Advances in Virology最新文献

{"title":"SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Children in Rondônia, Western Brazilian Amazon: SARS-CoV-2 Among Children in Rondônia.","authors":"Gil Guibson Mota Amaral, Gabriella Sgorlon, Valcimar Batista Ferreira, Flávia Serrano Batista, Luana da Silva Soares Farias, Luana Soares Barbagelata, Mirleide Cordeiro Dos Santos, Rayssa Layana da Silva Bedran, Deusilene Souza Vieira Dall'Acqua, Najla Benevides Matos","doi":"10.1155/av/6655790","DOIUrl":"10.1155/av/6655790","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We analyzed 364 children symptomatic or asymptomatic for respiratory symptoms, aged 0.1 month-17 years, selected from primary healthcare units of different municipalities of Rondônia from June 2021 to September 2022. Data were collected from medical and electronic records for epidemiological characterization. The positive cohort (<i>n</i> = 96) was quantified using a real-time (RT) qPCR and sequenced by next-generation sequencing. Whole-genome sequences were obtained, SARS-CoV-2 strains were classified using the Pango system, and the maximum likelihood method was used for phylogenetic analyses. Among the patients, 59.34% (216/364) were male and 40.66% (148/364) were female. Children aged 10-14 years showed the highest rate of SARS-CoV-2 positivity. At the time of collection, 54.12% (197/364) of the patients were not age-eligible for immunization against COVID-19. The unvaccinated group accounted for 34.07% (124/364), with the highest proportion in the age groups of 5-9 and 10-14 years. Most patients exhibited mild symptoms. Seventy-nine high-quality genomes were obtained: Delta variant of concern (VOC) was the most prevalent (most abundant strain: AY.99.2), Omicron VOC was reported in 26 individuals (most frequent subvariant: BA.1.1), and Gamma VOC with 22 cases (12 cases of P.1 strain). The viral load showed a median of 7.26 log10 copies/mL, with a mean symptom duration of 4 days. Most of the cases were from children who were unvaccinated and age-ineligible for immunization and were associated with Delta and Omicron VOCs with an increase in subvariants during the study period.</p>","PeriodicalId":7473,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virology","volume":"2025 ","pages":"6655790"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11850067/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143490367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Interplay Between Viral Infection and Cell Death: A Ping-Pong Effect.","authors":"Alireza Nourazarian, Hadi Yousefi, Cigir Biray Avci, Behrouz Shademan, Emad Behboudi","doi":"10.1155/av/5750575","DOIUrl":"10.1155/av/5750575","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Programmed cell death (PCD) is a well-studied cellular mechanism that plays a critical role in immune responses, developmental processes, and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. However, viruses have developed diverse strategies to bypass or manipulate the host apoptotic machinery to enhance their replication and survival. As a result, the interaction between PCD pathways and viruses has garnered increased interest, leading to many studies being published in recent years. This study aims to provide an overview of the current understanding of PCD pathways and their significance in viral infections. We will discuss various forms of cell death pathways, including apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, as well as their corresponding molecular mechanisms. In addition, we will show how viruses manipulate host PCD pathways to prevent or delay cell death or facilitate viral replication. This study emphasizes the importance of investigating the mechanisms by which viruses control the host's PCD machinery to gain insight into the evolutionary dynamics of host-pathogen interactions and to develop new approaches for predicting and managing viral threats. Overall, we aimed to highlight new research areas in PCD and viruses, including introduction of new targets for the development of new antiviral drugs to modulate the cellular apoptotic machinery and novel inhibitors of host cell death pathways.</p>","PeriodicalId":7473,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virology","volume":"2025 ","pages":"5750575"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11824611/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143432259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiological, Biological, and Clinical Characteristics of Central Nervous System Enterovirus Infections Among Hospitalized Patients at Ibn Sina University Hospital Center in Rabat: Case Study Report (A Series of 19 Cases).","authors":"Chemsdine Echiguer, Ghizlane El Amin, Amal Zouaki, Jalila Zirar, Myriam Seffar, Chafiq Mahraoui, Hakima Kabbaj","doi":"10.1155/av/8748295","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/av/8748295","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Enterovirus can cause central nervous system (CNS) infections ranging from meningitis to severe encephalitis. The aims of our study were to describe and develop the current epidemiological, biological, and clinical aspects of these infections as well as to enrich Moroccan data. This is a retrospective study conducted from January 2021 to March 2023, which included all patients admitted to the hospitals of Ibn Sina University Hospital Center in Rabat (Morocco) with clinical suspicion of CNS infection and positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for enterovirus detected by BioFire® FilmArray® panel meningitis/encephalitis. 1479 CSF were analyzed by multiplex PCR. Enterovirus was detected in 19 patients (1.28%) with a median age of 5 years, predominantly affecting male patients (73.7%) and children (94.7%), especially those aged 2 years and older (68.4%). Fever was the most common symptom (77.8%), followed by headache (66.7%). The seasonal peak of enterovirus detection was also observed. For most patients, the CSF was predominantly lymphocytic (88.2%) with normal glycorrhachia (84.2%) and proteinorachia (73.7%). A notable proportion (10.5%) had a normal CSF cytology. Hyperproteinorachia was found in 26.3% of cases and hypoglycorrhachia in 5.3%. Blood analysis revealed a normal WBC count in 55.6% of cases, hyperleukocytosis in 33.3%, and leukopenia in 11.1%. CRP was elevated in 72.2% of cases. CNS enterovirus infections were particularly present among the pediatric population in this study. The lack of specificity in clinical and biological manifestations may sometimes suggest bacterial etiology. The widespread use of multiplex PCR can therefore provide a reliable and rapid method of detection and diagnosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":7473,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virology","volume":"2024 ","pages":"8748295"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11606691/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142765510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Increased Incidence of Rhinovirus Pneumonia in Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico.","authors":"Fanny Yasmin Ortega-Vargas, Aldo Agustin Herrera-González, Ilen Adriana Díaz-Torres, Isamu Daniel Cabrera-Takane, Patricia Bautista-Carbajal, Miguel Leonardo García-León, Daniel E Noyola, María Susana Juárez-Tobías, Verónica Tabla-Orozco, Pedro Antonio Martínez-Arce, María Del Carmen Espinosa-Sotero, Gerardo Martínez-Aguilar, Fabian Rojas-Larios, Luis Alfonso Salazar-Soto, Rosa María Wong-Chew","doi":"10.1155/2024/8841838","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8841838","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Human rhinovirus (HRV), traditionally recognized as the primary etiological agent of the common cold, has become the second most important viral agent in bronchopulmonary conditions, such as pneumonia and asthma exacerbations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several viruses exhibited changes in their epidemiological behavior. This study aims to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with HRV pneumonia before and during the pandemic in Mexico. <b>Methods:</b> A comparative ambispective longitudinal epidemiological study of two cohorts (prepandemic and pandemic periods) was carried out. Two databases were compared: one from 2010 to 2013 and the other from 2021 to 2023. Children under 5 years of age diagnosed with HRV pneumonia were included. Student's <i>t</i>-test, <i>χ</i> ² tests, and logistic regression were used to assess risk factors associated with severe pneumonia. Incidence density was calculated as HRV cases per 10 new cases of pneumonia per month for each year. <b>Results:</b> During the pandemic, the age of presentation shifted from 5 months to 16 months. There was a higher incidence of HRV pneumonia in children during the pandemic, particularly in the second half of 2021, with a peak in July and August. In addition, there was an increase in severity (53% vs. 63%, <i>p</i>=0.006) and coinfections (51.3% vs. 76% <i>p</i> < 0.001). A higher prevalence of all risk factors was observed in the second cohort. <b>Conclusions:</b> During the pandemic, a shift toward older age, a higher percentage of coinfections, and increased severity associated to HRV pneumonia were observed. These findings highlight the need for the development and implementation of targeted prevention and treatment measures for HRV.</p>","PeriodicalId":7473,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virology","volume":"2024 ","pages":"8841838"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11540899/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142602629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Measles Outbreaks in the Republic of Congo: Epidemiology of Laboratory-Confirmed Cases Between 2019 and 2022.","authors":"Yanne Vanessa Thiécesse Mavoungou, Fabien Roch Niama, Léa Gwladys Gangoué, Felix Koukouikila-Koussounda, Marianne Bouanga Bayonne, Cynthia Nkoua Badzi, Leblanc Albert Gandza Gampouo, Pathou Christelle Kiminou, Paule Biyama-Kimia, Princesse Mahoukou, Nadia Claricelle Bongolo Loukabou, Jean Medard Kankou, Pembe Issamou Mayengue, Gabriel Ahombo","doi":"10.1155/2024/8501027","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/8501027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In Africa, measles epidemics are frequently reported, despite numerous preventive measures, such as vaccination, which targets children under 5 years of age. Unfortunately, the Republic of the Congo is not an exception to this major health concern. Indeed, many cases are reported annually. Here, we provide an overview of the epidemiological characteristics of laboratory-confirmed measles cases from January 2019 to October 2022 as well as the risk factors associated with the occurrence of measles outbreak. Samples from suspected measles cases were collected across the country and sent to the National Laboratory of Public Health for confirmation. Specific IgM was tested using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistics (<i>p</i> < 0.05 was statistically significant). A total of 1330 samples were collected and analyzed. Over those 4 years, 537 samples were confirmed to be positive (40.3%) but with important disparities between years. A relatively low frequency of cases was reported in 2020. Overall, a progressive and significant evolution of positive cases was observed between 2019 and 2022, increasing from 16.8% in 2019 to 65.9% in 2022 (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). We report a low vaccination rate among children (44.8%) and a significantly high positivity rate in this group (46.6%) (<i>p</i> < 0.0008). No difference was reported according to the completeness of the vaccination scheme (<i>p</i>=0.094). Females were slightly more exposed to this infection than males (<i>p</i>=0.04; adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.25 [1.01-1.6]), with an increased risk of exposure in rural areas (<i>p</i>=0.0001; aOR: 0.41 [0.32-0.53]). The department of Pointe-Noire had the highest positivity rate, while three other departments were considered high-risk areas: Likouala (<i>p</i> = 0.0001; aOR: 3.18 [1.80-5.61]), Pool (<i>p</i>=0.0001; aOR: 2.90 [1.70-4.95]), and Brazzaville (<i>p</i>=0.0005; aOR: 0.52 [0.36-0.75]). This study calls for strengthening the epidemiological surveillance system and vaccination strategy in the country. It remains important to research factors that induce a high positive rate among vaccinated children by biological verification of the immunization.</p>","PeriodicalId":7473,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virology","volume":"2024 ","pages":"8501027"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11535416/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142581422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Support Vector Machine Outperforms Other Machine Learning Models in Early Diagnosis of Dengue Using Routine Clinical Data.","authors":"Ariba Qaiser, Sobia Manzoor, Asraf Hussain Hashmi, Hasnain Javed, Anam Zafar, Javed Ashraf","doi":"10.1155/2024/5588127","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/5588127","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> There is a dire need for the establishment of active dengue surveillance to continuously detect cases, circulating serotypes, and determine the disease burden of dengue fever (DF) in the country and region. Predicting dengue PCR results using machine learning (ML) models represents a significant advancement in pre-emptive healthcare measures. This study outlines the comprehensive process of data preprocessing, model selection, and the underlying mechanisms of each algorithm employed to accurately predict dengue PCR outcomes. <b>Methods:</b> We analyzed data from 300 suspected dengue patients in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from August to October 2023. NS1 antigen ELISA, IgM and IgG antibody tests, and serotype-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect the dengue virus (DENV). Representative PCR-positive samples were sequenced by Sanger sequencing to confirm the circulation of various dengue serotypes. Demographic information, serological test results, and hematological parameters were used as inputs to the ML models, with the dengue PCR result serving as the output to be predicted. The models used were logistic regression, XGBoost, LightGBM, random forest, support vector machine (SVM), and CatBoost. <b>Results:</b> Of the 300 patients, 184 (61.33%) were PCR positive. Among the total positive cases detected by PCR, 9 (4.89%), 171 (92.93%), and 4 (2.17%) were infected with serotypes 1, 2, and 3, respectively. A total of 147 (79.89%) males and 37 (20.11%) females were infected, with a mean age of 33 ± 16 years. In addition, the mean platelet and leukocyte counts and the hematocrit percentages were 75,447%, 4189.02%, and 46.05%, respectively. The SVM was the best-performing ML model for predicting RT-PCR results, with 71.4% accuracy, 97.4% recall, and 71.6% precision. Hyperparameter tuning improved the recall to 100%. <b>Conclusion:</b> Our study documents three circulating serotypes in the capital territory of Pakistan and highlights that the SVM outperformed other models, potentially serving as a valuable tool in clinical settings to aid in the rapid diagnosis of DF.</p>","PeriodicalId":7473,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virology","volume":"2024 ","pages":"5588127"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11493476/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142455847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In Silico Design of a Trans-Amplifying RNA-Based Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 Structural Proteins.","authors":"Fatemeh Nafian, Ghazal Soleymani, Zahra Pourmanouchehri, Mahnaz Kiyanjam, Simin Nafian, Sayed Mohammad Mohammadi, Hanie Jeyroudi, Sharareh Berenji Jalaei, Fatemeh Sabzpoushan","doi":"10.1155/2024/3418062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/3418062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nucleic acid-based vaccines allow scalable, rapid, and cell-free vaccine production in response to an emerging disease such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we objected to the design of a multiepitope mRNA vaccine against the structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Through an immunoinformatic approach, promising epitopes were predicted for the spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M), and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. Fragments rich in overlapping epitopes were selected based on binding affinities with HLA classes I and II for the specific presentation to B and T lymphocytes. Two constructs were designed by fusing the fragments in different arrangements via GG linkers. Construct 1 showed better structural properties and interactions with toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2), TLR-3, and TLR-4 during molecular docking and dynamic simulation. A 50S ribosomal L7/L12 adjuvant was added to its N-terminus to improve stability and immunogenicity. The final RNA sequence was used to design a trans-amplifying RNA (taRNA) vaccine in a split-vector system. It consists of two molecules: a nonreplicating RNA encoding a trans-acting replicase to amplify the second one, a trans-replicon (TR) RNA encoding the vaccine protein. Overall, the immune response simulation detected that activated B and T lymphocytes and increased memory cell formation. Macrophages and dendritic cells proliferated continuously, and IFN-<i>γ</i> and cytokines like IL-2 were released highly.</p>","PeriodicalId":7473,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virology","volume":"2024 ","pages":"3418062"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11459942/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142387243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Genotypes in an Ecuadorian Population: A Preliminary Study.","authors":"Miguel Moncayo, Enrique Teran, Bernardo Gutierrez, Jorge Reyes, Johanna Cortez, Rodrigo Tobar, Gabriela Yerovi, Marcia Robalino, Ana Aguilar, Daniel Garzon-Chavez","doi":"10.1155/2024/8823341","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/8823341","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects 257-291 million people worldwide. The World Health Organization reported 890,000 HBV-related deaths in 2019, higher than reported previously. There are 10 HBV genotypes (A-J) subdivided into several subgenotypes that differ considerably by geography. Various virologic factors, including genotype and subgenotype, impact the odds of acquiring a chronic HBV infection, the type of treatment prescribed, and the risk of developing hepatocarcinoma. Information on the HBV genotypes and subgenotypes that circulate in Ecuador remains low. To address this gap, the current study took a preliminary look at HBV-infected human samples from this region to identify the most common genotypes and subgenotypes. Samples from 44 patients in the Andean, Coastal, and Amazon regions of Ecuador were amplified and two major genotypes were identified, genotype F (42/44; 95.5%) and genotype E (2 patients; 4.5%). The genotype F subgenotypes were F3 (35/42; 83.33%), F4 (6/42; 14.28%), and F1b (1/42, 2.39%). This is the first epidemiological study to assess the distribution of HBV genotypes in Ecuador. The findings can inform antiviral drug effectivity studies specific to HBV genotypes prevalent in South America.</p>","PeriodicalId":7473,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virology","volume":"2024 ","pages":"8823341"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11364474/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142103352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular Footprints of <i>Potato Virus</i> Y Isolate Infecting Potatoes (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i>) in Kenya.","authors":"Maryrose Nyakio, Mariam Were, Clabe Wekesa, Henry Lungayia, Patrick Okoth, Hassan Were","doi":"10.1155/2024/2197725","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/2197725","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Potato virus Y</i> (PVY) is a highly diverse and genetically variable virus with various strains. Differential evolutionary routes have been reported in the genus Potyvirus, caused by natural selection pressure, mutation, and recombination, with their virulence being dependent on different environmental conditions. Despite its significance and economic impact on Solanaceous species, the understanding of PVY's phylogeography in Kenya remains limited and inadequately documented. The study centers on the molecular characterization of a Kenyan PVY isolate, GenBank accession number PP069009. In-depth phylogenetic analysis unveiled a strong evolutionary association between the Kenyan isolate and isolate [JQ924287] from the United States of America, supported by a robust 92% probability. Recombinant analyses exposed a mosaic-like genetic architecture within the Kenyan isolate, indicating multiple gene recombination events. Selection pressure scrutiny identified specific sites under selective pressure, with evidence of positive/diversifying and negative/purifying selection. Population genetics analysis revealed a calculated nucleotide diversity (<i>π</i>) of 0.00354881, while analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) unveiled a structured genetic landscape with an øST value of 0.45224. The extensive haplotype network depicted the possibility of diverse PVY strains occurring across continents. This analysis provides valuable insights into the genetic diversity and distribution of PVY globally, highlighting the importance of understanding evolutionary dynamics for effective management and control strategies of PVY on a global scale.</p>","PeriodicalId":7473,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virology","volume":"2024 ","pages":"2197725"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11321891/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141974759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictive Assessment of the Antiviral Properties of <i>Imperata cylindrica</i> against SARS-CoV-2.","authors":"Frank Eric Tatsing Foka, Hazel Tumelo Mufhandu","doi":"10.1155/2024/8598708","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/8598708","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The omicron variant and its sublineages are highly contagious, and they still constitute a global source of concern despite vaccinations. Hospitalizations and mortality rates resulting from infections by these variants of concern are still common. The existing therapeutic alternatives have presented various setbacks such as low potency, poor pharmacokinetic profiles, and drug resistance. The need for alternative therapeutic options cannot be overemphasized. Plants and their phytochemicals present interesting characteristics that make them suitable candidates for the development of antiviral therapeutic agents. This study aimed to investigate the antiviral potential of <i>Imperata cylindrica</i> (<i>I. cylindrica</i>). Specifically, the objective of this study was to identify <i>I. cylindrica</i> phytochemicals that display inhibitory effects against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M^pro), a highly conserved protein among coronaviruses. Molecular docking and <i>in silico</i> pharmacokinetic assays were used to assess 72 phytocompounds that are found in <i>I. cylindrica</i> as ligands and M^pro (6LU7) as the target. Only eight phytochemicals (bifendate, cylindrene, tabanone, siderin, 5-hydroxy-2-[2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one, maritimin, 5-methoxyflavone, and flavone) displayed high binding affinities with M^pro with docking scores ranging from -5.6 kcal/mol to -9.1 kcal/mol. The <i>in silico</i> pharmacokinetic and toxicological assays revealed that tabanone was the best and safest phytochemical for the development of an inhibitory agent against coronavirus main protease. Thus, the study served as a baseline for further <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> assessment of this phytochemical against M^pro of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern to validate these <i>in silico</i> findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":7473,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virology","volume":"2024 ","pages":"8598708"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11317227/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141970405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}