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Small molecules that bind to the pocket targeted by a peptide, termed capsid assembly inhibitor (CAI), have shown antiviral effects with unique mechanisms of action. We report the discovery of two natural compounds, sennoside A (SA) and sennoside B (SB), derived from medicinal plants that bind to this pocket in the C-terminal domain of capsid (CA CTD). Both SA and SB were identified via a drug-screening campaign that utilized a time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay. They inhibited the HIV-1 CA CTD/CAI interaction at sub-micromolar concentrations of 0.18 μM and 0.08 μM, respectively. Mutation of key residues (including Tyr 169, Leu 211, Asn 183, and Glu 187) in the CA CTD decreased their binding affinity to the CA monomer, from 1.35-fold to 4.17-fold. Furthermore, both compounds induced CA assembly in vitro and bound directly to the CA hexamer, suggesting that they interact with CA beyond the CA CTD. Molecular docking showed that both compounds were bound to the N-terminal domain (NTD)/CTD interface between adjacent protomers within the CA hexamer. SA established a hydrogen-bonding network with residues N57, V59, Q63, K70, and N74 of CA1-NTD and Q179 of CA2-CTD. SB formed hydrogen bonds with the N53, N70, and N74 residues of CA1-NTD, and the A177and Q179 residues of CA2-CTD. Both compounds, acting as glue, can bring αH4 in the NTD and αH9 in the CTD of the NTD/CTD interface close to each other. Collectively, our research indicates that SA and SB, which enhance CA assembly, could serve as novel chemical tools to identify agents that modulate HIV-1 CA assembly. These natural compounds may potentially lead to the development of new antiviral therapies with unique mechanisms of action.

ABSTRACT The capsid protein (CA), an essential component of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), represents an appealing target for antivirals. Small molecules targeting the CAI-binding cavity in the C-terminal domain of HIV-1 CA (CA CTD) confer potent antiviral activities. In this study, we report that a small molecule, protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), targets the HIV-1 CA by binding to this pocket. PPIX was identified via in vitro drug screening, using a homogeneous and time-resolved fluorescence-based assay. CA multimerization and a biolayer interferometry (BLI) assay showed that PPIX promoted CA multimerization and bound directly to CA. The binding model of PPIX to CA CTD revealed that PPIX forms hydrogen bonds with the L211and E212 residues in the CA CTD. Moreover, the BLI assay demonstrated that this compound preferentially binds to the CA hexamer versus the monomer. The superposition of the CAI CTD-PPIX complex and the hexameric CA structure suggests that PPIX binds to the interface formed by the NTD and the CTD between adjacent protomers in the CA hexamer via the T72 and E212 residues, serving as a glue to enhance the multimerization of CA. Taken together, our studies demonstrate that PPIX, a hexamer-targeted CA assembly enhancer, should be a new chemical probe for the discovery of modulators of the HIV-1 capsid assembly. IMPORTANCE CA and its assembled viral core play essential roles in distinct steps during HIV-1 replication, including reverse transcription, integration, nuclear entry, virus assembly, and maturation through CA–CA or CA–host factor interactions. These functions of CA are fundamental for HIV-1 pathogenesis, making it an appealing target for antiviral therapy. In the present study, we identified protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) as a candidate CA modulator that can promote CA assembly and prefers binding the CA hexamer versus the monomer. PPIX, like a glue, bound at the interfaces between CA subunits to accelerate CA multimerization. Therefore, PPIX could be used as a new lead for a CA modulator, and it holds potential research applications.

Lens-epithelium-derived growth-factor (LEDGF/p75)-binding site on HIV-1 integrase (IN), is an attractive target for antiviral chemotherapy. Small-molecule compounds binding to this site are referred as LEDGF-IN inhibitors (LEDGINs). In this study, compound libraries were screened to identify new inhibitors of LEDGF/p75-IN interaction. Ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3-one), a reported anti-HIV-1 agent, was identified as a moderate micromolar inhibitor of LEDGF/p75-IN interaction. Ebselen inhibited the interaction by binding to LEDGF/p75 and the ability of ebselen to inhibit the interaction could be reversed by dithiothreitol (DTT). BLI experiment showed that ebselen probably formed selenium-sulphur bonds with reduced thiols in LEDGF/p75. To the best of our knowledge, we showed for the first time that small-molecule compound, ebselen inhibited LEDGF/p75-IN interaction by directly binding to LEDGF/p75. The compound discovered here could be used as probe compounds to design and develop new disrupter of LEDGF/p75-IN interaction.

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens(IOL)implantation combined with goniosynechialysis in the treatment of primary chronic angle closure glaucoma. METHODS: Eighty patients(96 eyes)with primary chronic angle closure glaucoma were divided into observation group(40 cases, 46 eyes)and control group(40 cases, 50 eyes). The treatment group was treated with phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation and goniosynechialysis, while the control group was treated with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. The best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, visual field mean deviation(MD), mean sensitivity(MS)and the central anterior chamber depth of the two groups before and after the surgery were compared, and the occurrence of complications in patients with postoperative were record. RESULTS:The best corrected visual acuity, visual field, intraocular pressure and central anterior chamber depth of the two groups before operation showed no significant differences(P>0.05). The best corrected visual acuity, visual field, intraocular pressure and central anterior chamber depth between the groups at 6mo postoperatively showed statistically significant(Pχ2=0.351, P=2.095). CONCLUSION:The application of the phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation combined with goniosynechialysis in the treatment of primary chronic angle closure glaucoma is more effective than the simple use of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.

Objective Inactivated Sendai virus particle [hemagglutinating virus of Japan envelope (HVJ-E)] has a potential oncolytic effect due to its ability to induce apoptosis in tumor cells. However, the molecular mechanism of apoptosis induction in cancer cells mediated by HVJ-E has not been fully elucidated. This paper aims to investigate the underlying mechanism of apoptosis induction by HVJ-E in prostate cancer cells (PC3). Methods PC3 cells were treated with HVJ-E at various MOI, and then interferon-α (IFN-α) production, and the cell viability and apoptosis were detected by ELISA, MTT-based assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Next, the roles of Jak-Stat, MAPK and Akt pathways played in HVJ-E-induced apoptosis in PC3 cells were analyzed by immunoblot assay. To further evaluate the cytotoxic effect of HVJ-E on PC3 cells, HVJ-E was intratumorally injected into prostate cancers on BALB/c-nude mice, and the tumor volume was monitored for 36 days. Results HVJ-E induced IFN-α production and activated Jak-Stat signaling pathway, which resulted in the activation of caspase-8, caspase-3, and PARP in PC3 prostate cancer cells post HVJ-E treatment. Furthermore, we observed for the first time that p38 and Jnk MAPKs in PC3 cells contributed to HVJ-E-induced apoptosis. In addition, intratumoral HVJ-E treatment displayed a direct inhibitory effect in an in vivo BALB/c nude mouse prostate cancer model. Conclusion Our findings have provided novel insights into the underlying mechanisms by which HVJ-E induces apoptosis in tumor cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The constrained minimum vertex cover problem on bipartite graphs (the Min-CVCB problem) is an important NP-complete problem. This paper presents a polynomial time approximation algorithm for the problem based on the technique of chain implication. For any given constant ɛ > 0, if an instance of the Min-CVCB problem has a minimum vertex cover of size (k u , k l ), our algorithm constructs a vertex cover of size (k * u , k * l ), satisfying max {k * u /k u , k * l /k l } ≤ 1  ɛ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]