Discovery of Highly Potent Pinanamine-Based Inhibitors against Amantadine- and Oseltamivir-Resistant Influenza A Viruses

J Med Chem. 2018 Jun 28;61(12):5187-5198. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00042. Epub 2018 Jun 11.

Abstract

Influenza pandemic is a constant major threat to public health caused by influenza A viruses (IAVs). IAVs are subcategorized by the surface proteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), in which they are both essential targets for drug discovery. While it is of great concern that NA inhibitor oseltamivir resistant strains are frequently identified from human or avian influenza virus, structural and functional characterization of influenza HA has raised hopes for new antiviral therapies. In this study, we explored a structure-activity relationship (SAR) of pinanamine-based antivirals and discovered a potent inhibitor M090 against amantadine-resistant viruses, including the 2009 H1N1 pandemic strains, and oseltamivir-resistant viruses. Mechanism of action studies, particularly hemolysis inhibition, indicated that M090 targets influenza HA and it occupied a highly conserved pocket of the HA2 domain and inhibited virus-mediated membrane fusion by "locking" the bending state of HA2 during the conformational rearrangement process. This work provides new binding sites within the HA protein and indicates that this pocket may be a promising target for broad-spectrum anti-influenza A drug design and development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amantadine / chemistry
  • Amantadine / pharmacology*
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Drug Resistance, Viral / drug effects*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Hemagglutinins / metabolism
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Influenza A virus / drug effects*
  • Influenza A virus / enzymology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Neuraminidase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Neuraminidase / metabolism
  • Oseltamivir / chemistry
  • Oseltamivir / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Hemagglutinins
  • Imidazoles
  • pinanamine
  • Oseltamivir
  • Amantadine
  • Neuraminidase