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Fighting SARS-CoV-2 and Related Viruses
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Fighting SARS-CoV-2 and Related Viruses

A special issue of Drugs and Drug Candidates (ISSN 2813-2998).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 4955

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jean Jacques Vanden Eynde

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Collection Editor
Formerly Head, Department of Organic Chemistry (FS), University of Mons-UMONS, 7000 Mons, Belgium
Interests: heterocycles; medicinal chemistry; green chemistry; microwave-induced synthesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Annie Mayence

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Formerly Professor, Haute Ecole Provinciale de Hainaut-Condorcet, 7330 Saint-Ghislain, Belgium
Interests: medicinal chemistry; organic synthesis; parasitic diseases; orphan drugs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19, the entire scientific community has mobilized to find ways to combat SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for the disease. Studies began with assays involving repurposable drugs; since then, there have been thousands of clinical trials. Molecular modeling methods and artificial intelligence enabled the selection of numerous potentially effective agents. Screening of libraries of small molecules, more complex biomolecules, or extracts from natural sources remains the focus of many studies, whereas vaccines have emerged as the most widely employed weapon in response to the epidemic.

This Topical Collection will cover all aspects involved in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses. Reviews and research articles are preferred; however, hypotheses, opinions, and reports on clinical trials will also be considered.

Dr. Jean Jacques Vanden Eynde
Dr. Annie Mayence
Collection Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Drugs and Drug Candidates is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • antibodies
  • antiviral
  • coronavirus
  • MERS
  • repurposing
  • SARS
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • spike protein
  • vaccine

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2986 KiB  
Article
Bioactive Components of Myracrodruon urundeuva against SARS-CoV-2: A Computational Study
by Sabrina Kelly Silva Alves, Cássio Silva Sousa, Edilanne Katrine Amparo Viana, Hellen Cris Araújo Souza, Maycon Douglas Araújo Souza, Arthur Serejo Neves Ribeiro, Vanessa de Sousa do Vale, Muhammad Torequl Islam, Joabe Lima Araújo and Jefferson Almeida Rocha
Drugs Drug Candidates 2023, 2(4), 781-795; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc2040039 - 27 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1233
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2) is the causative agent for the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It raises serious biosecurity questions due to its high contagious potential, thereby triggering rapid and efficient responses by the scientific community to take necessary [...] Read more.
SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2) is the causative agent for the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It raises serious biosecurity questions due to its high contagious potential, thereby triggering rapid and efficient responses by the scientific community to take necessary actions against viral infections. Cumulative scientific evidence suggests that natural products remain one of the main sources for pharmaceutical consumption. It is due to their wide chemical diversity that they are able to fight against almost all kinds of diseases and disorders in humans and other animals. Knowing the overall facts, this study was carried out to investigate the chemical interactions between the active constituents of a promising medicinal plant, Myracrodruon urundeuva, and some specific proteins of SARS-CoV-2. For this, we used molecular docking to predict the most appropriate orientation by binding a molecule (a ligand) to its receptor (a protein). The best results were evaluated by screening their pharmacokinetic properties using the online tool pkCSM. Findings suggest that among 44 chemical compounds of M. urundeuva, agathisflavone, which is abundantly present in its leaf, exhibited excellent molecular affinity (−9.3 to −9.7 kcal.mol−1) with three functional proteins, namely, Spike, MPro, and RBD of SARS-CoV-2. In conclusion, M. urundeuva might be a good source of antiviral agents. Further studies are required to elucidate the exact mechanism of action of the bioactive compounds of M. urundeuva acting against SARS-CoV-2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fighting SARS-CoV-2 and Related Viruses)
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Review

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16 pages, 3152 KiB  
Review
In Silico Therapeutic Study: The Next Frontier in the Fight against SARS-CoV-2 and Its Variants
by Calvin R. Wei, Zarrin Basharat and Godwin C. Lang’at
Drugs Drug Candidates 2024, 3(1), 54-69; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc3010005 - 05 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1044
Abstract
COVID-19 has claimed around 7 million lives (from December 2019–November 2023) worldwide and continues to impact global health. SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19 disease, is characterized by a high rate of mutations, which contributes to its rapid spread, virulence, and vaccine escape. While [...] Read more.
COVID-19 has claimed around 7 million lives (from December 2019–November 2023) worldwide and continues to impact global health. SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19 disease, is characterized by a high rate of mutations, which contributes to its rapid spread, virulence, and vaccine escape. While several vaccines have been produced to minimize the severity of the coronavirus, and diverse treatment regimens have been approved by the US FDA under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), SARS-CoV-2 viral mutations continue to derail the efforts of scientists as the emerging variants evade the recommended therapies. Nonetheless, diverse computational models exist that offer an opportunity for the swift development of new drugs or the repurposing of old drugs. In this review, we focus on the use of various virtual screening techniques like homology modeling, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, QSAR, pharmacophore modeling, etc., in repurposing SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics against major variants of SARS-CoV-2 (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron). The results have been promising from the computer-aided drug design (CADD) studies in suggesting potential compounds for the treatment of COVID-19 variants. Hence, in silico therapeutic studies represent a transformative approach that holds great promise in advancing our fight against the ever-evolving landscape of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fighting SARS-CoV-2 and Related Viruses)
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Other

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7 pages, 460 KiB  
Opinion
Failed Repurposing of Lysosomotropic Drugs for COVID-19 Treatment or Prevention
by François Marceau
Drugs Drug Candidates 2022, 1(1), 22-28; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc1010003 - 02 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1502
Abstract
The hope for the rapid discovery of an effective drug therapy for COVID-19 has led to several efforts to repurpose drugs approved for other indications. Lysosomotropic drugs, organic amines such as chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, amiodarone and many others, were found to interfere with the [...] Read more.
The hope for the rapid discovery of an effective drug therapy for COVID-19 has led to several efforts to repurpose drugs approved for other indications. Lysosomotropic drugs, organic amines such as chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, amiodarone and many others, were found to interfere with the viral life cycle in vitro but have failed in clinical trials. The properties of lysosomotropic drugs and the vacuolar cytopathology induced by them are briefly reviewed, including the critical role of lipophilicity, the central role of vacuolar (V)-ATPase for their concentration in acidic organelles, the altered function of these organelles including impaired endocytosis and secretion, macroautophagic accumulation and secondary phospholipidosis. The apparent preferential uptake of lysosomotropic drugs by phagocytic leukocytes (macrophages, neutrophils) and the high concentrations needed for a sustained disruption of vacuolar trafficking may have contributed to the failure of lysosomotropic drug repurposing for COVID-19. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fighting SARS-CoV-2 and Related Viruses)
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