Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a group of viruses from the family Coronaviridae that can infect humans and animals, causing mild to severe diseases. The ongoing pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) represents a global threat, urging the development of new therapeutic strategies. Here we present a selection of relevant compounds that have been described from 2005 until now as having in vitro and/or in vivo antiviral activities against human and/or animal CoVs. We also present compounds that have reached clinical trials as well as further discussing the potentiality of other molecules for application in (re)emergent CoVs outbreaks. Finally, through rationalization of the data presented herein, we wish to encourage further research encompassing these compounds as potential SARS-CoV-2 drug candidates.
Highlights
Coronaviruses (CoVs) were first identified in 1960 (Kahn and McIntosh, 2005) and were classified as members of the family Coronaviridae
The dipeptides GC373 and GC376 were designed and synthesized as protease inhibitors of the 3CLpro enzyme (Kim et al, 2012). Their activity was assessed in vitro, and the results showed that GC373 inhibited HCoV-229E (EC50 of 0.2 μM), feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV, effective concentration of 50% (EC50) of 0.3 μM), mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) (EC50 of 2 μM), transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV, EC50 of 0.3 μM), and bovine coronavirus (BCV, EC50 of 0.7 μM) (Kim et al, 2012)
Most drugs discussed in this review presented adverse effects such as nausea, headache, diarrhea, urticaria, pathologies related to the gastrointestinal system, and interference with liver enzymes (Ruiz-Irastorza et al, 2010; Takano et al, 2013; Roques et al, 2018; Yao et al, 2020a)
Summary
Coronaviruses (CoVs) were first identified in 1960 (Kahn and McIntosh, 2005) and were classified as members of the family Coronaviridae. CoVs are enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses with a genome varying from 25 to 32 kb (Payne, 2017). The N protein, on the other hand, interacts with the viral RNA into the core of the virion (Figure 1; Fehr and Perlman, 2015). These viruses can infect vertebrate animals, causing acute to chronic diseases in the respiratory, cardiac, enteric, and central nervous systems, both in animals and humans (Weiss and NavasMartin, 2005). The CoVs HCoV-229E, HCoVNL63, HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-HKU1 cause mild symptoms, similar to a common cold (Payne, 2017). SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 can cause mild to severe symptoms
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call