, Asli SAHINER2, Evren ALGIN YAPAR1*, Bilge Ahsen KARA3, POTENTIAL ANIMAL POISONS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ANTIVIRAL THERAPEUTICS
Gökhan CENGIZ1, Asli SAHINER2, Evren ALGIN YAPAR1*, Bilge Ahsen KARA3,
Rakesh K. SINDHU4
1Ministry of Health, Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency, Department of Analysis and Control Laboratories, Ankara, Turkey. 2Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Izmir, Turkey.
3Ministry of Health, Ankara Gazi Mustafa Kemal State Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
4Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India.
Recent serious effects of viral infections on humans, anti-viral compound research has gained momentum and has become very important. In particular, viruses such as Cytomegalovirus/CMV, Epstein Barr virus/EBV, Hepatitis B/HBV, Hepatitis C/HCV, Herpes Simplex Virus/HSV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/HIV, rabies virus, corona virus and Ebola virus are of high importance. Very limited antiviral medicines commercially available and can cause serious-significant side effects for patients receiving treatment. Also, viruses have the mutational capability to infect host cells. For this reason, in recent years, the possibility of producing new antiviral medicines, especially from natural sources, has increased considerably, and animal-based products are now also promising among natural products. Viral-borne infections have been known long ago. However, it was just possible to isolate these viruses that cause infection in the nineteenth century. The management of viral infection, the isolation of the virus, and the control of viral reproduction has played a role in the development of many drugs and vaccines in the studies carried out since that period. In addition to these studies, viruses continue to be one of the primary causes of human and animal diseases today. It has been stated that Antiviral Peptides/AVPs can be used as a defense barrier with previous studies. Some AVPs are known to show a broad spectrum against viruses. In this direction, many studies have been conducted on AVPs and it has been observed that these peptides inhibit the viral particle by the above-mentioned mechanisms. In this study venoms and toxins of some animals, which have antiviral activities are overviewed.
Keywords: Animal sources, antiviral compounds, natural therapeutics, SARS-CoV-2.
INTRODUCTION
In line with the researches, due to the serious effects of viral infections on humans, anti-viral compound research has gained momentum and become very important. In particular, viruses such as Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV, respectively), herpes simplex virus (HSV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), rabies virus and Ebola virus are of high importance1. Very limited antiviral medicines commercially available and can cause serious-significant side effects for patients receiving treatment. Also, viruses have the mutational capability to infect host cells. For this reason, in recent years, the possibility of producing new antiviral medicines, especially from natural sources, has increased considerably, and animal-based products have started gaining recognition in terms of use among natural sources. Despite the detrimental mechanism of action of animal venoms, many are known to have medicinal potential to cure diseases. Animal poisons are known that they contain a broad range of active biological compounds have antimicrobial activity2. These antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are produced against pathogenic organisms such as fungus, bacteria and viruses, which are displaying the first line of defense for various microorganisms. They show anti-viral activity by preventing virus particles from binding to the cellular membrane surface, accomplishing by virus replication, preventing viral DNA from leaving the capsid or being transported to the nucleus3. The efficacy on the retroviruses such as HIV/SIV of biologically active peptides including neurotoxic scorpion venoms has been proven by various research. By rupturing the viral envelope directly, AMPs in scorpion venom reduce viral infectivity and can inhibit or hinder the virion to enter the cell by invading the host receptors by using viral glycoproteins. Snake venoms and their components have been reported to show antiviral activity against measles virus, Sendai virus, dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus (YFV) and HIV. In this context, snake venoms can be encouraging alternative sources for new antiviral medicines. Snake venoms are exhibiting anti-viral activity by interacting with host cell, blocking intracellular release of the virus capsid protein and hindering viral entering. In insects, Vespula lewisii demonstrates a wide spectrum of anti-viral efficacy to enveloped viruses by impairing pore formation by penetration of the viral lipidic envelope. Apis mellifera venom was found to exhibit virucidal activity against HIV-14. It has been observed that anti-viral cationic peptides obtained from marine organisms interact to the viral envelope of HSV1 and HSV2 to prevent the infecting of sensitive cells5.
In this study it was aimed to overview venoms and toxins of some animals, which have antiviral activities and can be a potential source for new antiviral medicines.
Animal Originated Antiviral Compounds
Viral-borne infections have been existed long ago. However, the isolation of the viruses that cause infection had been achieved in the nineteenth century. The isolation of the virus, the control of viral reproduction and the treatment of viral diseases, have played a role in the development of many medicines and vaccines in the studies carried out since that period. Despite these studies, viruses continue to be important factor of human and animal diseases today. For this reason, studies on the use of alternative antiviral substances have gained momentum. In general, the mechanism of action of antiviral drugs can exert an antiviral effect through inhibition of proteases, polymerases, and replication enzymes. However, the inadequacy of studies on researching antiviral mechanisms negatively affects the development of drugs and vaccines. Therefore, an attempt is made to research and develop alternative antiviral substances5-13. Examining the studies conducted for the development of antiviral agents in the past, it was determined that antivirals may cause serious side effects in patients owing to their weak specificity. One of the antiviral agents that can be exemplified is the vidarabine acting by inhibiting replication. This substance inhibits viral DNA with polymerase enzymes. It also affects the host cell negatively and causes serious side effects. In line with this premise, the tendency towards antiviral agents with fewer side effects have increased. However limitations due to side effects of these agents decreased their effectiveness towards viral infections. For example, acyclovir antiviral agent causes low side effects in patients. Additionally, due to its low effectiveness, it was insufficient in eliminating the infection. Moreover, due to the low effect of the antiviral agent, viral resistance may develop and cause further infection. Therefore, with the increasing predilection for molecules with broad-spectrum activity, the requirement for the development of new generation antiviral medicines is higher than ever5-13. Some peptides of animal origin can show virucidal activity. Generally, these peptides are known to exert antiviral effects by preventing virus particles from binding to the cellular membrane or by interfering with virus replication. Due to the restricted use of antiviral medicines and their insufficient efficacy, the potential of antiviral peptides to be used as therapeutic agents has gained importance. The high side effects of synthetically developed drugs have increased the research of animal antiviral substances. The most basic criterion is that a compound to be used as an antiviral is being compatible with the infection cycle of the virus. Initially binding of the virus to the host cell is expected to inhibit by the candidate antiviral molecule, then antiviral candidates play an important role in preventing virus DNA or RNA from leaving the capsid and entering the host cell. This antiviral effect is one of the functional activities that prevent the development of infection. Apart from these; there are also antiviral effects such as blocking viral reverse transcriptase activity, preventing viral DNA from being transported to the nucleus, and preventing the integration of viral DNA into the cellular chromosome. Because of these effects, studies on the use of animal-derived antivirals have gained momentum. In line with these studies, the importance of antiviral peptides (AVPs) of animal origin with a wide antiviral spectrum has increased. AVP molecules can generally exert an antiviral effect by directly inhibiting the viral particle, inhibiting the protein binding site in the host cell membrane and interfering with adsorption5-13.
Animal Antiviral Peptides
It has been stated that AVPs can be used as a defense barrier with previous studies. Some AVPs are known to show a broad spectrum against viruses. In this direction, many studies have been conducted on AVPs and it has been observed that these peptides inhibit the viral particles by the above mentioned mechanisms. Details of AVPs obtained from animals are given below14,15.
Antiviral peptides derived from scorpions
The poisons used by arachnids for hunting and feeding have a rich molecular variety. These poisons have a deadly effect on humans. However, drug development studies from compounds obtained from these poisons have increased. Identified scorpion venoms are at an important point in medicinal potential drug development16. Disulfide-bridged peptides and non-disulfide-bridged peptides found biologically in scorpions appear as neurotoxic poisons. These AVPs are important medicinal sources for the cure of various infections, especially diseases affecting the nervous system. It is also an important resource for the use of these poisons in antiviral drugs17.
Regarding the activity of scorpion venom compounds, it has been stated to be effective against many viruses. In particular, it has been determined that the peptide named Smp76 isolated from the Scorpio maurus palmatus venom has antiviral effects against many type of viruses. The scorpion species from which these poisons are obtained and the virus groups where they are effective are indicated in Table 15,10,18,19.
Antiviral peptides derived from snakes
The rich composition of snake venom is at the top of the drug sources for new drugs to be developed. It contains proteins, peptides, free amino acids and metallic elements. It contains particularly effective ingredients to provide antimicrobial effect. Studies have proven that snake venoms are effective on many microorganisms by hydrolyzing phospholipids20. In this way, studies for snake venoms, whose antibacterial effect has been determined, may focus on their antiviral properties. It has reported in various studies that snake venoms and their components are affective on measles virus, Sendai virus, dengue virus, yellow fever virus and HIV. It has also been reported that snake venom used as supplementary treatment in viral infections. Snake venom seems to be one of the most important antiviral sources when considering the possibility of HIV-1 virus binding to the same receptor due to its long neurotoxin cycle5. The catalytic effect of snake venom by means of enzymes, the cell-binding effect and the induction effect at the membrane level are important issues. The snake species from which these poisons are obtained and the virus groups where they are effective are indicated in Table 15,10,21.
Antiviral peptides derived from insects
Among the animals, the insects are known that resistant to bacterial and viral infections. Insects have an effective naturally developed defense system. In addition to the innate immune system, mammals also have an acquired immune system. However, thanks to the peptides they develop with the innate immune system, insects can produce proteins with antimicrobial and antiviral effects. In this way, insects have a system to quickly remove the pathogen. The reason for the antimicrobial effect developed in insects is the development of rapidly developing antimicrobial AMP and AVPs. Mastoparan, cecropins, melittin and alloferons developed by insects are the main proteins that create antimicrobial and antiviral effect. In studies mastoparan peptides broad spectrum of antiviral efficacy on the enveloped viruses such as Rhabdoviridae, Poxviridae, Flaviridae, Paramyxoviridae and Herpesviridae have been indicated and the antiviral effect of cecropins, melittin and alloferon peptides against virus groups such as influenza virus, HIV-1 have been proven. There are antiviral activities defined for melittin obtained from bees and wasps. It is known that melittin and its derivatives obtained from these creatures are effective on the herpes virus. Melittin is an important resource for antiviral drugs that will be developed to have an antiviral effect especially on the herpes virus. The insect species from which these AVPs are obtained and the virus groups where they are effective are indicated in Table 15,10,22,23,24.
Antiviral peptides derived from aquatic organisms
Aquatic organisms, which are the potential sources of various antiviral cationic peptides, are other promising candidates for antiviral medicines development. Many different peptides in their structure can show antiviral activity on viruses and other pathogens. It is also known that the skin secretions of amphibians have strong antiviral effects. Such skin secretions constitute the primary immune system of amphibians. The antimicrobial, antineoplastic, antiviral activity of secretions produced by the skin granular glands of amphibiansis known. Pharmaceutical products synthesized from these antimicrobial peptides are known to exhibit cytotoxic effects and anti-herpetic activity. For example, magainin 1 and 2 isolated from Xenopus laevis frog tested against HSV-1 and -2 and showed effective inhibition of both viruses. Peptides were effective by disrupting the viral envelope. There are various studies indicating the antiviral potential of some peptides isolated from tunicates, sponges and fish5,10.
CONCLUSION
It is noteworthy that animal sources should also be taken into account in the ongoing pharmaceutical product development studies for the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, further studies on the effectiveness of potent antiviral bioactive compounds in their composition against SARS-CoV2 and their stability towards the drug form development phase, considering that the use of natural derived resources as cost-effective and especially inhibitory reparations to prevent the spread of infections will become widespread from time to time, it is thought that it will be beneficial to increase the studies in this field.
REFERENCES