Title | Enisamium Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 RNA Synthesis. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2021 |
Authors | Elli, S, Bojkova, D, Bechtel, M, Vial, T, Boltz, D, Muzzio, M, Peng, X, Sala, F, Cosentino, C, Goy, A, Guerrini, M, Müller, L, Cinatl, J, Margitich, V, Velthuis, AJWTe |
Journal | Biomedicines |
Volume | 9 |
Issue | 9 |
Date Published | 2021 Sep 17 |
ISSN | 2227-9059 |
Abstract | <p>Pandemic SARS-CoV-2 causes a mild to severe respiratory disease called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While control of the SARS-CoV-2 spread partly depends on vaccine-induced or naturally acquired protective herd immunity, antiviral strategies are still needed to manage COVID-19. Enisamium is an inhibitor of influenza A and B viruses in cell culture and clinically approved in countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. In vitro, enisamium acts through metabolite VR17-04 and inhibits the activity of the influenza A virus RNA polymerase. Here we show that enisamium can inhibit coronavirus infections in NHBE and Caco-2 cells, and the activity of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerase in vitro. Docking and molecular dynamics simulations provide insight into the mechanism of action and indicate that enisamium metabolite VR17-04 prevents GTP and UTP incorporation. Overall, these results suggest that enisamium is an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 RNA synthesis in vitro.</p> |
DOI | 10.3390/biomedicines9091254 |
Alternate Journal | Biomedicines |
PubMed ID | 34572438 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC8467925 |
Grant List | 206579/Z/17/Z / WT_ / Wellcome Trust / United Kingdom 206579/Z/17/Z / / Wellcome / 10430 01 201 0018 / ZONMW_ / ZonMw / Netherlands |