Antirhinovirus Agents Research Articles

αGal-conjugated anti-rhinovirus agents: chemo-enzymatic syntheses and testing of anti-Gal binding

The syntheses of αGal-conjugated anti-rhinovirus agents 1, 2 and 3 and their abilities to inhibit αGal binding of human anti-Gal antibody are described. An efficient enzymatic glycosylation using a novel fusion protein serves to provide the key αGal intermediate 7, which is elaborated to αGal amines 9, 12 and 14 with various tethers. The conjugates are then formed by amide coupling of these amines to heterocyclic acid 18 in the presence of 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI), followed by deprotection of the αGal part. Conjugate 3 having a triethylene glycol linker displays the highest binding affinity to human anti-Gal antibody as tested by ELISA.

Anti-rhinovirus activity of 3-methylthio-5-aryl-4-isothiazolecarbonitrile derivatives

A series of 3-methylthio-5-aryl-4-isothiazolecarbonitriles has been evaluated as anti rhinovirus agents against a panel of 17 representative human rhinovirus (HRV) serotypes, belonging to both A and B groups. No anti rhinovirus activity was detected for 3-methylthio-5-phenyl-4-isothiazolecarbonitrile ( IS-2). Isothiazole derivatives with bulky substituents (O-Bn or O-But groups) on the para position of the phenyl ring were the most effective compounds of this series. In fact, a reduction in virus-induced cytopathogenicity was demonstrated for the O-Bn substituted IS-50 compound against the majority (88%) of the rhinoviruses tested, whereas the compound with an O-Ts group ( IS-44) was found to be a specific inhibitor of group B serotypes, exhibiting the lowest IC 50 against HRVs type 2, 85 and 89. Our studies on the mechanism of action of IS-44 demonstrated that it prevents the thermal inactivation of HRV 2 infectivity, probably due to a conformational shift in the viral capsid and a decrease in affinity for the cellular receptor, resulting in an inhibition of attachment of the virions.

2-Amino-3-substituted-6-[(E)-1-phenyl-2-(N-methylcarbamoyl)vinyl]imid azo[1,2-a]pyridines as a novel class of inhibitors of human rhinovirus: stereospecific synthesis and antiviral activity.

A series of 2-amino-3-substituted-6-[(E)-1-phenyl-2-(N-methylcarbamoyl)vinyl]+ ++imid azo[1,2-a]pyridines 1a-i, structurally related to Enviroxime and its analogous benzimidazoles, was designed and prepared for testing as antirhinovirus agents. The imidazo ring in this class of compounds was constructed starting from the aminopyridine after tosylation and subsequent treatment with the appropriate acetamides. The key steps in the synthesis include the development and use of a new Horner-Emmons reagent for the direct incorporation of methyl vinylcarboxamide. The reaction was stereospecific in the substrates 5a-f leading exclusively to the desired E-isomer and avoiding the use of reverse-phase preparative HPLC for the separation of both possible isomers before antiviral activity evaluation. The isopropylsulfonyl group, known as the best substituent at the 1-position in the benzimidazole SAR in terms of activity, was introduced in this new series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via halogen-metal exchange and subsequent treatment with isopropyl isopropanethiolsulfonate. Compounds 1a-i were evaluated in plaque reduction assay and in a cytopathic effect assay. Compounds 1b-d,h exhibited a strong antirhinovirus activity, and no apparent cellular toxicity was visible. The substitution at the 3-position was required for activity. Surprisingly the isopropylsulfonyl in this family of compounds did not enhance the activity as in the case of benzimidazoles. Instead, compound 1i was 4 times less active than its phenyl and sulfide partners. The chemistry as well as the biological evaluation are discussed.

Dual inhibition of human rhinovirus 2A and 3C proteases by homophthalimides.

The 2A and 3C proteases encoded by human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are attractive targets for antiviral drug development due to their important roles in viral replication. Homophthalimides were originally identified as inhibitors of rhinovirus 3C protease through our screening effort. Previous studies have indicated that the antiviral activity of certain homophthalimides exceeded their in vitro inhibitory activity against the viral 3C protease, suggesting that an additional mechanism might be involved. Reported here is the identification of homophthalimides as potent inhibitors for another rhinovirus protease, designated 2A. Several homophthalimides exhibit time-dependent inhibition of the 2A protease in the low-micromolar range, and enzyme-inhibitor complexes were identified by mass spectrometry. Compound LY343814, one of the most potent inhibitors against HRV14 2A protease, had an antiviral 50% inhibitory concentration of 4.2 microM in the cell-based assay. Our data reveal that homophthalimides are not only 3C but also 2A protease inhibitors in vitro, implying that the antiviral activity associated with these compounds might result from inactivation of both 2A and 3C proteases in vivo. Since the processing of the viral polyprotein is hierarchical, dual inhibition of the two enzymes may result in cooperative inhibition of viral replication. On the basis of the current understanding of their enzyme inhibitory mechanism, homophthalimides, as a group of novel nonpeptidic antirhinovirus agents, merit further structure-action relationship studies.

Investigation on QSAR and binding mode of a new class of human rhinovirus-14 inhibitors by CoMFA and docking experiments

A 3-D QSAR study has been carried out on a new class of potent and selective human rhinovirus-14 (HRV-14) inhibitors. In particular, the CoMFA (comparative molecular field analysis) technique has been applied to develop a model able to explain and predict the anti-HRV-14 activity of a class of compounds 4 and potentially helpful to design new and more potent antirhinovirus agents. Docking experiments have also been performed with the aim of elucidating the possible binding mode of these inhibitors. These two approaches are combined to highlight a single, highly favoured mode of interaction of the compounds with the viral capsid proteins.

Synthesis of new 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles with specific anti-group B rhinovirus activity in vitro

3,5-Disubstituted isoxazoles 4a-f were synthesized as potential anti-rhinovirus agents. These compounds were prepared in good yield by treatment of the corresponding 2-(dialkylamino)chromones 3a-f with hydroxylamine. Compounds 4 were demethylated to obtain dihydroxyderivatives 5, which were then transformed in acetyl- 6 and alkylderivatives 7. The methylenbisderivatives 9 were obtained by reaction of bischromones 8 with hydroxylamine. Most compounds were subjected to antiviral screening. Compounds 4c, 7a, 7b and 7c were found to be specific inhibitors of group B rhinoviruses.

Comparative studies on the antirhinovirus activity and the mode of action of the rhinovirus capsid binding agents, chalcone amides

Studies of various analogs related to the antirhinovirus agent 4′-ethoxy-2′-hydroxy-4,6′-dimethoxychalcone (Chalcone Ro 09-0410) led to the identification of amide analogs that are 4.5 to 10 times more active against human rhinovirus (HRV) in tissue culture as measured by chemotherapeutic indices. Chalcone amides Ro 09-0535, Ro 09-0696 and Ro 09-0881 inhibited viral replication at concentrations as low as <2–3 ng/ml and were cytotoxic between 30 to 50 μg/ml. These compounds bind to HRV and reduce the virus infectivity titers by 3 log 10 or greater at 0.5 μg/ml for 60 min similar to Ro 09-0410. These amide analogs competitively inhibited the binding of [ 3H]Ro 09-0410 to the viral capsid similar to capsid binding antirhinovirus agents, Ro 09-0410, 4′,6-dichloroflavan and WIN-51711. Furthermore, strains of HRV type 2 resistant to each of the above agents showed cross-resistance to all the other agents. These results indicate that the chalcone amides also bind to the same or close-proximity site for the capsid binding antirhinovirus agents, which is on the specific site within the viral capsid protein. However, differences in the degree of the inhibition of [ 3H]Ro 09-0410 binding, cross-resistance of strains of HRV resistant to the agents and HRV serotype specificity were observed not only between the chalcone amides and the other antivirus agents (Ro 09-0410, 4′,6-dichloroflavan and WIN-51711) but also among the chalcone amides, particularly between Ro 09-0535 and Ro 09-0696. These differences are presumably due to alterations in the binding affinities of compounds as a consequence of variations in the shape and size of the hydrophobic pocket that exists between serotypes including resistant strains.

Molecular basis of drug resistance to new antirhinovirus agents.

The modes of action of antirhinovirus agents and mechanisms of resistance to the agents are compared. Chalcone Ro 09-0410, 4',6-dichloroflavan (DCF) and RMI-15,731, which were active against rhinoviruses, inactivated the virus directly. Inactivation was associated with the binding of the agents to the virus particles, since the infectivity, reduced by exposure to the compounds, was restored to the original level by extraction of the agents with chloroform. The binding of [3H]chalcone to rhinovirus type 2 was inhibited by any of the three unlabelled agents. Furthermore, virus sublines selected for resistance to both dichloroflavan and RMI-15,731 showed cross-resistance to chalcone and vice versa. These findings indicate that the three agents exert their activities through the same mode of action (namely binding to or interaction with a specific site on the viral capsid protein) and that the binding or interaction sites for these three agents are either the same or very close to each other. Since the sublines resistant to chalcone and to RMI-15,731 have little or no capability to bind to chalcone, the resistance to these agents is conferred by changes in the viral capsid protein. On the other hand, flavone Ro 09-0179 and enviroxime, which were active widely against picornaviruses, had no ability to inactivate the virus directly, and their antiviral activity was not associated with the capsid protein.

Comparative studies on the modes of action of the antirhinovirus agents Ro 09-0410, Ro 09-0179, RMI-15,731, 4',6-dichloroflavan, and enviroxime

Modes of action of five antirhinovirus agents were compared. Ro 09-0410, 4',6-dichloroflavan, and RMI-15,731 were active preferentially against human rhinovirus. Serotypes of the virus varied in their susceptibility to these three agents, whereas Ro 09-0179 and enviroxime showed activity against all the serotypes of the virus tested to date. Ro 09-0410, RMI-15,731, and 4',6-dichloroflavan inactivated the virus directly, although 4',6-dichloroflavan did so only slightly. Inactivation by 4',6-dichloroflavan and RMI-15,731 was associated with the binding of the agents to the virus, since the infectivity, reduced by exposure to the agents, was restored to the original level by extraction of the agents with chloroform. The binding of [3H]Ro 09-0410 to human rhinovirus type 2 was inhibited by unlabeled Ro 09-0410, 4',6-dichloroflavan, and RMI-15,731 but not by Ro 09-0179 or enviroxime. Furthermore, subtypes resistant to both 4',6-dichloroflavan and RMI-15,731 showed cross-resistance to Ro 09-0410 and vice versa. On the other hand, sublines resistant to these three agents were not cross-resistant to Ro 09-0179 or enviroxime. These results indicate (i) that Ro 09-0410, 4',6-dichloroflavan, and RMI-15,731 exert their activities through the same mode of action, namely, binding to or interaction with some specific site on the viral capsid protein, and (ii) that the binding or interaction sites for these three agents are either the same or very close to each other.