Molecular tweezers - a new class of potent broad-spectrum antivirals against enveloped viruses.
My-Hue LeEstelle S Taghuo KThomas SchraderPublished in: Chemical communications (Cambridge, England) (2022)
A new supramolecular approach to broad spectrum antivirals utilizes host guest chemistry between molecular tweezers and lysine/arginine as well as choline. Basic amino acids in amyloid-forming SEVI peptides (semen-derived enhancers of viral infection) are included inside the tweezer cavity leading to disaggregation and neutralization of the fibrils, which lose their ability to enhance HIV-1/HIV-2 infection. Lipid head groups contain the trimethylammonium cation of choline; this is likewise bound by molecular tweezers, which dock onto viral membranes and thus greatly enhance their surface tension. Disruption of the envelope in turn leads to total loss of infectiosity (ZIKA, Ebola, Influenza). This complexation event also seems to be the structural basis for an effective inihibition of cell-to-cell spread in Herpes viruses. The article describes the discovery of novel molecular recognition motifs and the development of powerful antiviral agents based on these host guest systems. It explains the general underlying mechanisms of antiviral action and points to future optimization and application as therapeutic agents.
Keyphrases
- amino acid
- single cell
- antiretroviral therapy
- structural basis
- cell therapy
- single molecule
- sars cov
- nitric oxide
- hiv infected
- human immunodeficiency virus
- small molecule
- stem cells
- water soluble
- high throughput
- zika virus
- men who have sex with men
- dengue virus
- hiv testing
- mesenchymal stem cells
- living cells
- fluorescent probe
- current status
- optical coherence tomography
- bone marrow
- anti inflammatory