Bayesian fine-mapping analysis to identify potential causal variants. Our meta-analysis identified 10 independent variants associated with SBP and 9 with DBP traits. Whilst our multivariate GWAS method identified 21 independent signals, 18 of these SNPs have been previously identified. SBP was linked to gene sets involved in biological processes such as synapse assembly and cell-cell adhesion via plasma membrane adhesion. Of the 19 independent SNPs identified in the BP meta-analysis, only 11 variants had posterior probability (PP) of > 50%, including one novel variant: rs562545 (MOBP, PP = 77%). To facilitate further research and fine-mapping of high-risk loci/variants in highly susceptible groups for cardiovascular disease and other related traits, large-scale genomic datasets are needed. Our findings highlight the importance of including ancestrally diverse populations in large GWASs and the need for diversity in genetic research.

Ameliorative effect of flavonoid-rich extracts from Gongronema latifolium against diabetic cardiomyopathy via serpin A3 and socs3-a in streptozocin treated rats.

INTRODUCTION: The present study access the effect of the flavonoid-rich extract from Gongronema latifolium against cardiomyopathy streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The flavonoid-rich extract from G. latifolium leaf (FREGL) was prepared using a standard method. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin. The experimental animals were divided into five groups as non-diabetic rats, diabetic control, diabetic rats administered low and high doses of FREGL (13 and 26 mg/kg), and metformin-glibenclamide orally for 21 days. Hence, the experimental animals were sacrificed; blood and heart were harvested to determine diverse biochemical parameters, including the gene expressions of serpin A3 and socs3-a as well as histological examination. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that FREGL significantly (p < 0.05) reduced fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), lipid peroxidation levels, as well as the activities of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase-MB, including the relative gene expressions of serpin A3 and Socs3-A in diabetic rats. Also, diabetic rats that received different doses of FREGL showed a substantial rise in insulin and high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as, normal histoarchitecture of the heart tissues. CONCLUSION: Therefore, FREGL may be beneficial in alleviating diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Hepatoprotective potential of flavonoid-rich extracts from Gongronema latifolium benth leaf in type 2 diabetic rats via fetuin-A and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the hepatoprotective potential of flavonoid-rich extracts from Gongronema latifolium Benth on diabetes-induced type 2 rats via Fetuin-A and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TnF-α). METHODS: In a standard procedure, the flavonoid-rich extract was prepared. For experimental rats, streptozotocin was injected intraperitoneally (45 mg/kg body weight) to induce diabetes mellitus. Following this, rats were given 5% of glucose water for 24 h. Hence, the animals were randomly divided into five groups of ten rats each, consisting of non-diabetic rats, diabetic controls, diabetic rats treated with low and high doses of flavonoid rich-extracts from Gongronema latifolium leaf (FREGL) (13 and 26 mg/kg, respectively), and diabetic rats treated with 200 mg/kg of metformin glibenclamide orally for 3 weeks. Afterwards, the animals were sacrificed, blood and liver were harvested to evaluate different biochemical parameters, hepatic gene expressions and histological examinations. RESULTS: The results revealed that FREGL (especially at the low dose) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphate (ALP) activities, lipid peroxidation level, as well as relative gene expressions of fetuin-A and TNF-α in diabetic rats. Furthermore, diabetic rats given various doses of FREGL showed an increase in antioxidant enzymes and hexokinase activity, as well as glucose transporters (GLUT 2 and GLUT 4), and glycogen levels. In addition, histoarchitecture of the liver of diabetic rats administered FREGL (especially at the low dose) was also ameliorated. CONCLUSION: Hence, FREGL (particularly at a low dose) may play a substantial role in mitigating the hepatopathy complication associated with diabetes mellitus.

Inhibition of human androgen receptor by delta 9-tetrahydro-cannabinol and cannabidiol related to reproductive dysfunction: A computational study.

There have been conflicting reports on the impact of Cannabis sativa impact on reproductive function. Hence this study was aimed to ascertain the impact of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) binding affinity on human androgen receptor (AR) via computational molecular dynamic simulation. The human AR coordinate in this study is derived from human AR in complex with the ligand metribolone (R18) (PBD ID: 1E3G) template using (MODELER version. 9.15). CBD (PubChem CID: 644019), and THC (PubChem CID: 16078) 2D structures were retrieved from PubChem and docked (Autodock-Vina inbuilt in PyMol into the active site of human AR using the coordinates of the co-crystalized ligand (R18). All atomic representations in this study were created using visual molecular dynamics (VMD) tools. The result revealed that neither CBD nor THC bear significant 2D similarity with R18. Despite the diversity within the chemical space, both CBD and THC poses bond flexibility required to bind avidly to AR with the docking scores comparable to R18. In fully bound state, the three compounds engage the AR pocket hydrophobic residues such as L701, L704, and L707, and aromatic residues such as F764. Polar contacts with T877 observed in R18 bound state is avoided in the THC and CBD bound states. Moreso, the results revealed that CBD has lesser binding energy compared to THC and R18 compound which serves as standard. This study hypothesized that CBD and THC binds complimentarily to the pocket AR, indicating a likely inhibition of reproductive function and prostate cancer progression.

Ethnomedicine, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of Uvaria chamae P. Beauv.: A comprehensive review.

The use of medicinal plants as food and medicine has been a common practice in the world, especially in tropical African countries. One such plant in West Africa is Uvaria chamae, also known as Bush banana, renowned for its diverse ethnomedicinal applications and, more recently, for its pharmacological activities attributed to a rich array of phytochemical constituents. Various parts of the plant have been traditionally employed for the treatment of diverse health issues such as digestive disorders, fever, dysmenorrhea, cancer, wound healing, and many more. To unravel the bioactive compounds responsible for these medicinal properties, a comprehensive phytochemical analysis has been undertaken. Notable isolates include chamanetin, dichamanetin, uvaretin, and uvarinol from different parts of the plant. The pharmacological evaluation of these compounds has revealed significant anticancer and antimicrobial properties. Therefore, this review provides a thorough examination of the phytochemicals derived from Uvaria chamae, detailing their associated pharmacological activities both in vitro and in vivo. The review emphasizes the potential of Uvaria chamae as a valuable source of lead compounds for cancer chemotherapy and antimicrobial drug discovery.

Potential Role of Phytochemicals as Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Receptor (GLP-1R) Agonists in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus.

Currently, there is no known cure for diabetes. Different pharmaceutical therapies have been approved for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), some are in clinical trials and they have been classified according to their route or mechanism of action. Insulin types, sulfonylureas, biguanides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, meglitinides, sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors, and incretin-dependent therapies (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: GLP-1R, and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors: DPP-4). Although some of the currently available drugs are effective in the management of T2DM, the side effects resulting from prolonged use of these drugs remain a serious challenge. GLP-1R agonists are currently the preferred medications to include when oral metformin alone is insufficient to manage T2DM. Medicinal plants now play prominent roles in the management of various diseases globally because they are readily available and affordable as well as having limited and transient side effects. Recently, studies have reported the ability of phytochemicals to activate glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), acting as an agonist just like the GLP-1R agonist with beneficial effects in the management of T2DM. Consequently, we propose that careful exploration of phytochemicals for the development of novel therapeutic candidates as GLP-1R agonists will be a welcome breakthrough in the management of T2DM and the co-morbidities associated with T2DM.

Therapeutic potential of virgin coconut oil in mitigating sodium benzoate- model of male infertility: Role of Nrf2/Hmox-1/NF-kB signaling pathway.

Objectives: Male infertility is a major public health issue due to increased prevalence, so there is an urgent need for a therapeutic solution. The search for a natural dietary substance that could modulate redox balance and inflammation and protect testicular function is in demand. Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) has found use in the treatment of diabetes, and cancer owing to the presence of polyphenols. However, there is a dearth of information on its effect on testicular toxicity. The present study investigated VCO as a possible treatment for testicular toxicity in the Sodium Benzoate (SB) model of male infertility by evaluating the oxidative and inflammatory status, circulating hormonal levels, and key sperm indices. Materials and Methods: Twenty adult male rats were randomly assigned to four groups of 5 rats each and were treated with normal saline, sodium benzoate, sodium benzoate+5% VCO, and sodium benzoate+15% VCO for 30 days respectively. Biochemical analysis of reproductive hormones was assessed. Sperm parameters assessed include sperm function tests and sperm kinematics. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc Tukey tests was performed. Results: 5% VCO reverts the deranged serum reproductive hormones caused by sodium benzoate. 5% VCO was more potent as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory treatment than 15% VCO. However, both doses prevented SB's effect on the sperm function test and kinematics. Conclusion: VCO-supplemented diet can ameliorate SB-induced testicular toxicity by inhibiting its mechanisms of toxicity that are related to oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation.

Anacardium occidentale leaves extract and riboceine mitigate hyperglycemia through anti-oxidative effects and modulation of some selected genes associated with diabetes.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the leading causes of death globally and complications of DM have become a major health concern. Anacardium occidentale is a plant widely recognized for its hypoglycemic properties and traditionally used in developing nations as remedy for DM treatment. Riboceine is a supplement that enhances production of glutathione and known for its vital role in supporting cellular function. This study was designed to evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of riboceine and ethanolic extract of A. occidentale leaves in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Method: Twenty-nine adult male Wistar rats were induced with DM intraperitoneally using a single dose of STZ (70 mg/kg). The STZ-induced rats were divided into groups and administered the same dose (100 mg/kg) of A. occidentale leaves extract and riboceine via gastric gavage at the dose (100 mg/kg) for seventeen days while metformin (40 mg/kg) was used as positive control. Fasting blood glucose and weight of the model rats were examined periodically. Activities of total protein, creatinine, urea, antioxidants (SOD, GSH and GPX), and level of serum insulin were determined. Expression of diabetes related genes including pancreas (Insulin, pdx-1, P16NK4A, and Mki-67), Liver (FAS, ACC, and GFAT) and KIM-1 genes were also determined. Results: Data showed that treatment of STZ-induced diabetic rats with A. occidentale and riboceine at the same dose significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated hyperglycemic effects by improving hepatic and renal functions and antioxidants, preventing hepatic fat accumulation by downregulation of ACC, FAS and GFAT expression, improving ß-cell functions through up-regulation of pancreatic insulin, P16NK4A, Mki-67 and pdx-1 expression. Induction of diabetes upregulated mRNA expression of KIM-1, which was ameliorated after treatment of the rats with A. occidentale and riboceine. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study demonstrate significant antidiabetic properties of ethanolic extract of A. occidentale and riboceine.

QSAR-based virtual screening of traditional Chinese medicine for the identification of mitotic kinesin Eg5 inhibitors.

Cell division is a crucial process for the growth and development of all living organisms. Unfortunately, uncontrolled cell division and growth is a hallmark of cancer, leading to the formation of tumors. The Human Eg5 protein, also known as the mitotic kinesin Eg5, plays a vital role in the regulation of cell division and its dysfunction has been linked to cancer development. This study aimed to identify new inhibitors of the Human Eg5 protein. Over 2000 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) compounds were screened through a combination of virtual and structure-based screening methods. The top five compounds (Compounds 1-5) showed improved binding affinity to Human Eg5 compared to the standard drug Monastrol, as demonstrated by docking and MMGBSA scores, as well as interactions with key amino acids GLY 116 and GLY 118. The potential absorption and bioactivity of these compounds were also predicted through ADMET properties and a QSAR model, respectively, and showed improved results compared to the standard. Further quantum mechanics docking confirmed the better binding affinity of the lead compound, Compound 1. Our findings highlight Compound 1-5 as promising hits for inhibiting Human Eg5 and the need for experimental validation of their potential in treating cancer.

Identification of apposite antagonist for androgen receptor in prostate cancer: an in silico study of fenugreek compounds.

Benign Prostate Cancer (BPC), a prevalent condition predominantly affecting elderly males, manifests with voiding difficulties and urinary retention. A library of compounds from Trigonella foenum-graecum, commonly known as fenugreek was used in this study. We aimed to explore its potential anti-cancer effects by computationally assessing its inhibitory activity on the androgen receptor (AR). For in-silico drug assessment, we employed Maestro 12.8, part of the Schrödinger Suite, to identify the most promising candidates acting as androgen receptor antagonists in the treatment of BPC. Subsequently, 59 fenugreek compounds were retrieved from the PubChem database and subjected to molecular docking against the active site of the target protein, 1E3G. 100-nanosecond molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to assess the stability and compactness of the AR-ligand complexes. Notably, the AR-kaempferol complex exhibited the least fluctuation within the AR active site throughout the simulation trajectory, followed by chlorogenic acid and the reference ligand, hydroxyflutamide. The MM/GBSA values revealed the compounds' maximum free binding energy (-103.3 ± 6, -87.4 ± 23, -68.5 ΔGbind) for chlorogenic acid, kaempferol, and hydroxyflutamide, respectively. These findings suggest their potential as promising leads for drug development. Further lead optimization and comprehensive studies on the top-ranked ligands identified in this investigation are warranted to advance their potential as therapeutic agents for BPC treatment.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Synergistic Action of Virgin Coconut Oil and Clomiphene in Reversing Endocrine Dysregulation in Letrozole-Model of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Rats: Role of Nrf2/HMOX-1 Pathway.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder in women's reproductive age. Currently, the pathophysiology of PCOS is unclear, and the limited treatment options are unsatisfactory. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is functional food oil associated with pharmacological effects in reproductive disorders. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether VCO could enhance clomiphene (CLO) therapy against PCOS in female rats. Rats were randomly divided: (1) Control, (2) PCOS model, (3) PCOS + CLO, (4) PCOS + VCO, and (5) PCOS + CLO + VCO. The PCOS was induced via daily letrozole (1 mg/kg, orally) administration for 21 days. After the PCOS induction, CLO, VCO, and CLO + VCO were administered from days 22 to 36. Serum levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin were estimated. Polymerase chain reaction gene expression for nuclear factor-erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GSR), LH receptor (LHr), androgen receptor (AR), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and caspase-3 were analyzed. The letrozole-induced PCOS caused considerable increases in GnRH, LH, prolactin, estrogen, and testosterone, whereas FSH decreased significantly compared to the control. The gene expression of Nrf2, HO-1, CAT, and GSR were markedly diminished, while IL-1ß, TNF-α, caspase-3, AR, and LHr prominently increased compared to control. Interestingly, the CLO and VCO separately exerted anti-inflammatory and endocrine balance effects. However, VCO-enhanced CLO effect in LH, prolactin and testosterone, Nrf2, HO-1, CAT, GSR, and AR. VCO may synergize with CLO to depress hyperandrogenism and oxidative inflammation in PCOS.

Discovery of new promising USP14 inhibitors: computational evaluation of the thumb-palm pocket.

Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14) is a member of the deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) involved in disrupting the ubiquitin-proteasome regulation system, responsible for the degradation of impaired and misfolded proteins, which is an essential mechanism in eukaryotic cells. The involvement of USP14 in cancer progression and neurodegenerative disorders has been reported. Thereof USP14 is a prime therapeutic target; hence, designing efficacious inhibitors against USP14 is central in curbing these conditions. Herein, we relied on structural bioinformatics methods incorporating molecular docking, molecular mechanics generalized born surface area (MM-GBSA), molecular dynamics simulation (MD simulation), and ADME to identify potential allosteric USP14 inhibitors. A library of over 733 compounds from the PubChem repository with >90% match to the IU1 chemical structure was screened in a multi-step framework to attain prospective drug-like inhibitors. Two potential lead compounds (CID 43013232 and CID 112370349) were shown to record better binding affinity compared to IU1, but with subtle difference to IU1-47, a 10-fold potent compound when compared to IU1. The stability of the lead molecules complexed with USP14 was studied via MD simulation. The molecules were found to be stable within the binding site throughout the 50 ns simulation time. Moreover, the protein-ligand interactions across the simulation run time suggest Phe331, Tyr476, and Gln197 as crucial residues for USP14 inhibition. Furthermore, in-silico pharmacological evaluation revealed the lead compounds as pharmacological sound molecules. Overall, the methods deployed in this study revealed two novel candidates that may show selective inhibitory activity against USP14, which could be exploited to produce potent and harmless USP14 inhibitors.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike glycoprotein receptor binding domain exhibits super-binder ability with ACE2 but not convalescent monoclonal antibody.

SARS-CoV-2, the causative virus for COVID-19 has now super-mutated into the Omicron (Om) variant. On its spike (S) glycoprotein alone, more than 30 substitutions have been characterized with 15 within the receptor binding domain (RBD); It therefore calls to question the transmissibility and antibody escapability of Omicron. This study was setup to investigate the Omicron RBD's interaction with ACE2 (host receptor) and a SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb). In-silico mutagenesis was used to generate the Om-RBD in complex with ACE2 or mAb from the wildtype. HDOCK server was used to redock and score the mAbs in Om-RBD bound state relative to the wildtype. Stability of interaction between all complexes were investigated using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD). Analyses of trajectories showed that Om-RBD has evolved into an efficient ACE2 binder, via pi-pi (Om-RBD-Y501/ACE2-Y41) and salt-bridge (Om-RBD-K493/ACE2-Y41) interactions. Conversely, in binding mAb, it has become less efficient (Center of mass distance of RBD from mAb complex, wildtype ≈ 30 Å, Omicron ≈ 41 Å). Disruption of Om-RBD/mAb complex resulted from loose interaction between Om-RBD and the light chain complementarity-determining region residues. Omicron is expected to be better transmissible and less efficiently interacting with neutralizing convalescent mAbs with consequences on transmissibility provided other mutations within the S protein similarly promote cell fusion and viral entry.

Identification of novel chemical compounds targeting filovirus VP40-mediated particle production.

The central role of Ebola virus (EBOV) VP40 in nascent virion assembly and budding from infected host cells makes it an important therapeutic target. The mechanism of dimerization, following oligomerization of VP40 leading to the production of virus-like particles (VLP) has never been investigated for the development of therapeutic candidates against Ebola disease. Molecular dynamics-based computational screening targeted VP40 dimer with 40,000,000 compounds selected 374 compounds. A novel in vitro screening assay selected two compounds, NUSU#1 and NUSU#2. Conventional VLP assays consistently showed that both compounds inhibited EBOV VP40-mediated VLP production. Intriguingly, NUSU#1 inhibited the VP40-mediated VLP production in other ebolavirus species and the Marburg virus, but did not inhibit Lassa virus Z-mediated VLP production. These results strongly suggested that the selected compounds are potential lead drug candidates against Filovirus disease via disruption of VP40-mediated particle production.

In-silico analysis reveals druggable single nucleotide polymorphisms in angiotensin 1 converting enzyme involved in the onset of blood pressure.

OBJECTIVE: The Angiotensin 1 converting enzyme (ACE1) gene plays a critical role in regulating blood pressure and thus, it has become a major therapeutic target of antihypertensives. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) occurring within a gene most especially at the functional segment of the genes alter the structure-function relationship of that gene. RESULTS: Our study revealed that five nsSNPs of the ACE1 gene were found to be potentially deleterious and damaging and they include rs2229839, rs14507892, rs12709442, and rs4977 at point mutations P351R, R953Q, I1018T, F1051V, and T1187M. The protein stability predictive tools revealed that all the nsSNPs decreased stability of the protein and the Consurf server which estimates the evolutionary conservation profile of a protein showed that three mutants were in the highly conserved region. In conclusion, this study predicted potential druggable deleterious mutants that can be further explored to understand the pathological basis of cardiovascular disease.

Epstein-Barr virus, human papillomavirus and herpes simplex virus 2 co-presence severely dysregulates miRNA expression.

This cross-sectional study evaluated the expression of miR-let-7b, miR-21, miR-125b, miR-143, miR-145, miR-155, miR-182, miR-200c, p53 gene, Ki67, SCCA1 and CD4+ T-cell counts among 319 women, to Epstein-Barr virus, human papillomavirus and herpes simplex virus 2 mono-infections and co-infections, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction methods. This study suggests that malignancies associated with viral co-infection could be diagnosed early by monitoring cluster of differentiation 4+ T-cell counts and serum expression of miR-145 and miR-182.

Kolaflavanone, a biflavonoid derived from medicinal plant Garcinia, is an inhibitor of mitotic kinesin Eg5.

Mitotic kinesin Eg5 remains a validated target in antimitotic therapy because of its essential role in the formation and maintenance of bipolar mitotic spindles. Although numerous Eg5 inhibitors of synthetic origin are known, only a few inhibitors derived from natural products have been reported. In our study, we focused on identifying novel Eg5 inhibitors from medicinal plants, particularly Garcinia species. Herein, we report the inhibitory effect of kolaflavanone (KLF), a Garcinia biflavonoid, on the ATPase and microtubule-gliding activities of mitotic kinesin Eg5. Additionally, we showed the interaction mechanism between Eg5 and KLF via in vitro and in silico analyses. The results revealed that KLF inhibited both the basal and microtubule-activated ATPase activities of Eg5. The inhibitory mechanism is allosteric, without a direct competition with adenosine-5'-diphosphate for the nucleotide-binding site. KLF also suppressed the microtubule gliding of Eg5 in vitro. The Eg5-KLF model obtained from molecular docking showed that the biflavonoid exists within the α2/α3/L5 (α2: Lys111-Glu116 and Ile135-Asp149, α3: Asn206-Thr226; L5: Gly117-Gly134) pocket, with a binding pose comparable to known Eg5 inhibitors. Overall, our data suggest that KLF is a novel allosteric inhibitor of mitotic kinesin Eg5.