Innate immune pathway modulator screen identifies STING pathway activation as a strategy to inhibit multiple families of arbo and respiratory viruses.

RNA viruses continue to remain a threat for potential pandemics due to their rapid evolution. Potentiating host antiviral pathways to prevent or limit viral infections is a promising strategy. Thus, by testing a library of innate immune agonists targeting pathogen recognition receptors, we observe that Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), stimulator of interferon genes (STING), TLR8, and Dectin-1 ligands inhibit arboviruses, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), West Nile virus, and Zika virus to varying degrees. STING agonists (cAIMP, diABZI, and 2',3'-cGAMP) and Dectin-1 agonist scleroglucan demonstrate the most potent, broad-spectrum antiviral function. Furthermore, STING agonists inhibit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and enterovirus-D68 (EV-D68) infection in cardiomyocytes. Transcriptome analysis reveals that cAIMP treatment rescue cells from CHIKV-induced dysregulation of cell repair, immune, and metabolic pathways. In addition, cAIMP provides protection against CHIKV in a chronic CHIKV-arthritis mouse model. Our study describes innate immune signaling circuits crucial for RNA virus replication and identifies broad-spectrum antivirals effective against multiple families of pandemic potential RNA viruses.

Broad-spectrum antiviral inhibitors targeting pandemic potential RNA viruses.

RNA viruses continue to remain a clear and present threat for potential pandemics due to their rapid evolution. To mitigate their impact, we urgently require antiviral agents that can inhibit multiple families of disease-causing viruses, such as arthropod-borne and respiratory pathogens. Potentiating host antiviral pathways can prevent or limit viral infections before escalating into a major outbreak. Therefore, it is critical to identify broad-spectrum antiviral agents. We have tested a small library of innate immune agonists targeting pathogen recognition receptors, including TLRs, STING, NOD, Dectin and cytosolic DNA or RNA sensors. We observed that TLR3, STING, TLR8 and Dectin-1 ligands inhibited arboviruses, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), West Nile virus (WNV) and Zika virus, to varying degrees. Cyclic dinucleotide (CDN) STING agonists, such as cAIMP, diABZI, and 2',3'-cGAMP, and Dectin-1 agonist scleroglucan, demonstrated the most potent, broad-spectrum antiviral function. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that CHIKV-infected cells had larger number of differentially expressed genes than of WNV and ZIKV. Furthermore, gene expression analysis showed that cAIMP treatment rescued cells from CHIKV-induced dysregulation of cell repair, immune, and metabolic pathways. In addition, cAIMP provided protection against CHIKV in a CHIKV-arthritis mouse model. Cardioprotective effects of synthetic STING ligands against CHIKV, WNV, SARS-CoV-2 and enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infections were demonstrated using human cardiomyocytes. Interestingly, the direct-acting antiviral drug remdesivir, a nucleoside analogue, was not effective against CHIKV and WNV, but exhibited potent antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and EV-D68. Our study identifies broad-spectrum antivirals effective against multiple families of pandemic potential RNA viruses, which can be rapidly deployed to prevent or mitigate future pandemics.

Insecticidal activity of a novel fatty acid amide derivative from Streptomyces species against Helicoverpa armigera.

Helicoverpa armigera, an important pest causes serious damage to grain legumes. The main objective of this study was to isolate and identify the metabolite against H. armigera from a previously characterised Streptomyces sp. CAI-155. The culture filtrate of CAI-155 was extracted using Diaion HP-20 and the active fractions were fractionated on Silica and C18 column chromatography. The C18 active fraction was further fractionated on Silica gel 60 F254 thin layer chromatography (TLC). The most active fraction (Rf 0.64) purified from TLC led to the identification of a novel metabolite N-(1-(2,2-dimethyl-5-undecyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-2-hydroxyethyl)stearamide by spectral studies. The purified metabolite showed 70-78% mortality in 2nd instar H. armigera by diet impregnation assay, detached leaf assay and greenhouse assay. The LD50 and LD90 values of the purified metabolite were 627 and 2276 ppm, respectively. Hence, this novel metabolite can be exploited for pest management in future.

Role of phenolics as antioxidants, biomolecule protectors and as anti-diabetic factors--evaluation on bark and empty pods of Acacia auriculiformis

OBJECTIVE@#To search for an efficient and inexpensive source of phytoconstituents with antioxidant potential and health promoting traits from bark and empty pods of Acacia auriculiformis (A. auriculiformis).@*METHODS@#Samples of bark and empty pod extracts were analyzed for bioactives (phenolics, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins) and subjected to free radical scavenging activity on DPPH˙, ABTS˙+, OH˙, O(2)•- and NO along with the determination of reducing power, iron chelating activity and peroxidation inhibition. Defensive action of extracts on biomolecules and cell membranes were evaluated by DNA nicking assay and haemolysis inhibition assay respectively. α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory potentials were also determined.@*RESULTS@#All the bioactives analyzed were higher in bark (B) than empty pods (EP) [TPC: B (574.51±16.11); EP (96.80±3.45) mg GAE/g. TFC: B (94.71±7.65); EP (247.87±20.45) mg RE/g. Proanthocyanidins: B (2.81±0.31); EP (1.25±0.01) mg LE/100 g DM] except flavonoids. Both the extracts showed higher quenching capacity on DPPH and ABTS (DPPH: B (0.21±0.01); EP (1.51±0.17) g extract/g DPPH. ABTS: B (111 519.14±79 340.91); EP (80 232.55±32 894.12) mmol TE/g) with the FRAP of B (84 515.63±3 350.69) and EP (47 940.79±1 257.60) mmol Fe (II)/g. Iron chelation was not observed. In addition, they showed lower quenching activity on OH(˙) (B (48.95±1.72); EP (34.94±1.62)%) and equivalent quenching on O(2)•- (B (53.47±3.92); EP (24.41±2.61)%), NO (B (49.04±5.04); EP (51.00±5.13)%), peroxidation inhibition (B (67.50±5.50); EP (55.1±2.3)%) and antihaemolytic potential (B (87.60±6.84)%) towards authentic antioxidant standards. Interestingly, Empty pod extracts are devoid of antihaemolytic activity. Both the extracts showed dose dependent DNA protection. Besides this, bark and empty pod extracts exhibited dual inhibiting potential against α -amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes.@*CONCLUSIONS@#On summarization, it insinuated that both bark and empty pods can be used for the preparation of antioxidant/nutraceutical supplements and in anti-diabetic formulations.